Feline reproduction Flashcards
female
queen
male
tom
heat
proestrus and estrus
puberty
as early as 4 mo.
next season, if born late
if born late may not come into heat until following spring
seasonally polyestrous
repeated estrous cycles for a portion of the year
horses, sheep, goats and cats
anestrus in winter
seasonality
long day breeder, more light
more darkness= more melatonin
estrous cycle
proestrus, estrus, postestrus or interestrus, diestrus, anestrus
feline
no pre-ovulatory progesterone
vaginal cornification- estrogen
no vulvar discharge
grow follicles, if ovulate have progesterone
proestrus
length- short, may not be observed
behavior- attractive to male, will not allow mating; affectionate
anatomy- ovarian follicular growth
hormonal- estrogen high
estrus
length= variable several days to 2 wks
behavior- attractive to male, allows mating; affectionate
anatomy- ovarian follicular growth
hormonal- estrogen peaks
ovulation
induced ovulator
induced by coitus, occasionally spontaneous
adequate vaginal stimulation from mating causes GnRH release, LH surge and ovulation
4 matings in 2 hour period for best chance of ovulation
mating behvaior
tom mounts and grasps queens neck
queen vocalizes with intromission
separation, queen licks, rolls and aggressive to male
repeat
postestrus or interestrus
no ovulation/no mating
can last for awhile, atretic follicle
length- variable, days to weeks
behavior- not receptive to mating
anatomy- follicular regression
hormonal- no estrogen or progesterone
diestrus
ovulation must have occurred
length- pregnant (2 mo.), nonpregnant (40-50 days)
behavior- not receptive to mating
anatomy- CL
hormonal- progesterone (dominant)
after estrus options
no ovulation– interestrus/postestrus
ovulation– does not get pregnant – diestrus (shorter)
ovulation– then pregnant– diestrus
estrous cycle stages
Anestrus leads to proestrus+estrus (0-2 + 2-19)
can go between postestrus 8-10 days to proestrus to anestrus
can go from diestrus pseudopregnant ~40 days (can go back and forth between proestrus and anestrus)
diestrus pregnant ~60 days between proestrus and estrus or to anestrus to restart cycle
Queen in estrus- no mating
no mating
follicle grows as estrogen peaks and then go through postestrus where have atretic follicle
E2 increases appears like constant estrus
P4 throughout= stable
Mating estrus
E2 peaks as mating and then decreases during pregnancy and beginning of lactation
P4 rises and falls during pregnancy (arching pattern)
Anestrus
length-seasonal in fall/winter behavior- not receptive to mating anatomy- inactive ovaries hormonal- no estrogen or progesterone no vaginal cornification
pregnancy
CL dependent for progesterone to term
relaxin from placenta may be used as dx test for pregnancy
queens can show estrus during pregnancy (can show estrus behaviors)
relaxin during pregnancy
relaxin may promote prolactin release
prolactin= luteotrophic and may support the CLs of pregnancy- longer pregnant diestrus than non-pregnant
if not pregnant shorter cycle because no relaxin
zonary, endotheliochorial, deciduate
type of placenta of cat
parturition
similar to sheep model
stage I
nesting, pacing purring
stage II
queen may cry out with fetal passage
several hours to a day
typically no dystocia
stage III
fetal membrane expulsion
superfecundation
litter has more than 1 father, kittens from different fathers
some oocytes fertilized by 1 male, others by another
both queens and bitches can be bred by multiple males during their estrus
superfetation
when an already pregnant female is bred and another conception event occurs
litters with different neonate sizes are more likely sue to arrested development due to differential placental attachment or anomalies, disease etc.
toms
penile examination
penile barbs are testosterone dependent
regress completely by 5-6 wks post castration
intact male, tom cat= barbs, castrated male= no barbs
