Heritable components of feline hematology, clinical chemistry, and acid-base profiles.

Four erythrocyte variables (erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, mean cell volume, packed cell volume), 14 serum variables (alanine transferase, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, calcium, chloride, cholesterol, creatinine, glucose, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, total protein, triglycerides, urea nitrogen), and 7 venous acid-base variables (base excess, bicarbonate, carbon dioxide partial pressure, oxygen partial pressure, oxygen saturation, pH, and total carbon dioxide) were evaluated for heritability in domestic cats (Felis catus). Values used for individual cats were expressed as the mean over all lifetime measurements, using 444-530 animals for clinical chemistry, 629 animals for acid-base, and 564 animals for erythrocyte metrics. Gender and age at death (where applicable) also were evaluated for correlation with variables.