Feline Theriogenology

Question 1

puberty in cats; when, what its influenced by

Answer 1

◦ Pubertal estrous = between 4 – 12mnts of age
◦ Influenced by time of year & body condition
◦ Usually when reaches 80% of adult body weight

Question 2

what type of ovulators are cats

Answer 2

◦ Seasonal, polyestrous, induced ovulator
◦ Induced ovulators = require copulation to initiate the LH surge

Question 3

when does the estrus cycle occur

Answer 3

◦ Estrus cycles occur at 4-30 day intervals in cats exposed to constant daylight (14 hrs)

Question 4

prolonged anestrus in cats

Answer 4

◦ Prolonged anestrus = decreasing or short day lengths (autumn)

Question 5

feline estrous cycle begins vs peak

Answer 5

◦ Season begins Jan-Feb = peak is Feb-March

Question 6

what can be used to stop intact queens from cycling

Answer 6

melatonin

Question 7

what happens during proestrus; behaviour, estrogen level, length

Answer 7

◦ Only observed in minority of queens = most enter estrus directly
◦ Males are attracted but females are non-responsive
◦ Continuous rubbing of head and neck
◦ Short lived - if it occurs at all (0.5-2 days)
◦ Increase in estrogen

Question 8

what do we see with behavioural estrus

Answer 8

◦ Crouching in the front with hind end elevated = lordosis
◦ Threading with hind legs, deviation of the tail = vulva exposed for mating
◦ Vocalize, more head rubbing, affectionate behavior

Question 9

when does estrus occur

Answer 9

◦ Occurs during peak follicular activity & estradiol concentrations

Question 10

what stage of the cycle are cats receptive to mating

Answer 10

estrus

Question 11

how can you detect estrus (4)

Answer 11

◦ Estrus behavior

◦ Vulvar labia will only slightly increase in size compared to the bitch

◦ Mucoid discharge can be seen – won’t see bloody vaginal discharge

◦ Vaginal cytology = see cornification as in the bitch (Not useful to tell you when to breed)

Question 12

what are the steps of mating

Answer 12

◦ Nose to nose
◦ Investigate perineal area – Flehmen
◦ Grab neck – very important
◦ Mount
◦ Threading – slides down the female
◦ Pelvic thrusting -> intromission -> ejaculation -> 20 seconds
◦ Pulls away quickly -> avoid being struck by female
◦ Queen licks vulva, rubs on the floor, vocalizes = “after reaction”

Question 13

duration of estrus

Answer 13

◦ Variable
◦ Average: 5.8 days (Range: 2-19 days)

Question 14

LH surge; induced by, what magitude depends on, when ovulation occurs after

Answer 14

◦ Induced by copulation but requires hypothalamic/pituitary exposure to estrogen
◦ Needs to be in heat
◦ Magnitude of LH surge increases with number of copulations
◦ Induction of ovulation occurs 29-40hrs later -> ovulation occurs 24-48hrs post coitus

Question 15

does copulation cause ovulation

Answer 15

copulation causes the LH surge = NOT ovulation

Question 16

when does diestrus occur

Answer 16

◦ Follows estrus in the queen that has ovulated (induced or spontaneous ovulation)

Question 17

how long does diestrus last

Answer 17

Lasts approx. 40 days in pseudopregnant queen
◦ Note: pseudopregnancy is often not visible externally in comparison to bitches

Question 18

what ends diestrus

Answer 18

◦ Ends with luteolysis (mechanism unknown in the cat)

Question 19

what hormone is dominant in diestrus

Answer 19

◦ Progesterone dominated -> CLs
◦ Progesterone starts to rise from baseline within 24 hrs post-ovulation

Question 20

what is the interestrus interval; what happens during it, length

Answer 20

◦ Period that follows one estrus and precedes the next in queens that have not been induced to ovulate
◦ Estradiol drops
◦ No sexual behavior or receptivity is present
◦ Length is variable

Question 21

optimal breeding time

Answer 21

◦ Between 1.5-7 years of age

Question 22

why do we need to bloodtype cats

Answer 22

◦ Important for prevention of neonatal isoerythrolysis
◦ Should blood type all cats used in breeding colony/program
◦ Purebred cats (British Shorthair, Devon & Cornish Rex) = more type B

Question 23

breeding of female in males territory

Answer 23

◦ Ideally don’t breed day 1 of estrus
◦ Then starting on day 2, breed 3-4x daily until end of estrus, if possible (at least over 2 day
period)

Question 24

type of placentation

Answer 24

◦ Endotheliochorial, zonary
◦ No obvious marginal hematomas

Question 25

length of pregnancy

Answer 25

◦ 63-66 days, on average, from rise in P4 ◦ 56-69 days from mating

Question 26

what type of hormone is present during pregnancy

Answer 26

Progesterone dependent ◦ CLs

Question 27

when does prolactin increase

Answer 27

Unlike in dogs – our prolactin only increases if pregnant – during the last 3rd of pregnancy and during lactation

Question 28

pregnancy diagnosis (5) and when we can do them

Answer 28

Lack of estrus behavior ◦ Pseudopregnancy ◦ Some cats display estrus even while pregnant Pinking of the nipples ◦ Occurs day 14-18 Abdominal palpation ◦ Day 25-30 Radiographs ◦ As with bitches Ultrasound ◦ Easy by day 24-25

Question 29

what happens in stage 1 of queening

Answer 29

Stage 1: cervical dilation/uterine contractions ◦ Restlessness is the most common sign

Question 30

what happens in stage 2 of queening

Answer 30

Stage 2: passage of fetuses ◦ Kitten should be delivered within 15 mins once noted at vulvar lips ◦ Can take a very long time (interruptions by 10-12 hours are possible)

Question 31

what happens in stage 3 of queening

Answer 31

Stage 3: passage of fetal membranes

Question 32

is P4 drop a prereq for queening

Answer 32

Progesterone drops, but doesn’t necessarily have to = the drop isn’t a prerequisite for onset of parturition ◦ Don’t see a temperature drop like in bitches

Question 33

how common is dystocia in cats

Answer 33

overall uncommon

Question 34

what type of cats are at increased risk of dystocia

Answer 34

Purebred cats at increased risk ◦ Dolicocephalic and brachycephalic breeds = obstructive dystocia

Question 35

what is the next step if there is no response to 2 oxytocin symptoms

Answer 35

c section

Question 36

medical management of dystocia

Answer 36

Medical management -> oxytocin & calcium gluconate ◦ Cannot do manipulations à too small ◦ Same “rules” apply as in dogs (no obstructive dystocias, FHRs, etc.) ◦ “Quiet” place, left alone

Question 37

surgical management of dystocia

Answer 37

Surgical management -> c-section ◦ Pre-medicate queen at last minute = kittens hard to resuscitate

Question 38

most likely cause of dystocia in cats

Answer 38

uterine torsion

Question 39

PP issues in cats (7)

Answer 39

Retained fetal membranes = metritis ◦ Usually queen is good at cleaning – don’t see much in terms of discharge ◦ If note discharge >7 days post-partum = investigate Mastitis Hypocalcemia Agalactia ◦ Sometimes can’t express milk – kittens are still gaining weight & healthy – not truly agalactia *Uterine prolapse à more common in cats* SIPS Poor mothering

Question 40

when does cycling occur again after PP

Answer 40

Within 2 weeks post-partum = begin cycling again ◦ Anovulatory cycles; at least @ start of lactation = become ovulatory as lactation decreases

Question 41

specific disorders common in cats (5)

Answer 41

◦ Benign mammary hypertrophy/hyperplasia ◦ Mammary neoplasia ◦ Cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH)/pyometra complex ◦ Ovarian cysts ◦ Ovarian remnant syndrome

Question 42

diagnosis of benign mammary hypertrophy/hyperplasia

Answer 42

◦ Signalment ◦ Clinical signs ◦ Progesterone assay ◦ Biopsy in older cats to rule out neoplasia

Question 43

treatment benign mammary hypertrophy/hyperplasia

Answer 43

Removal of progesterone source ◦ OHE, aglepristone, luteolysis or abortion (spontaneous)

Question 44

when (age) is benign mammary hypertrophy/hyperplasia common

Answer 44

Common in young cats (13 weeks- 2 years)

Question 45

what hormone is benign mammary hypertrophy/hyperplasia dependent on

Answer 45

Progesterone dependent condition ◦ Occurs following ovulation (pregnant or not)

Question 46

what treatment can cause benign mammary hypertrophy/hyperplasia

Answer 46

Can be seen in neutered males/spayed females if treated w progestins!

Question 47

what does benign mammary hypertrophy/hyperplasia look like

Answer 47

See asymmetrical, firm, rapidly growing mammary tissue ◦ Can become bruised & ulcerated as they enlarge

Question 48

3rd most common tumor in cats

Answer 48

Mammary neoplasia but still overall not seen a lot

Question 49

risk of mammary neoplasia in intact female cats

Answer 49

Intact = 7x greater chance of developing mammary neoplasia

Question 50

clinical signs of mammary neoplasia

Answer 50

◦ Older cats ◦ 1 or more masses (can have L and R mammary chain involvement) ◦ Are firm, can be well or poorly demarcated nodules (several mm to 10cm) ◦ Swollen nipples +/- exudate ◦ Ropy lymphatics

Question 51

does mammary neoplasia metastasize usually

Answer 51

High rates of metastasis ◦ Malignant adenocarcinoma ◦ Occurs in 50-90% of cases

Question 52

diagnosis of mammary neoplasia

Answer 52

◦ Tumor histology (FNA, biopsy)

Question 53

treatment of mammary neoplasia

Answer 53

◦ Surgery ◦ Chemotherapy ◦ Radiation ◦ **Important to do metastasis check**

Question 54

clinical signs of cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra

Answer 54

◦ Not cycling ◦ Depression, lethargy ◦ PU/PD ◦ Distended abdomen, vomiting ◦ +/- vaginal discharge

Question 55

diagnosis and treatment of cystic endometrial hyperplasia/pyometra

Answer 55

very similar to in bitches

Question 56

treatment of ovarian cysts

Answer 56

◦ Luteinization with hCG (induce ovulation) ◦ Surgical drainage ◦ OHE

Question 57

diagnosis of ovarian cysts

Answer 57

◦ Ultrasound

Question 58

what is true persistent estrus hard to distinguish from

Answer 58

True persistent estrus – like those caused by ovarian cysts – can be hard to distinguish from a normal cat (overlapping follicular growth)

Question 59

what happens if cyst cells are secreting estrogen

Answer 59

◦ Persistent estrus ◦ Or can have no clinical signs (no estrogen secretion)

Question 60

how can infertility in queens be categorized

Answer 60

◦ Persistent anestrus ◦ Persistent estrus ◦ Cycling queens that refuse copulation with the male ◦ Cycling queens that fail to conceive after copulation with a fertile male; 1st step is to determine if they ovulated

Question 61

causes of EED/abortion in cats (8)

Answer 61

* FIP * Feline Herpes Virus * FeLV * Panleukopenia * Toxoplasma * Salmonella * Chlamydophila * Mycoplasma

Question 62

what should we consider management wise in differentials

Answer 62

◦ Season? Photoperiod? ◦ Recent change in environment ◦ Partner discrimination ◦ Husbandry – vaccine status, deworming, etc.