Cats 2 Flashcards
What can spaying / neutering do
Inexpensive, spays are low risk
Reduces breast cancer and cystic ovaries
How does stimulation happen in cats
Cat penis
Has barb like bumps on penis like tongue
How many eggs are released
Usually 4 eggs are released but up to 14 possible
How many eggs are most commonly released
4-6
When do cats stop having sex
After they ovulate
Where does fertilization happen
In the Fallopian tubes
What does superfecundity mean
Multiple male fathers per liter
When is spaying / neutering done
Usually around 6 months
Can be done as early as 8 weeks in shelters
What is neutersol
Injection right into the testes
Prevents sperm production- more common in males
How many liters per year is possible in cats
3 per year
Gestation time
Amount of time between conception and birth
65 days
Why book prenatal appointment
No early pregnancy test. You can do ultra sound as early as 15 days
When can you start palpating cat stomach when cat is pregnant and feel something g
20-30 days
When do you do X-ray’s during pregnancy and why
43 days
Mammary glands get larger
Bones of kittens calcify so you can see them
Where should kittens be delivered and what set up
Best to deliver at home where cat is comfortable
No drafts, box for giving birth, blankets, comfortable
Can cats have morning sickness
Yes
How long does it take to deliver babies
2-6 hours
What should the queen be doing in the first stages of labour
Try to make sure she is moving around
What happens with placenta
It’s expelled and may be eaten
What do you do if a kitten gets stuck
Lubricate canal with jelly
Call vet
What happens if cat is in canal too long
There could be damage to kitten
What does an oxytocin injection do
Stimulates contractions
Why would you monitor temperature during pregnancy
To monitor for infection
What does a brown pussycat discharge mean
Retained placenta
How much do you feed the queen while she is great feeding
Free feed cat
When to call vet
60 min of intense straining with no kitten
10 minutes of intense labour with kitten in birth canal
10 minutes of fresh bleeding during or after kitten
Distress in queen, sudden lethargy/weakness/high/low temp
Labour stops plus signs of weakness, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue
More than 3 hours between kittens
Most common reason to call vet
Labour stops plus signs of weakness, anxiety, restlessness, fatigue
Treatments of cat
Oxytocin injections (stimulates contractions) Surgery (c-section) Calcium injections (when cats low on calcium, muscle spasm)
What problems can queen have after birth
Retained placenta/kitten Hemorrhage Infection Rejection Abandonment Hypothermia Mastitis
What to do if problems after birth
Take kittens off mom and bring into vet clinic
How do you find hemorrhage
Look at gums, may look pale
What to check for after queen gives birth
Make sure she is eating
Eclampsia
Low calcium
Milk fever can lead to low calcium and muscle spasms
Treatment of eclampsia
Calcium injections
What can happen if eclampsia isn’t treated
Queen can die within 12 hours. It’s a emergency
Is cannibalism possible
Yes
Kitten eyes
Born with blue eyes/eyes closed
Open on day 8
Completely open on day 14
When do kitten retinas fully develop
5 weeks old
Ear canals in kittens
Fully closed when born
Open in 5-8 days
Fully open at 14 days
When do ears erect
3 weeks
How can you determine sex after birth
Lift tail
Females have slit, males have hole
Cats testes can’t be felt before 6 weeks
Kitten teeth
Born without teeth
Start erupting at 2 weeks
When do cats start hearing/seeing well
25 days
When do they crawl
18 days
When do they stand
21 days
Fully eliminate and using liter
4 weeks
When to start socializing
6 weeks
*when to tell if cat is feral or not
3-9 weeks
When to deworm
As early as 2 weeks
Every 2 weeks before vaccination
Vaccinate
6-8 weeks
Every 4 weeks for 3 sets
Colostrum
Antibodies from mom before they get vaccinated
Make sure kittens are nursing
Weening
Start weening at 3-4 weeks
Some cats ween kittens on their own and some nurse up to 6-10 weeks
How many times a day do you feed kittens and with what after they have been weened
3-4 times a day
Wet food and dry food
Tips when bottle feeding
Make sure babies aren’t getting bubbles
Takes 2 minutes or so for babies to nurse
What happens when under feeding while bottle feeding
Dehydration
May not gain weight
Why do you want to warm up milk to body temperature
Chilling is the worst thing for a kitten
Try to get heating blanket
Best time to get kitten
12 weeks old
Most adopted by 8 weeks old
What to look for when picking up kitten
Make sure they look healthy
Not undernourished
Playful
Problem with white hair/blue eyed kittens
More likely to be deaf
How much should a kitten weigh at 10 weeks
2 pounds
Training/handling kitten
Handle daily
Train at younger age
Training cat tips
Don’t respond to authority
Can be trained with treats
Human cat bond and separation anxiety
Part of the family
Owners / cats can be anxious when separated
What can you do to prevent medical problems
Proper diet
Teeth brushing
Exercise
How long do indoor cats live
15 years
How long do outdoor cats live
6 years
When are cats considered senior
Older than 7
Age related problems
Always monitor weight gain
How many vaccinations needed per year when older
Once per year
What to watch for when older
Yearly blood work Thyroid conditions Teeth Energy levels Mobility issues (arthritis)
Senior problems
Kidney disease Diabetes Constipation Dental problems Urinary crystals Hyperthyroid Cognitive dysfunction Cancer
What happens as cats age
Less active Coat gets thinner Can't groom themselves as well Oily Loose interest in food/more picky Less tolerant to heat/cold Cranky
Other problems
May cry when lost in house
Hate kittens
Euthanasia
Over does of anesthetic
Mastitis
Inflammation of mammary gland in breast
Metritis
Inflammation of uterus
