Feline Reproductive Behavior: Identifying Oestrus in Queens

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Questions and Answers

How long does actual oestrus last in a queen without copulation?

7-8 days

4-5 days

9-10 days (correct)

5-6 days

What is the purpose of the loud cry exhibited by the queen during intromission?

Pain response

Maternal bonding

Stimulation of ovulation (correct)

Formation of vaginal plug

How long does gestation last in a cat?

56-66 days (correct)

50-60 days

70-80 days

40-50 days

What is the primary way a tomcat locates an oestrus female?

Olfactory cues Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic behavior of an oestrus queen?

Urinating frequently Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical duration of ejaculation in a tomcat?

less than 10 seconds Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary way a queen cat retrieves her kittens?

Auditory signals Signup and view all the answers

Why does the queen cat exhibit restless behaviour during parturition?

To stimulate the umbilical cord Signup and view all the answers

What is the average time frame for kittens to start suckling after birth?

Within 1-2 hours Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary sense kittens use to locate the nipple during the first 9 days after birth?

Smell and tactile sensation Signup and view all the answers

What is the common behavior of the queen when handling her kittens?

She grasps the skin of the back of their head Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical pattern of births in cats throughout the year?

More births in summer and fewer in autumn and early winter Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason behind the queen's frequent movement of her kittens to new nests?

To avoid predators or infanticidal males Signup and view all the answers

What does the queen cat typically do with the placenta after delivery?

Eats it and a part of the cord Signup and view all the answers

When do the signs of pregnancy first become visible in a cat?

At the 21-day mark Signup and view all the answers

What is essential for litter growth during pregnancy?

Vitamin and mineral supplements Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of parturition in the queen?

A great deal of licking Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical duration of a cat's parturition process?

1-2 hours Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Oestrus Cycle and Mating Behaviour

Actual oestrus lasts 9-10 days without copulation and 4 days if the cat is bred.
Signs of oestrus in a queen include:
- Calling and purring
- Restlessness and increased general motor activity
- Friendliness towards owners
- Frequent urination
- Rubbing her head and flanks on furniture
- Crouching and elevating her perineal region (lordosis position)
- Rolling and stretching of her body
When fully receptive, the queen becomes immobile and stands in a crouching position with her head held on the ground between her forelegs.

Tomcat Sexual Behaviour

The tomcat locates an oestrus female via olfactory cues deposited as pheromones in her urine.
The tomcat calls to the female, circles her, and sniffs her genitalia.
When the female is receptive, the male approaches her from the side and behind, rubs her with his forepaws, and then mounts her.
Intromission follows a forward stepping with arched back and pelvic thrusts, and ejaculation occurs within seconds, lasting less than 10 seconds.
Postcoital rolling by the queen and a loud cry during intromission (due to penile spines) are important for stimulating ovulation and forming a vaginal plug.

Gestation and Parturition

Gestation is 56-66 days in cats.
There is a seasonal distribution of births, with the greatest number of litters being born in summer and the least number in autumn and early winter.
Parturition is characterized by:
- Excessive licking by the queen of her belly and genital area
- Excessive licking of the foetal fluid from her body
- Restlessness, with the queen lying down and standing up with uneasy movements
- Circling and walking around the cage
After parturition, the queen eats the placenta and a part of the cord, and then directs her attention to her litter, lying down with an encircling motion and positioning her legs to form a U-shape around the kittens.

Maternal Behaviour

Newborn kittens are blind and deaf, and use smell and tactile sensation to locate the nipple.
Most kittens start suckling within an hour or two of birth.
The queen retrieves her kittens in response to auditory, not visual signals, usually picking them up by the scruff of the neck.
The queen frequently moves her kittens to new nests, moving 4-9 times before they are weaned.

Cat Management

Oestrus cycle is seasonal in the cat, commencing in January and reaching a peak in March and April.
The gestation period is an average of 8 weeks or 56 days.
Signs of pregnancy include:
- Nipples becoming slightly pink at 21 days, which is the first sign of pregnancy.
Management during pregnancy includes feeding a good and well-balanced diet, and providing vitamin and mineral supplements essential for litter growth.
Parturition (kittening) is characterized by a great deal of licking, mostly directed at the belly and genital area, and licking of the foetal fluid from her body or the floor.

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Description

This quiz covers the signs and behaviors of a female cat in heat, including vocalization, restlessness, and mating positions. Test your knowledge of feline reproductive biology and learn how to identify oestrus in queens. From frequent urination to lordosis positions, get ready to purr-fect your understanding of cat behavior!