Lecture 20: Feline Repro (Kelleman)

Question 0

when do cats reach puberty?

Answer 0

as early as 4 months

Question 1

when is heat for cats?

Answer 1

proestrus and estrus

Question 2

what type of cycle do cats have?

Answer 2

seasonally polyestrus - repeated estrous cycles for a portion of the year
(just like horses, sheep, and goats)

Question 3

what is the seasonality of cats?

Answer 3

they are long-day seasonally polyestrus breeders

Question 4

parts of the estrous cycle in cats

Answer 4

proestrus
estrus
postestrus or interestrus
diestrus
anestrus

Question 5

do cats have pre-ovulatory progesterone?

Answer 5

no!

Question 6

do cats have vulvar discharge?

Answer 6

no!

Question 7

length of proestrus

Answer 7

short - may not be observed

Question 8

behavior of cat during proestrus

Answer 8

attractive to male, will not allow mating; affectionate

Question 9

anatomy of a cat during proestrus

Answer 9

ovarian follicular growth

Question 10

hormonal effect of proestrus in cats

Answer 10

estrogen is HIGH

Question 11

length of estrus in cats

Answer 11

variable, several days to 2 weeks

Question 12

behavior of cats in estrus

Answer 12

attractive to male, allows mating; affectionate

Question 13

anatomy of a cat during estrus

Answer 13

ovarian follicular growth

Question 14

hormonal effect of a cat in estrus

Answer 14

estrogen PEAKS

Question 15

Ovulation in cats

Answer 15

Induced ovulator!
induced by coitus
occasionally spontaneous

Question 16

how is ovulation induced?

Answer 16

adequate vaginal stimulation from mating will cause GnRH release, LH surge and ovulation

Question 17

what is the best chance of ovulation in cats?

Answer 17

4 matings in 2 hour period for best chance of ovulation

Question 18

mating behavior in cats

Answer 18

Tom mounts and grasps queen’s neck. queen vocalizes with intromission. separation, queen licks, rolls and is aggressive toward male

Question 19

anatomy of a cat during postestrus or interestrus

Answer 19

follicular regression

Question 20

hormonal effect of a cat in postestrus or interestrus

Answer 20

no estrogen or progesterone!!

Question 21

length of diestrus in a cat

Answer 21

pregnant - 2 months

non-pregnant - 40 - 50 days

Question 22

behavior of a cat in diestrus

Answer 22

not receptive to mating

Question 23

anatomy of a cat during diestrus

Answer 23

CL; ovulation must have occurred

Question 24

hormonal effect of a cat in diestrus

Answer 24

progesterone

Question 25

options of what can happen after estrus in a cat: (3)

Answer 25

1. no ovulation –> interestrus/postestrus
2. ovulation –> does not get pregnant –> diestrus
3. ovulation –> then pregnant –> diestrus

Question 26

length of anestrus in the cat

Answer 26

during fall and winter

Question 27

behavior of a cat in anestrus

Answer 27

not receptive to mating

Question 28

anatomy of a cat in anestrus

Answer 28

inactive ovaries

Question 29

hormonal effects of the cat in anestrus

Answer 29

no estrogen or progesterone

Question 30

cornification status of a cat in anestrus

Answer 30

no vaginal cornification

Question 31

where does progesterone come from during pregnancy

Answer 31

the CL

Question 32

what hormone may be used to detect pregnancy in the cat?

Answer 32

relaxin from the placenta

Question 33

fun fact about pregnancy in cats

Answer 33

queens can show estrus during pregnancy!

Question 34

what is the effect of relaxin in cats?

Answer 34

may promote prolactin release

Question 35

what is the effect of prolactin in pregnant cats?

Answer 35

it is luteotrophic (stimulates formation of the CL) and may support the CL’s of pregnancy
- longer pregnant diestrus than non-pregnant

Question 36

what type of placentation do cats have?

Answer 36

zonary, endotheliochorial, deciduate

Question 37

parturition in the cat is similar to what other animal

Answer 37

the sheep

Question 38

describe stage I of parturition in the cat

Answer 38

nesting, pacing purring

Question 39

stage II of parturition in the cat

Answer 39

queen may cry out with fetal passage

- takes several hours to a day

Question 40

stage III of parturition in the cat

Answer 40

fetal membrane expulsion

Question 41

superfecundation

Answer 41

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

Question 42

superfetation

Answer 42

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….