Feline Immunitycheck digital health tool

Immunitycheck: A Digital Health Tool to Assess and Support Your Cat’s Immune Health

Why Is the Immune System Important for Cats?

Your cat’s immune system is foundational for their overall systemic health – it helps with managing inflammation, protecting the body from infections, and supporting with healthy digestion. However, there are certain pets who may be at a greater risk of a decline in immune function based on their age, pregnancy status, and overall health.1

How Does Immunitycheck Work?  

Immunitycheck is designed for use with male and female cats. By inputting their cat’s age, sex, breed, neuter status, pregnancy status, and any known autoimmune and/or chronic diseases, conditions, disorders, and/or medications, a pet owner can use Immunitycheck to discover potential immune status risk factors may impact their cat.

How was Immunitycheck Developed?

Immunitycheck was developed based on an extensive review of scientific and clinical literature to identify key risk factors associated with pet immune health. A team of Waltham veterinarians and scientists used veterinary medical records from nearly 2 million cats to determine feline life stages, and optimal growth from kitten to adulthood.2,3  Global pet health bodies, including the WSAVA, which establishes vaccination standards, and AAFCO and FEDIAF, which create nutritional guidelines and standards for pet foods, were reviewed to understand how pets’ immune health statuses change, and how their health can be supported through various life stages.4–6 

The result of this research is a series of questions and recommendations that were developed to provide a one-time snapshot of your cat’s current immune health risk factors, as well as health recommendations based on the cohort your cat belongs to at their current life stage.  

References:

  1. Cook, S., Gray, R. & Copeland, K. Effective methods for engaging with YOPI (Young, Old, Pregnant, Immunocompromised) on food safety matters. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 83, (2024).
  2. Salt, C., Saito, E. K., O’Flynn, C. & Allaway, D. Stratification of Companion Animal Life Stages from Electronic Medical Record Diagnosis Data. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 78, 579–586 (2023).
  3. Salt, C., German, A. J., Henzel, K. S. & Butterwick, R. F. Growth standard charts for monitoring bodyweight in intact domestic shorthair kittens from the USA. PLoS One 17, e0277531 (2022).
  4. AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials). Selecting the Right Pet Food. https://www.aafco.org/consumers/understanding-pet-food/selecting-the-right-pet-food/(Opens a new window) (2025).
  5. FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation). Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. https://europeanpetfood.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FEDIAF-Nutritional-Guidelines_2024.pdf(Opens a new window) (2024).
  6. Squires, R. A., Crawford, C., Marcondes, M. & Whitley, N. 2024 guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats – compiled by the Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Journal of Small Animal Practice 65, 277–316 (2024).

Disclaimers:

Immunitycheck does not diagnose your cat with any immune conditions – only their veterinarian can diagnose and treat disease. It’s important to understand that our assessment focuses solely on highlighting potential immune status risk factors. It is not a substitute for a full physical exam.