Cat Blood Test Normal Ranges: Complete Chart
Last reviewed: April 2026
Quick Reference
This chart covers the most common cat bloodwork values. Always compare to your lab's reference range — values vary slightly between laboratories. Cat ranges differ meaningfully from dogs; don't use a dog chart for your cat.
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Analyze My Cat's ResultsJust got your cat's bloodwork results? This chart shows normal ranges for liver enzymes, kidney markers, blood cells, thyroid hormone, and more — with cat-specific notes on values that behave differently than in dogs.
Liver Enzymes & Function
Most liver-specific enzyme in cats. Elevated = liver cell damage.
Found in liver AND muscle. Elevated in liver disease or muscle injury.
Any elevation is significant in cats — unlike in dogs, high ALP always warrants investigation.
Bile duct/cholestasis marker. Elevated in liver and biliary disease.
Liver function, RBC breakdown. Yellow skin/eyes (jaundice) when elevated.
| Test | Normal Range | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| ALT | 10-100 U/L | Liver cell damage (most liver-specific) |
| AST | 10-50 U/L | Liver OR muscle damage (not liver-specific) |
| ALP | 0-62 U/L | Liver, bile ducts. Any elevation is significant in cats. |
| GGT | 0-4 U/L | Bile duct/cholestasis marker |
| Total Bilirubin | 0.0-0.4 mg/dL | Liver function, RBC breakdown |
| Albumin | 2.3-3.9 g/dL | Liver protein production |
Cat-specific note: In dogs, mildly elevated ALP is common and often benign. In cats, it's different — cats have a much shorter ALP half-life, so even a 2× elevation is clinically meaningful and warrants follow-up. Hepatic lipidosis, cholangitis, and hyperthyroidism are common causes of elevated liver values in cats.
Kidney Function
Kidney filtration marker. Also rises with dehydration or high-protein diet.
Early kidney marker — detects CKD before creatinine rises. Especially valuable in cats.
Rises as kidney disease progresses. Important for CKD staging and management.
| Test | Normal Range | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| BUN | 14-36 mg/dL | Kidney filtration (affected by diet, hydration) |
| Creatinine | 0.6-2.4 mg/dL | Kidney function (most reliable kidney marker) |
| SDMA | 0-14 μg/dL | Early kidney disease (especially sensitive in cats) |
| Phosphorus | 2.4-8.2 mg/dL | Kidney function, CKD staging |
CKD is very common in cats: Chronic kidney disease affects roughly 1 in 3 cats over age 10. Because creatinine only rises after ~75% of kidney function is lost, SDMA is a critical early marker — it detects CKD when only 25-40% of function is gone.
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Analyze My Cat's BloodworkComplete Blood Count (CBC)
Immune cells. High = infection/inflammation. Stress can also raise WBC in cats.
Oxygen-carrying cells. Low = anemia (common in cats with CKD).
Oxygen-carrying protein. Lower reference range than dogs.
% of blood that is RBCs. Lower range than dogs. Below 20% = significant anemia.
Clotting cells. Platelet clumping is common in cats and can cause falsely low counts.
| Test | Normal Range | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| WBC | 5,500-19,500 /μL | Immune/infection response |
| RBC | 5.0-10.0 M/μL | Oxygen-carrying capacity |
| Hemoglobin | 8.0-15.0 g/dL | Oxygen transport protein |
| Hematocrit | 24-45% | Red blood cell percentage |
| Platelets | 160,000-600,000 /μL | Blood clotting ability |
Platelet clumping: Cats are notorious for platelet clumping during blood draws, which makes the platelet count appear falsely low. If your cat's platelet count is low but your vet saw clumps on the slide, the actual count is likely normal.
Metabolic & Other Values
Blood sugar. Cats are highly prone to stress hyperglycemia — a single vet visit can push this to 300+ mg/dL in a healthy cat.
Immune proteins. Very high globulins in cats can suggest FIP or chronic infection.
Elevated calcium in cats is often associated with cancer or idiopathic hypercalcemia.
| Test | Normal Range | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Glucose | 60-120 mg/dL | Blood sugar (stress hyperglycemia very common in cats) |
| Total Protein | 5.7-8.9 g/dL | Overall protein status |
| Globulins | 2.8-5.1 g/dL | Immune proteins (very high = FIP or chronic infection) |
| Cholesterol | 75-220 mg/dL | Fat metabolism, endocrine function |
| Calcium | 8.2-10.8 mg/dL | Bone health, parathyroid, cancer screening |
| Sodium | 149-164 mEq/L | Electrolyte/hydration balance |
| Potassium | 3.5-5.8 mEq/L | Heart and muscle function (low in CKD cats) |
| CK | 50-400 U/L | Muscle damage marker |
Stress hyperglycemia: Cats are uniquely prone to spiking blood glucose from anxiety alone. A single-point glucose reading of 250-400 mg/dL in a cat at the vet does not confirm diabetes. Your vet will typically check fructosamine (a 2–3 week average) to distinguish true diabetes from stress response.
Thyroid Function
Important: Cats develop hyperthyroidism (high T4) — the opposite pattern from dogs, who develop hypothyroidism (low T4). T4 is routinely checked in senior cats (7+) at annual wellness visits.
Thyroid hormone. Elevated = hyperthyroidism (very common in cats 10+). Low T4 in cats is less common but can occur.
Active thyroid hormone. Used when T4 is borderline — more sensitive for diagnosing hyperthyroidism.
| Test | Normal Range | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| T4 (Total) | 0.8-4.0 μg/dL | Thyroid hormone (elevated = hyperthyroidism) |
| Free T4 (ED) | 0.7-2.5 ng/dL | Active thyroid hormone (borderline cases) |
Important Notes About Cat Reference Ranges
- • Ranges vary by lab: Different laboratories use different equipment and methods. Always compare your cat's results to the reference range printed on that specific lab report — not this chart.
- • Cats are not small dogs: Cat normal ranges differ meaningfully from dogs. ALP, hematocrit, creatinine, and T4 all behave differently in cats and should never be interpreted using dog reference values.
- • Stress effects are amplified in cats: Glucose, WBC, and heart rate can all spike significantly from the stress of travel and examination. Your vet accounts for this when interpreting results.
- • Age matters: Senior cats (7+) should have T4 checked annually. Kidney values, liver enzymes, and CBC shifts become more common after age 10.
- • Fasting vs non-fasting: Glucose and triglycerides are affected by recent meals. Some panels are run fasted; others are not. Your vet will note this on the report.
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Related Reading
How to Read Cat Blood Test Results
Complete bloodwork interpretation guide
Cat CBC Explained
Understanding complete blood counts in cats
Cat Kidney Values Explained
BUN, creatinine, SDMA and CKD staging
Cat Hyperthyroidism & Blood Tests
What elevated T4 means
Chronic Kidney Disease in Cats
CKD staging and what bloodwork shows
Cat Liver Enzymes Explained
ALT, ALP, and GGT in cats
Skip the Manual Comparison
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- ✓ Questions to ask your veterinarian
Frequently Asked Questions
What are normal liver enzyme levels in cats?
Normal cat liver enzymes: ALT 10-100 U/L, AST 10-50 U/L, ALP 0-62 U/L, GGT 0-4 U/L. Unlike in dogs, any ALP elevation in cats is considered significant and should be investigated.
What are normal kidney values for cats?
Normal cat kidney values: BUN 14-36 mg/dL, Creatinine 0.6-2.4 mg/dL, SDMA 0-14 μg/dL, Phosphorus 2.4-8.2 mg/dL. Cats naturally run higher creatinine than dogs. SDMA is a critical early marker for CKD.
What is normal blood glucose in cats?
Normal fasting blood glucose is 60-120 mg/dL, but cats are highly prone to stress hyperglycemia. A single reading of 250-400 mg/dL at the vet doesn't confirm diabetes — fructosamine (a 2-3 week average) is used to distinguish real diabetes from stress response.
What is a normal T4 in cats?
Normal T4 in cats is 0.8-4.0 μg/dL. Elevated T4 (above 4.0-5.0 μg/dL) with symptoms like weight loss, increased appetite, and restlessness points to hyperthyroidism, which affects roughly 10% of cats over age 10.
What is normal hematocrit in cats?
Normal hematocrit in cats is 24-45% — lower than dogs (37-55%). Cats are more prone to anemia, particularly from chronic kidney disease. Values below 20% are considered significant anemia requiring investigation.
Why do different labs have different normal ranges?
Labs use different equipment, reagents, and methods, creating slight variations. Always compare to the reference range on your specific lab report — the chart on this page is a general guide, not a substitute for your lab's values.
What does it mean if one value is slightly out of range?
A single slightly abnormal value often isn't concerning on its own, especially without symptoms. Vets look at the pattern and trend over time. That said, cats often mask illness until it's advanced — if multiple values are abnormal or your cat has symptoms, follow up promptly.
How often should cats have bloodwork done?
Healthy adult cats: annually from around age 3. Senior cats (7+): every 6-12 months with T4 included. Cats on medications like methimazole: every 3-6 months. Before anesthesia: baseline bloodwork is recommended.