Repro in the cat

Question 1

1. Oestrus cycle type in queens.
2. Onset of puberty in the queen.
3. Age of peak fertility in the queen
4. Usual litter size.

Answer 1

1. Seasonally polyoestrous related to daylight length. Generally anoestrus in UK between sept/Oct and Feb.
2. 5-11mths dept on weight, season of birth, breed.
3. 2-8yrs.
4. 3-5.

Question 2

Oestrous cycle in queens.

Answer 2

• No distinctive pro-oestrus.
• Oestrus behaviour distinctive: vocalisation, restlessness, rolling, rubbing, squat/submissive posture, ‘on song’, ‘calling’.
• Waves of follicle development – behaviour can appear continuous.
• Induced ovulation – stimulation of vagina results in GnRH release and LH surge.
• Inter-oestrous period variable – particularly if luteal phase not initiated by mating (8-15 days).

Question 3

1. Where is the progesterone produced from in the queen? – how is this secretion maintained?
   –> How long is this secretion in pseudopregnancy?
2. How long is the non pregnant luteal phase?
3. How long is the pregnant luteal phase?

Answer 3

1. CL. – leuteotrophic factors sch as prolactin and relaxin. –> 30-40days.
2. 25-45days.
3. 65days.

Question 4

1. Onset of puberty for toms?
2. What drives secondary male characteristics?
   – examples of these characteristics?

Answer 4

1. 5-11mths old.
2. Testosterone. – Cheek pads, stature, urine pheromones, roaming/aggressive behaviours.

Question 5

1. What triggers GnRH in queens?
2. What does the GnRH trigger release of and from where?
3. At what point is LH surge?

Answer 5

1. Daylight length and melatonin.
2. Release of FSH from AP.
3. When mated.

Question 6

Pregnancy diagnosis in the queen.

Answer 6

• Absence of oestrus in breeding season but may also represent infertility.
• Abdominal palpation – from d14 –> peaks at d21.
• Pinking of nipples?
• US scan from 15-17 days.
• Relaxin assay – commercially available from 24d but advised at 30d.
• Radiography from 35d.
• Mammary glad enlargement from d58 – variable and not highly diagnostic.
• Detection of foetal heartbeats at ‘late pregnancy’ – HR double that of queen’s.

Question 7

1. Duration of ovulation after mating?
2. When does implantation occur?
3. What is the gestation period in the queen?

Answer 7

1. 24-36HRS.
2. 14 days after mating.
3. 63-65 days.

Question 8

Care of the pregnant queen.

Answer 8

Ensure vacs given prior to pregnancy.
Treat as normal – generally increase food intake by 10% per week throughout pregnancy. Ad lib feed or provide small meals often.
Ensure access to kittening nest or box in last couple of weeks.
Owner/breeder prepare kittening ‘kit’ w/ towels, equipment/material to clamp and tie umbilical cords, syringes/pipettes to suction fluid from pharynx.

Question 9

Conditions of pregnancy in the cat.

Answer 9

Gestational diabetes.
Eclampsia.
rare

Question 10

Pseudocyesis in the queen.

Answer 10

Non-pregnant luteal phase phase shorter than that of pregnancy with a rapid return to cyclical activity.
No increases in prolactin or relaxin.
Minimal clinical signs – mammary gland enlargement –> less of a worry.

Question 11

Normal parturition in the queen.

Answer 11

1st stage: Coordinated myometrial contractions which rotate foetuses from ventral to dorsal position.
queen restless, nest-making, vocalising, licking. Lasts 6-12hrs.

2nd stage: Commencement of abdominal contractions. Ends w/ expulsion of foetus. Queen semi-squats, lying between contractions, purring. Kittens are born in amniotic sac which queen ruptures. Lasts 4-16hrs.

3rd stage: Expulsion of placenta. Generally 10-15mins after kitten. Should keep queen separate from other cats and keep quiet to avoid cannibalism/injury by other cats to kittens.

Question 12

1. What is cryptorchidism?
2. When should the testes normally descend?

Answer 12

1. Failure of one or both testes to reach the scrotum by 7-8mths of age.
2. At birth or soon after birth.

Question 13

1. Most common presentation of cryptorchidism in toms?
2. Why is it important to resolve this?

Answer 13

1. Unilateral and inguinal.
2. Leaving the testicle where it is when neutering will cause the male behaviours to persist.
   The testicle may remain fertile if left.
   It is rare for torsion or neoplasia to occr to the retained testicle.

Question 14

1. How can cryptorchidism be diagnosed in the tom?
2. Treatment of retained testicle?

Answer 14

1. Check for testosterone dependent penile spines.
   Testosterone assays possible but not commonly performed.
2. Removal usually advised.

Question 15

How to tell if cat spayed?

Answer 15

Observe for oestrus signs, need to consider time of year.
Examine ventral abdomen or flank (left) for surgical scar.
Ex lap.
Theoretically, can also do GnRH stimulation tests.

Question 16

1. Causes of ovarian remnant syndrome.
2. Diagnosis of ovarian remnant syndrome.

Answer 16

1. Surgical failure/re-vascularisation of dropped remnant. Common sites = ovarian pedicles, also omentum or peritoneal wall. Retained tissue may be at greater risk of neoplasia.
2. Signs of oestrus.
   Vaginal cytology during oestrus.
   Induce ovulation w/ GnRH (‘Cystorelin’ Merial 25micrograms) (off-licence) – document progesterone levels 10-14 days after IM injection.
   Ex lap – most rewarding if CL present (visible yellow tissue).

Question 17

Management of repro in the queen.

Answer 17

Most commonly breeders request oestrus suppression or postponement of onset of oestrus as part of a planned breeding program (awful side effects!).
Occasionally misalliance/abortion treatment requested (e.g. sibling mating) (not licenced product).

Question 18

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra in the queen…
1. Common?
2. When?
3. Clinical presentation?
4. Diagnosis?

Answer 18

1. Common in intact females.
2. Often within 2 months of oestrus and within breeding season.
3. Entire female.
   Vulva discharge.
   Abdominal distension.
   Anorexia, depression, dullness, pyrexia.
   PUPD less common.
4. Leucocytosis and left shift, anaemia.
   Hyperproteinaemia w/ hyperglobulinaemia.
   Radiography.
   Ultrasonography.

Question 19

Treatment of pyometra in queens.

Answer 19

Surgical ovariohysterectomy.
Medical PGF2a or/in addition to Aglepristone WITH supportive care of abx (gram-), hosp., repeat ultrasound (prognosis guarded but more positive that that with bitches. Return to fertility may be as high as 90%).
E. coli most common organism isolated.

Question 20

Where can problems with infertility and abortion lie?

Answer 20

Failure of oestrus. Failure of mating, Failure of ovulation, Failure of fertilisation, Failure of pregnancy, Failure of parturition.

Question 21

How can we establish if any problems?

Answer 21

Look at age, breed, oestrus signs.
Mating behaviour in male and in female.
Blood sample for progesterone 3-10 days after mating.
Induce ovulation medically to check she can be induced.
PD.
Screen for infectious diseases.
Assess for dystocia or check history for such issues.

Question 22

1. What is dystocia?
2. What % pregnancies result in C section?
3. Which breeds are thought to carry more risk of dystocia?

Answer 22

1. Repro emergency w/ life-threatening risks to mother/kittens.
2. 8%
3. Ragdoll, Oriental group, Birman, BSH, Abyssinian.

Question 23

When should you intervene in stage 1?

Answer 23

Reduction in rectal temperature more than 12hrs previously and no signs of parturition.
Prolonged signs beyond 12hrs for no obvious stress related cause.
Passage of red-brown fluid from zonal placental separation without stage 2 signs.
Ultrasound suggestive of foetal death (lack of heartbeat and movement).
Dam dull/depressed/dehydrated.

Question 24

When should you intervene in stage 2?

Answer 24

When active straining does not produce a kitten in 30mins.
When active straining ceases for greater than 2 hours or in=s infrequent over 4 hours.
When there is evidence of a foetus ‘stuck’ – head/tail/leg visible during contractions but not progressing.
Passage of red-brown discharge without foetus.
Depression/dullness of queen.

Question 25

Possible interventions for dystocia?

Answer 25

Manual.
Medical – oxytocin and calcium gluconate.
Surgical – C section.