SA - Feline Reproduction

Question 1

How are the queens ovaries different than the dog?

Answer 1

They are not completely surrounded by the ovarian bursa as in the dog

Question 2

What is the size of the vagina of the queen as compared to the dog?

Answer 2

It is relatively short - 2cm in length

Question 3

What aspects of the queen ovary does the ovarian bursa cover?

Answer 3

Only the lateral aspect of the ovary

Question 4

Ovarian remnant syndrome is more common in the cat than in the dog. Where is ectopic ovarian tissue often found?

Answer 4

Along the suspensory ligament and other structures

Question 5

How is the penis oriented in the Tom?

Answer 5

It is oriented caudally

Question 6

Is there an os penis in the Tom?

Answer 6

yes

Question 7

What unique structure is associated with the glans penis in an intactTom?

Answer 7

spines

Question 8

What are spines dependent on?

Answer 8

androgens

Question 9

What are spines diagnostic indicators of?

Answer 9

Testosterone presence - cryptorchidism/iatrogenic exposure

Question 10

How long does spermatogenesis take in the Tom?

Answer 10

~47 days

Question 11

What is the orientation of the testes?

Answer 11

cranial to caudal orientation

Question 12

How is the head of the epididymis oriented?

Answer 12

dorsocranial

Question 13

How is the body of the epididymis oriented?

Answer 13

dorsolateral testis

Question 14

How is the tail of the epididymis oriented?

Answer 14

dorsocaudally

Question 15

What accessory sex glands does the Tom have?

Answer 15

Prostate and bulbourethral glands

Question 16

When does puberty typically occur in the female cat?

Answer 16

4-12 months

Question 17

When does puberty typically occur in the male cat?

Answer 17

Average of 9 months - 7-12 months

Question 18

Do long or short haired cats go into puberty later?

Answer 18

long haired

Question 19

Does time of year effect puberty?

Answer 19

Yes - it often occurs in spring more than summer and fall

Question 20

What other factor aside from seasonality and hair coat affects when a cat goes into puberty?

Answer 20

body condition score

Question 21

What type of breeders are cats?

Answer 21

Long day, seasonally polyestrus

Question 22

What time of year do cats go through estrus?

Answer 22

January to September

Question 23

What type of ovulators are cats?

Answer 23

induced ovulators - takes 4 breedings within 2-4 hours

Question 24

What percentage of queens spontaneously ovulate?

Answer 24

30%

Question 25

What causes queens to spontaneously ovulate?

Answer 25

Visual, olfactory, or tactile cues from toms OR presence/stimulation from owners

Question 26

What are the parts of the feline estrus cycle?

Answer 26

Proestrus, estrus, interestrus, diestrus, and anestrus

Question 27

How long is proestrus in cats?

Answer 27

0-2 days

Question 28

How long is estrus in cats?

Answer 28

2-19 days

Question 29

How long is interestrus in cats?

Answer 29

8-10 days

Question 30

How long is diestrus in pseudopregnant cats?

Answer 30

~40 days

Question 31

How long is anestrus in cats?

Answer 31

~30-90 days

Question 32

How long is diestrus in pregnant cats?

Answer 32

~60 days

Question 33

What possible signs can be present in cats during proestrus?

Answer 33

Head rubbing, rubbing face, or vocalization - 'overly friendly/extra affectionate'

Question 34

What behaviors are present in a cat during behavioral estrus?

Answer 34

Crouching with back hyperextended, lordosis and tail deviation, treading hind legs, rolling, and yowling

Question 35

What is different about estrus in cats than in dogs?

Answer 35

Cats do not have serosanguinous discharge

Question 36

When does interestrus/postestrus happen?

Answer 36

when females do not ovulate

Question 37

What occurs during interestrus/postestrus?

Answer 37

There is a regression of follicles and new follicular wave

Question 38

What breeds have very short interestrus periods?

Answer 38

oriental breeds

Question 39

When does diestrus occur in a cat?

Answer 39

following mating and/or successful ovulation

Question 40

How long is pregnancy in cats?

Answer 40

63-66 days post ovulation

Question 41

When does anestrus typically occur in cats?

Answer 41

During short days - October through December

Question 42

Describe mating in the cat.

Answer 42

Male approaches, positions, and grasps the female's neck. Intromission and ejaculation is very short. Characterized by intesnse yowling of female. Male quickly dismounds and female rolls repetitively (disoriented rolling) and grooms her perineum. Female refuses male for a period of time. Process repeats.

Question 43

What typical analyses are done for feline semen evaluation?

Answer 43

Concentration, motility, and morphology

Question 44

Why is it difficult to evaluate a Tom and its potential fertility?

Answer 44

They provide a low volume sample, there is low concentration, and the morphology is often low

Question 45

What can be used to collect semen samples in cats?

Answer 45

Artificial vaginas, electroejaculation, and urethral catheterization

Question 46

What does use for artificial vaginas require?

Answer 46

Extensive training and malleable, willing tom Not really practical

Question 47

What is required for electroejaculation in the tom?

Answer 47

General anesthesia and specially sized rectal probes

Question 48

How is urethral catheterization done?

Answer 48

Sedate the cat with dex (very high dose), pass an open ended tom cat catheter 9 cm into the urethra and gently aspirate upon removal

Question 49

What is most infertility in cats related to?

Answer 49

Management rather than pathological conditions in the male or female

Question 50

What will you see on vaginal cytology in cats in estrus?

Answer 50

>40-60% cornification

Question 51

What history is important if you are going to do breeding management on a cat?

Answer 51

Make sure there has been approximately 14-16 hours of light and ensure that 4 breedings occurred within 2-4 hours

Question 52

What can be done to confirm diestrus and when?

Answer 52

Progesterone assay 2 weeks following the tie

Question 53

How can AI be performed in cats?

Answer 53

vaginally, transcervically, or surgically

Question 54

How many spermatozoa are required for vaginal AI?

Answer 54

80,000,000 spermatozoa

Question 55

How many spermatozoa are required for intrauterine AI?

Answer 55

6,000,000 - 8,000,000 spermatozoa

Question 56

What can be used to induce ovulation in the cat?

Answer 56

hCG, GnRH, and mechanical

Question 57

What can be used to prevent cyclicity in a cat?

Answer 57

Spay, ovulation induction, and melatonin administration

Question 58

What type of placenta does a cat have?

Answer 58

zonary, endothelial chorial

Question 59

What is superfecundation?

Answer 59

When a cat has litters that are sired by multiple sires

Question 60

What is superfetation?

Answer 60

When a cat becomes pregnant with multiple stages of offspring has been reported

Question 61

What is the average length of parturition in the cat?

Answer 61

10 hours

Question 62

Do cats have a progesterone drop prior to whelping like dogs?

Answer 62

Yes, but without the temperature drop

Question 63

What behaviors do cats show during parturition?

Answer 63

Frequently alternates periods of pacing and purring with delivery of kittens. Queen typically squats during delivery of individual kittens

Question 64

Why is dystocia difficult to evaluate in cats?

Answer 64

Cats can inhibit or cease parturition during stress so it is hard to determine if it is a true dystocia

Question 65

What feline breeds are predisposed to dystocia?

Answer 65

Purebreds and brachycephalic breeds

Question 66

What is done if a cat has dystocia?

Answer 66

PE, vaginal exam, fetal heart rates, oxytocin, and C-section