Feline Reproduction PDF

VTHT 2201 Stacy Gregoire, LVT FE LINE RE PRODUCTION Feline Estrous Cycle Cats are seasonally polyestrous = multiple cycles through Spring and Summer ▪ More pronounced in outdoor cats due to exposure to natural lighting Cycling begins soon after daylight is > 12 hrs daily ▪ Highest incidence of...

VTHT 2201 Stacy Gregoire, LVT FE LINE RE PRODUCTION Feline Estrous Cycle Cats are seasonally polyestrous = multiple cycles through Spring and Summer ▪ More pronounced in outdoor cats due to exposure to natural lighting Cycling begins soon after daylight is > 12 hrs daily ▪ Highest incidence of estrus is February and March Seasonal anestrus in fall and winter when daylight is < 12 hrs daily ▪ Usually October-December but can be as long as September-January ▪ Long haired cats are statistically more likely to exhibit seasonal anestrus ▪ It is not uncommon for some cats to cycle year round ▪ Indoor cats who are consistently exposed to long periods of lighting (artificial and/or natural) are likely candidates Onset of puberty is around 8- 10 months of age, but partially depends on length of daylight (can be as young as 4 months)  Scenario #1: Proestrus Estrus - does not mate Rhythm of Interestrus - NOT the same as interestrus in dogs Cycle Depends Scenario #2: on Mating Proestrus Estrus - mates, ovulation induced Diestrus = +/- pregnancy Interestrus  Follicle Stimulating Hormone stimulates growth of ovarian follicle which contains oocyte and produces Feline estrogen This stage often goes unnoticed by owners Proestrus ▪ 12- 48 hr duration ▪ attracted to male but will not mate ▪ vaginal bleeding not seen Feline Estrus Receptive to breeding On average, duration is about one week but can range from 3-14 days Behavior changes ▪ Affectionate ▪ Vocalizing ▪ May be pronounced ▪ client may think cat is injured/in pain ▪ Lordosis posture ▪ Lifts hind and deviates tail to one side ▪ Spraying ▪ Tries to get outside Cats Are Induced Ovulators What is induced ovulation? ▪ Breeding must occur for ovulation to occur ▪ Penile spines scrape vaginal wall when male dismounts the queen ▪ Copulation cry from queen indicates vaginal stimulation has occurred ▪ This vaginal stimulation induces a surge of Luteinizing Hormone ▪ L.H. surge stimulates ovulation, but hormone levels must get high enough for the ovulation penile spines to occur ▪ Low levels can be a result of mating occurring early in the estrus cycle or too little vaginal stimulation ▪ Multiple breeding episodes, over several days, will result in an increased level of L.H. and a higher likelihood of queen conceiving ▪ Ovulation occurs ~24 hrs after a L.H. surge  Cats do NOT enter diestrus following estrus unless they mate during estrus If queen mates but is NOT impregnated… ▪ Duration of this stage will be ~40 days ▪ Also called pseudopregnancy (false pregnancy) ▪ Followed by interestrus, then proestrus/estrus cycling ▪ OR enters seasonal anestrus, depending on time of year Feline If queen is impregnated… Diestrus ▪ Gestation lasts 63-65 days, after mating ▪ Corpus Luteum (site where egg detaches from ovary) produces progesterone throughout pregnancy ▪ Progesterone is essential to maintain pregnancy ▪ Followed by interestrus, then pro/estrus cycling ▪ OR enter seasonal anestrus Pseudopregnancy during diestrus is less common in cats than dogs Feline Interestrus Brief period before next On average, duration is about one proestrus/estrus cycle, in cats, that do week but can range from 3-14 days not breed or do not ovulate Feline Breeding Recommendations Queen should be at least 12 months old Tom should be at least 12 months old Current on all vaccinations On heartworm preventative and flea control  Breeders usually breed queen 2 or 3 times on successive days ▪ Increases likelihood of ovulation Do NOT use vaginal cytology as diagnostic tool for Feline determining what stage of estrous queen is experiencing Breeding ▪ It can induce ovulation ▪ Vaginal stimulation may be used to induce Diagnostics ovulation and end estrus cycling, if queen is not going to be bred Bloodwork: ▪ Rise in Luteinizing Hormone level indicates ovulation may have occurred ▪ Rise in progesterone level indicates conception Feline Breeding continued Queen exhibits lordosis posture ▪ hindquarters elevated ▪ tail deviated to one side ▪ back legs “treading” Tom will bite neck of queen and mount Withdrawal of penis triggers “copulation cry” in queen ▪ Indication that mating has occurred ▪ Queen may turn and attack male ▪ should be left alone for 30 minutes  Important!! ▪ Feed queen a high-quality kitten food throughout gestation and nursing ▪ Need LOTS of calories to support growth of kittens Feline and lactation Pregnancy No MLV vaccines; only killed vaccines, if vaccines are needed Continue with HW prevention and flea control Feline Gestation 63-65 days after mating Kittens ▪ Detected on ultrasound after 14 days gestation ▪ Can be palpated starting at 3-4 weeks gestation ▪ Seen on radiographic images after 42 days gestation Litter size usually 3-5 kittens 1 week before due date owner should establish safe nesting area Stage 1 – Preparatory Stage ▪ lasts 24-36 hrs; ends when first kitten enters pelvic canal ▪ cervix dilates Feline ▪ temperature may drop ▪ restless, vocal, pant ▪ may make several trips to litter box Parturition ▪ nesting behavior; may hide Stage 2 – Expulsion Stage ▪ Parturition occurs ▪ usually 2-6hrs total; can last 24-36 hrs ▪ 30-60 min. mild labor and 5 – 10 min. heavy labor, per kitten ▪ First kitten takes the longest ▪ 10min - 2 hours between kittens ▪ Queen may stand, lay, or squat Stage 3 – Cleaning Stage ▪ expel placenta (usually with each kitten) ▪ Stage 2 & 3 occur with birth of each kitten ▪ uterine involution occurs ▪ Shrinkage and repair of the uterus ▪ Vaginal discharge for up to 3 weeks Interrupted labor Active labor stops and queen rests comfortably Quite common in cats so it is considered normal Cares for neonates and eats regularly Can last 24-36 hours then active labor will commence again ▪ Labor continues as normal Avoid this by keeping queen in quiet, safe place and leave her alone ▪ Any stress/anxiety can stop the labor Dystocia Less common in cats than in dogs Queen should be in isolated area where she feels safe - anxiety can lead to prolonged labor resulting in dystocia and even death of kittens Usually associated with first kitten ▪ if no problems with first kitten, labor usually proceeds without complication Alert veterinarian if client reports any of the following ▪ >30 min hard labor with no kitten delivered ▪ Acute depression ▪ Discharge of fresh, red blood for more than a few minutes Postpartum Complications Retained placenta – can lead to metritis (uterine infection) Retained fetus - less likely than in dog, will lead to metritis Metritis – uncommon unless one of the above situations occurs ▪ similar symptoms and treatment as metritis in dog Mastitis – uncommon in cats, but infectious organisms can cause disease/death in kittens ▪ Treat with antibiotics and discontinue nursing ▪ Kittens must bottle feed for remainder of nursing duration Eclampsia – refer to canine reproduction discussion for details ▪ Uncommon in cats ▪ Happens during peak lactation ▪ Can be caused by poor diet, excessive loss of calcium, hormonal imbalance, or receiving calcium supplements during gestation Caring for Kittens Colostrum needed in first 12-24hrs Newborn kittens will nurse every 2-3 hours Queen will lick kittens to stimulate urination and defecation Cannot maintain body temperature ▪ Environment must be kept warm ▪ Cold kittens cannot digest food Weigh daily to monitor progress Gain about ½ oz per day. Weight should double in about a week.  Feeding Orphan Kittens Age of Kilocalories # Feeding Kitten per Day per Day How much to feed? Birth- 2 6 kcal/ oz. 6-8 Commercial milk replacers have 0.8-0.9 weeks body wt kcal/ml 2-4 weeks 8 kcal/ oz. 4-6 body wt  Feeding Orphan Kittens continued Age of # feedings # ml/ oz. body Kitten per day weight Birth -1 8 0.9 Better to feed smaller amounts week more frequently 1-2 weeks 6 1.2 2-3 weeks 6 1.5 3-4 weeks 4 2.3 Kitten Development Eyes open and ear canals open at 1-2wks of age ▪ Still developing even after they open ▪ Do not force open! Will start exploring around 3 weeks Wean at 7-8 weeks Deworm with Pyrantel at 2,4,6 weeks Deworm queen with Pyrantel after delivery and at 2 weeks post- parturition ▪ Roundworms – no transplacental transmission; transmammary is rare ▪ Hookworms – transplacental and transdermal transmission; no transmammary Socialization! ▪ This should begin at three weeks of age ▪ Kittens should be exposed to as much stimuli/noises as possible ▪ Bottle-fed kittens tend to be aggressive so lots of human contact/love is important, in order to prevent the aggression