Lecture 20: Feline Repro (Kelleman) Flashcards
when do cats reach puberty?
as early as 4 months
when is heat for cats?
proestrus and estrus
what type of cycle do cats have?
seasonally polyestrus - repeated estrous cycles for a portion of the year
(just like horses, sheep, and goats)
what is the seasonality of cats?
they are long-day seasonally polyestrus breeders
parts of the estrous cycle in cats
proestrus estrus postestrus or interestrus diestrus anestrus
do cats have pre-ovulatory progesterone?
no!
do cats have vulvar discharge?
no!
length of proestrus
short - may not be observed
behavior of cat during proestrus
attractive to male, will not allow mating; affectionate
anatomy of a cat during proestrus
ovarian follicular growth
hormonal effect of proestrus in cats
estrogen is HIGH
length of estrus in cats
variable, several days to 2 weeks
behavior of cats in estrus
attractive to male, allows mating; affectionate
anatomy of a cat during estrus
ovarian follicular growth
hormonal effect of a cat in estrus
estrogen PEAKS
Ovulation in cats
Induced ovulator!
induced by coitus
occasionally spontaneous
how is ovulation induced?
adequate vaginal stimulation from mating will cause GnRH release, LH surge and ovulation
what is the best chance of ovulation in cats?
4 matings in 2 hour period for best chance of ovulation
mating behavior in cats
Tom mounts and grasps queen’s neck. queen vocalizes with intromission. separation, queen licks, rolls and is aggressive toward male
anatomy of a cat during postestrus or interestrus
follicular regression
hormonal effect of a cat in postestrus or interestrus
no estrogen or progesterone!!
length of diestrus in a cat
pregnant - 2 months
non-pregnant - 40 - 50 days
behavior of a cat in diestrus
not receptive to mating
anatomy of a cat during diestrus
CL; ovulation must have occurred
hormonal effect of a cat in diestrus
progesterone
options of what can happen after estrus in a cat: (3)
- no ovulation –> interestrus/postestrus
- ovulation –> does not get pregnant –> diestrus
- ovulation –> then pregnant –> diestrus
length of anestrus in the cat
during fall and winter
behavior of a cat in anestrus
not receptive to mating
anatomy of a cat in anestrus
inactive ovaries
hormonal effects of the cat in anestrus
no estrogen or progesterone
cornification status of a cat in anestrus
no vaginal cornification
where does progesterone come from during pregnancy
the CL
what hormone may be used to detect pregnancy in the cat?
relaxin from the placenta
fun fact about pregnancy in cats
queens can show estrus during pregnancy!
what is the effect of relaxin in cats?
may promote prolactin release
what is the effect of prolactin in pregnant cats?
it is luteotrophic (stimulates formation of the CL) and may support the CL’s of pregnancy
- longer pregnant diestrus than non-pregnant
what type of placentation do cats have?
zonary, endotheliochorial, deciduate
parturition in the cat is similar to what other animal
the sheep
describe stage I of parturition in the cat
nesting, pacing purring
stage II of parturition in the cat
queen may cry out with fetal passage
- takes several hours to a day
stage III of parturition in the cat
fetal membrane expulsion
superfecundation
a litter has more than 1 father. some oocytes fertilized by 1 male, others by another
- both BITCHES & QUEENS 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 due to arrested development due to differential placental attachment or anoalies, disease, etc.
…not sure if its legit….
