Feline Repro Flashcards
Feline Puberty
4 months (next season if born late)
Feline Estrous Cycle
Seasonally polyestrous
Long-day breeder
Feline Proestrus
Short
Attractive to male, but no mating ovarian
Follicular growth
High estrogen
Feline Estrus
Allows mating, more affectionate
Ovarian follicle growth
Estrogen peak
Feline Ovulation
Induced ovulator (occasionally spontaneous)
Vaginal stimulation → GnRH release, LH surge, ovulation
Feline Mating Behavior
Tom mounts & grasps queen’s neck
Queen vocalizes
Separation & female attacks male
(and repeat)
Feline Proestrus/Interestrus
No ovulation
No mating, not receptive
Follicular regression
No estrogen or progesterone
Feline Diestrus
Only if ovulation has occured
Pregnant: 2 mos
Non-pregnant: 40-50 days
Not receptive
CL formation
Progesterone
Feline Anestrus
Fall/winter
Not receptive to mating
Inactive ovaries
No estrogen or progesterone
No vaginal cornification
Vaginal Cornification (feline)
Result of high estrogen
Feline Pregnancy
CL dependent for progesterone to term
Can show estrus
Relaxin
Detected in pregnancy tests for cats/dogs
May promote prolactin release (luteotropic)
Littermates got sisters from another mister.
Superfecundation
Litter has >1 father.
Superfetation
Already pregnant female is bred & another conception even occurs (2 littles at once w/ different stages of development)
Sketchy; probably not a real thing. More likely different rates of development of litter, mother adopts but people think it’s hers.
Penile barbs
Tom penis is barbed
Testosterone dependent
Regress completely by 5-6 wks post-castration
