Basic feline reproduction

Question 1

The queen reaches puberty at

Answer 1

4-12 months of age influenced by

• breed
• body condition 2 kg minimum typically (average bodyweight at puberty 80% of adults)
• time of year when they were born (summer/ autumn-born cycle earlier than spring-born)
• social environment

Question 2

Feline Peak fertility at

Answer 2

• 2-8 years
• Reduced fertility after 10 years
• Fertile queens over 20 years are reported

Question 3

Estrus cycle of the queen. 328

Answer 3

seasonal long day breeder with anestrus
being observed over 3-4 months when the day length is short.

proestrus 1-2 days
estrus 4-10 (avg 7) days
post-estrus/inter-estrus 8-10 days

diestrus (when pseudo-pregnant) 40 days
diestrus (when pregnant) 60 days
anestrus 30-90 days (variable)

Non pregnant luteal phase (pseudopregnant): lasts 30-45 days

Pregnant luteal phase: 62-64 days

Question 4

Tomcat puberty ?

Answer 4

slides unavailable :(

Question 5

Average interval from one ovulation to the next in queens

Answer 5

14-21 days (can be shorter in oriental breeds)

(Most cats 2 weeks)

Question 6

Signs of estrus in queens.

Answer 6

Proestrus can’t always be detected:
❖ More affectionate, rub against other cats and humans
❖ Slight swelling/reddening of the vulva lips, no vulva discharge

Estrus:
❖ the queen becomes more active, vocalizing, spinal lordosis, tail turned to one side, occasionally reduced appetite and urine spraying in queens, passive to the male

Question 7

Affect of Daylight on anestrus: (5)

Answer 7

❖ Absence of cyclicity in periods of short
daylight with increased secretion of melatonin and elevated prolactin.

❖ Anestrus Between October and january in northern hemisphere

❖ Shorthaired cats more commonly
continue to cycle over winter

❖ 10 hours of daylight → enters anestrus

❖ 14 hours of daylight → good levels of
fertility

Question 8

Lactation affect on anestrus: (3)

Answer 8

• Many queens do not cycle during lactation
• Many return to cyclicity after 2-4 weeks (in breeding season)
• The rest in 2-8 weeks after weaning

Question 9

Silent heat in queens.

Answer 9

Normal estrus cycles and follicular waves WITHOUT showing signs of estrus.

Can occur:
- If the queen is nervous dispositioned
- If she is in the low end of the social scale

• If she is inexperienced
• If she is distracted
• If she has a male preference

Diagnose with vaginal smears, bloods for estradiol, and serum P4 to check if ovulation has occurred.

Question 10

Normal Intromission signs in cats: (4)

Answer 10

❖ Vocalization

❖ She will strike at the tom and he will bite her neck

❖ Afterwards excessive licking of the perineal area and the queen will roll

❖ Short break followed by multiple further matings (important to induce ovulation)

Question 11

If the queen has not ovulated:

Answer 11

• Follicles will grow at the time of elevated estrogens
• Towards the end of estrus (day 5-6) the follicles will become atretic, estrogen
  levels will decline and estrus behavior wanes → the queen returns to
  inter estrus.

Question 12

Feline Ovulation

Answer 12

Induced ovulation →
mechanical stimulation of the vagina → neuronal triggering in the hypothalamus → release of GNRH →
LH surge (after 2-4 hours)

 Ovulation can be induced also by grooming/ self-grooming or artificially with a cotton swab.

 Spontaneous ovulation occurs in older queens and queens in presence of a tom
cat – pheromonal/visual stimulation.

Ovulation is related to:
❖ The day upon which they are mated
❖ The quality of matings

❖ The interval and number of matings – approximately 50% ovulate after a single
mating, the optimal stimulation is four matings within 2-4 hours.

Question 13

Fertilization in queens. (4)

Answer 13

 Oocytes are immediately fertilizable when ovulated after extrusion of the polar body as secondary oocytes.

 Estrogen levels will decline rapidly at the same time as the progesterone rises.

 The queen will go out of estrus in 24-48 hours.

 The oocyte are fertilized in the ampulla of the oviduct→ reach the uterus in 3-
4 days post-ovulation.

Question 14

Constant or prolonged estrus. (5)

Answer 14

“nymphomania”, hyperestrogenism

• In some queens the follicle waves follow one another so closely that there
  is no gap between the observed estrus behaviour.
• The queen will show estrus behavior and will be interested in mating.
• Often this is very inconvenient for the breeder → induction of ovulation (mechanical or with hCG).

Cystic follicles and ovarian tumors can also cause prolonged estrus.

Question 15

Luteal phase in queens.

Answer 15

 Rapid end to estrus after ovulation → the luteal phase is almost synchronous
with the end of estrus.

 Progesterone increase rapidly and is solely produced by the CL.

 Progesterone profiles and concentrations do not differ between pregnant and pseudopregnant queens in the early luteal phase.

Question 16

Pseudopregnancy in cats happens when

Answer 16

the queen ovulates but doesn’t get pregnant.

But the luteal phase is somewhat shorter than the truly pregnant cat’s.

Question 17

Length of gestation in queens is

Answer 17

variable both within and between individuals.

❖ On average 62-65 days

❖ Gestation length is not related to age, parity, number of kittens, genetic.

❖ Up to 10% of all cats may show behavioral estrus during pregnancy (commonly between D20-D40).

❖ In cats, we often see superfecundity = mating with several tomcats.

Question 18

Maintenance of pregnancy in the queen.
(5)

Answer 18

❖ A lot is still unknown

❖ Most - maybe all P4 is produced by the CL BUT

❖ Because late ovariectomy does not always result in abortion → either placenta
produces P4 or P4 is not required for maintenance of pregnancy from day 40/45.

❖ Baseline levels of 1-2 ng/ml are not essential for onset of delivery like in the bitch.

❖ The queen does not show a fall in rectal temperature shortly before term as is seen for the bitch.

Question 19

Prolactin in queens. (3)

Answer 19

❖ Is the main luteotropic agent

❖ Starts to increase from day 30 after ovulation, reaches a plateau from
D50 to parturition and increases again at parturition.

❖ Prolactin inhibitor (Galastop®) causes cessation of progesterone secretion and maybe termination of pregnancy - unclear in cats.

Question 20

Relaxin in queens. (4)

Answer 20

❖ Similar profiles as in the bitch

❖ The only pregnant specific hormone during pregnancy

❖ Secreted by the placenta

❖ Increases from about D25

Action: act directly on the CL, may stimulate prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland.

Question 21

Parturition in the queen. (3)

Answer 21

During The last week of pregnancy:
❖ Nesting and mammary development

No remarkable changes in rectal temperature as seen for the bitch.

❖ On the day of parturition the progesterone normally declines to about 2ng/ml.

Question 22

Parturition phases in the queens.

Answer 22

1. phase, 6-12 hours (36)
   ❖ The queen may become restless, go into her nest, lick her vulva and pant.

2.phase, 2-3 hours
❖ Begins with straining in lateral/ventral recumbency or in defecating position.

❖ The kittens are expulsed about 5-40 minutes apart depending on the presentation.

❖ Complete parturition is normally achieved within 2-3 hours.

❖ Posterior and anterior presentations are normal in the cat.

3.phase
❖ The fetal membranes are expulsed with each fetus or shortly after.

❖ The last fetal membrane is usually expelled not more than 15 min after the last fetus is born.

Question 23

Length of each phase of parturition in the queen.

Answer 23

1. phase, 6-12 hours (36 max)

2.phase, 2-3 hours (usually)

3.phase, essentially simultaneous with phase 2

Question 24

Feline dystocia. (5)

Answer 24

 Between 1%-18% incidence depending on the breed.

 A higher risk is seen in pedigree litters than in mixed breeding.

 A higher risk in dolichocephalic and brachycephalic types than in mesocephalic
types.

 Maternal causes (particularly uterine inertia) are much more common than
fetal causes (fetomaternal disproportion and faulty disposition).

 Uterine torsions are rare but described close to term in association with illness.
The management of obstetric cases are similar as for the bitch.

Question 25

FNI =

Answer 25

feline neonatal isoerythrolysis

Is a serious, life-threatening condition in which a blood type B queen’s antibodies attack the red blood cells of her nursing blood type A or AB kittens if the tom was type A or AB. Specifically B queen!! Not A.

To prevent, take the kittens from the mother at birth for 24 hours and tube feed. Return them to the queen in 24 hours. This all so that the antibodies won’t transfer.

If kittens have already suckled, treat with blood transfusion to combat the intravascular hemolysis.

Question 26

Conservative management in case of dystocia.

Answer 26

 Oxytocin may be administered at 0,25-2 IU intramuscularly/ subcutaneously

❖ Favor the use of the low dosage – gives good contractions, with good frequencies.

 Calcium is reported to be useful in the bitch, but less frequently in the queen.

❖ If no effect of oxytocin after 20 min, 1-2 ml calcium gluconate 10% can be
administered with a second dose oxytocin slowly intravenously.

❖ Or both in combination with a drop of isotonic glucose.

If no effect the queen should go for a C-section.

Question 27

Infertility in the queen.

Answer 27

 The expected conception rate in the cat is 70-80%.

 If a queen has failed to conceive after three matings with a male of proven fertility, a female problem should be expected.

Question 28

Reproductive failure in the queen can be caused by: (6)

Answer 28

❖ Failure to show normal estrus (an- or silent estrus, prolonged estrus)

❖ Failure to mate properly

❖ Anovulation (too few number of matings or timing off)

❖ Failure of fertilization

❖ Early embryonic loss

❖ Resorption or abortion

Question 29

Feline mammary fibroepithelial hyperplasia

Answer 29

Benign P4-associated fibroglandular proliferation in both males and females.

Swollen mammae with or without ulceration.

Usually occurs in intact younger queens, but can also occur in pregnant queens and either sex undergoing progestin treatment.

Question 30

Induction of estrus in the queen. (3+)

Answer 30

Always try the natural methods first.

❖ Artificial light at least 14 hours/24 hours, up to 2 months are needed.

❖ Exposure to a tomcat or other cycling females – return to estrus may occur in 4-6
weeks.

Use of exogenous hormones like FSH and eCG are rarely indicated but can be
used.
❖ Can cause hyperstimulation and development of antibodies

❖ No compounds are authorized for induction of estrus in the cat

❖ If used always do it in anestrus to avoid hyperstimulation

❖ Rule out pregnancy before treating

❖ DON´T treat prepubertal queens → cystic follicles can occur.