Cat reproduction Flashcards
should a queen have a litter before being spayed?
no, it’s healthier to be spayed before having an estrus cycle/litter
when do queens reach puberty?
7-12 months
when do toms reach puberty?
9 months, start showing flehmen response
seasonally polyestrous
multiple cycles, one after another
long day breeders, start around January through late summer
long anestrous period, stop cycling in fall
cycle in domestic cats
more access to artificial lighting, may cycle year round
behavioral changes with estrus
constant calling
rolling
rubbing against objects
spraying
licking genital area
crouching/lordosis
lordosis
mating posture, also called swayback
induced ovulation
ovulation caused by physical act of mating
spikes on male’s penis cause LH surge, usually takes multiple matings for enough LH
if mating does not occur, follicles will regress
can queens have kittens from different toms in the same litter?
yes
breeding considerations
best choice is selective breeding, should be good representatives of breed and free of hereditary defects
queen may still be in estrus when she gets home, could mate with other tom
artificial insemination
not common in domestic cats but can be done
signs of pregnancy (early to mid gestation)
cycles stop
“pinking-up”, nipples swell and redden in about 3 weeks
weight gain up to 2 lb over whole gestation not unusual
swollen abdomen
signs cat is ready to give birth
nesting
milk leaking
pacing
panting
excessive grooming
temperature drop
contractions
birthing (kittening)
call vet if labors for more than 4 hours
make sure placenta is delivered after each kitten, mother may eat them
will also chew off and eat umbilical cord
normally takes less than 6 hours
why might a mother eat the placentas?
regain nutrients
avoid attracting predators in wild
