The purpose of this study was to determine the type and incidence of lesions affecting the vertebral column in cats, radiographically. Total radiographs of the vertebral column of 133 referred cats suspected to vertebral disorders were revised. Most of referred cases were immature (116 cases). Of total cases, NSH (nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism) was observed in 54 (concurrent rickets was seen in 12 of 54 cases of NSH), fracture in 26, luxation in 8, osteomyelitis in 2, discospondylitis in 2, hypervitaminosis A in 2 and multiple cartilaginous exostoses in 1 case. 5 cases showed only soft tissue swelling around the vertebral column and 43 clinically affected cases showed no changes in plain radiographs. Overlapped lesions could also be detected in some cases. The mean age of NSH cases was 3.27 months and 23 cases showed vertebral deformities. Distribution of fractures was as following; 30.8% in T13; 19.2% in L2; 15.3% in L6; 7.7% in CI, LI, L7 and 3.8% in L5 and coccygeal vertebrae. The most cause of vertebral fractures was falling of the height. Lack of detectable changes in plain radiographs of 43 cases emphasizes the importance of contrast study. Our opinion is that this study, in which frequent and location of lesions occurring in the vertebral column of cats have been determined, can shed light on diagnosis of neurological diseases related to vertebral column.

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