The serum cortisol response to intravenous synthetic ACTH (tetracosactrin) was assessed in 15 healthy adult cats. Mean cortisol levels showed a significant (P<0.001) rise at 60 minutes and peaked at 180 minutes. At 120 and 180 min‐ utes mean cortisol levels were significantly (P<0.001) higher than at 60 minutes. The time of peak cortisol response in individual cats varied between 120 and 240 minutes, but nine (60 per cent) peaked at 180 minutes. In response to the ACTH the cats showed a rise in cortisol levels of between 160 and 1360 per cent. No significant rise in cortisol levels was seen in five cats following administration of sterile saline.

This paper reviews the recently recognised condition of feline spongiform encephalopathy and its importance as a neurological disorder of cats. Its possible origin and relationship to other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are discussed.