Feline Therio

How are queens classified reproductively?

They are seasonally polyestrous, long-day breeders and induced ovulators.

How much light is required for queens to cycle?

At least 14 hours daily.

Queens are ___________ ovulators

induced

When does puberty typically occur in queens?

At 4-12 months, typically in their first spring at ≥2.3-2.5 kg.

When and for how long does seasonal anestrus typically occur?

For 30-90 days, typically between October and December.

How common is year-round cycling in cats?

Approximately 50% cycle year-round, particularly short-haired breeds.

What characterizes feline proestrus? Duration, hormonal, and behavioral

-0-2 days

-estradiol rises

-rubbing occurs and mating is refused.

What characterizes feline estrus? Duration, hormonal, cytology, and behavioral

-mean of 7 days, range of 2-19 d

-peak estradiol secretion

-≥40% vaginal cornification

-Sexual receptivity, marked by lordosis, crouching, rolling, calling/vocalizing, and allowing the tom to mount

What happens during a non-ovulatory interestrus? Duration and hormones

-8-10 days

-Occurs when estrus concludes without coitus or ovulation, estradiol drops and progesterone remains baseline

What happens during feline diestrus/pseudopregnancy (ovulation without fertilization)? duration, hormones

-about 40 days, 40-45d range

-Corpora lutea secrete progesterone which remains elevated before falling back to baseline around day 40-45

When do queens return to estrus after queening/postpartum?

-Typically within 7-10 days

-lactational anestrus may delay cycling until 2-3 weeks after weaning

What breeding pattern produces an optimal ovulatory response in cats?

Multiple matings across more than 3 days of estrus.

what does feline natural mating management regime include

-housing the queen with the tom for 3 days

-introducing her daily for 5-10 minutes

-keeping them together all day or allowing access for 2 hours daily

what are some behaviors/actions you see during the act of mating

-The tom mounts and grasps the queen's neck scruff, followed by intromission and ejaculation

-As the tom withdraws, the queen emits a characteristic coital cry (a loud vocalization elicited by the tom's penile spines)

-This is immediately followed by the after-reaction (frenetic rolling, floor rubbing, and grooming of the perineal area), lasting 1 to 17 minutes, during which she refuses the tom

-refractory period follows, typically lasting < 5 hours before subsequent matings

what is the "after rxn" of mating and how long does it last

-frenetic rolling, floor rubbing, and grooming of the perineal area

-lasting 1 to 17 minutes, during which she refuses the tom

how long is the refractory period after mating

< 5 hours before subsequent matings

What triggers the feline ovulatory reflex during mating?

Penile spines mechanically stimulate the vagina, triggering a neuroendocrine reflex.

When do the LH surge occur after mating?

LH peaks after 1-2 hours

When does ovulation occur after mating?

after 24-48 hours

What is the post-coital after-reaction in queens?

Rolling, floor rubbing, and perineal grooming for 1-17 minutes, with refusal of the tom.

How long is the typical refractory period between feline matings?

Less than five hours.

How long is feline gestation?

-65-67 days

-range 62-71 days from first breeding

What type of placenta do cats have?

Zonary, endotheliochorial.

What role does progesterone play in feline pregnancy?

It maintains pregnancy and declines toward term

How do relaxin and prolactin change during feline gestation?

-Relaxin rises from day 20 and peaks near day 40

-prolactin rises during the second half of gestation until parturition

what are the different ways to diagnose pregnancy

-transabdominal palpation

-transabdominal US

-abdominal rads

-hormonal assays

When can feline pregnancy be detected by abdominal palpation?

-Uterine swellings/vesicles are palpable on days 21-35

-individual fetuses again at ≥58 days.

what are the benefits of transabdominal palpation

highly economical and equipment free

What are the limitations of palpating for feline pregnancy?

-A narrow diagnostic window

-relatively inaccuracy

-potential fetal death from aggressive palpation.

When can ultrasonography detect feline gestational vesicles

day 16

When can ultrasonography detect feline heartbeats?

day 25

Why is ultrasonography useful in feline pregnancy?

-Early confirmation

-fetal viability

-fetal stress assessment

is ultrasound reliable for determining total kitten count in feline pregnancy

no

What is the normal feline fetal heart rate reported in the source?

228.2 ± 35.5 beats per minute.

When does fetal skeletal mineralization become visible on radiographs?

day 38 or later

Which diagnostic modality most accurately determines feline fetal count?

Abdominal radiography.

When can progesterone distinguish feline pregnancy from pseudopregnancy?

-After day 45

-pseudopregnant queens return to baseline while pregnant queens maintain elevated concentrations

When is relaxin detectable and most accurate for feline pregnancy diagnosis?

-detectable from day 20

-most accurate after day 28, though not formally validated.

What behaviors characterize stage 1 feline parturition?

Nesting, isolation, pacing, panting, vocalizing, and semi-squatting during early contractions.

What happens during stages 2 and 3 of feline parturition?

-Fetuses and placentas are expelled in variable order

-anterior and posterior presentations are normal.

How long does active feline labor usually last?

-A mean of 16 hours

-range of 4-42 hours

How does maternal survival change with feline labor duration?

-90% under 30 hours

-0% beyond 60 hours

-progressive decreases in maternal survival as labor duration increases

How common is dystocia in queens, and what is its most common cause?

-Approximately 5%

-primary uterine inertia

What labor intervals/signs suggest feline dystocia?

-Serum progesterone < 2 ng/mL with failure to deliver

- > 4 hrs of active labor without delivery of the first kitten

-> 2 hrs between kittens

-partial expulsion of a fetus lodged in the birth canal

-signs of maternal compromise or distress

What other findings warrant intervention for suspected feline dystocia?

-A lodged fetus

-maternal compromise

-progesterone below 2 ng/mL without delivery.

Are pharmacological contraceptives approved for felines?

No pharmacological contraceptives are approved for felines.

what are the 3 different categories of contraception

-progestagens

-androgens

-ovulation induction

what are the 2 different progestagens you can give for contraception

-megesterol acetate

-Medroxyprogesterone acetate

What are major risks of progestagen contraception in queens?

-Cystic endometrial hyperplasia

-pyometra

-mammary hyperplasia or neoplasia

-diabetes mellitus.

what is the 1 type of androgen you can give for contraception

mibolerone

What adverse effects are associated with androgens/mibolerone in queens?

Clitoral hypertrophy, thickened cervical skin, and urine spraying.

How can induced ovulation temporarily suppress feline cycling?

-can be induced via mechanical stimulation, hCG, or GnRH during estrus

-produces a 40-45-day pseudopregnancy.

What is the risk of repeatedly inducing ovulation in queens?

Repeated induction predisposes queens to pyometra.

what are the 2 drugs for pregnancy termination in feline

-dinoprost

-cabergoline

When is dinoprost effective for feline pregnancy termination?

After 30-40 days of gestation, using a 2-5-day protocol.

when does abortion occur with dinoprost

within 1 to 6 days of the initial injection

What adverse effects can occur after dinoprost administration?

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and listlessness, typically starting after one hour and lasting three hours.

When is cabergoline effective for feline pregnancy termination?

after 25 days, using a five-day protocol

when does abortion occur using cabergoline

occurs 7-10 days after starting.

are there any adverse side effects when administering cabergoline

No reported side effects in queens

What causes ovarian remnant syndrome?

Functional ovarian tissue is inadvertently retained after ovariohysterectomy.

what are the signs associated with ovarian remnant syndrome

Resumption of estrous behavior (calling, lordosis, rolling) anywhere from 17 days to 9 years post-OHE

When can estrous behavior resume in ovarian remnant syndrome?

-From 17 days to nine years after surgery

-mean onset is two years.

how can you diagnose ovarian remnant syndrome

-estrous confirmation

-ovulatory proof

What findings confirm estrus when ovarian remnant syndrome is suspected?

-Behavioral heat

- >40% superficial or cornified vaginal cells

- serum estradiol >20 pg/mL.

what ovulatory proof can help diagnose ovarian remnant syndrome

-Induce ovulation with GnRH or hCG during estrus

-then confirm active luteal tissue with a serum progesterone >2 ng/mL during induced diestrus/pseudopregnancy

How is ovarian remnant syndrome treated?

-Surgically excise the remnant within six weeks of induced ovulation

-prominent corpora lutea facilitate visual identification of the remnant

What causes feline fibroadenomatous mammary hyperplasia/hypertrophy?

An exaggerated response to endogenous or exogenous progesterone causes benign fibroglandular proliferation.

what is the signalment for feline fibroadenomatous mammary hyperplasia/hypertrophy

young queens under 2 yrs old

what are the clinical signs of feline fibroadenomatous mammary hyperplasia/hypertrophy

-Rapid-onset enlargement (developing within 2 to 5 weeks)

-diffuse enlargement involving all mammary glands

-The overlying skin can become tense, erythematous, and ulcerated

what are the ddx for feline fibroadenomatous mammary hyperplasia/hypertrophy

mammary neoplasia

how do you diagnose feline fibroadenomatous mammary hyperplasia/hypertrophy

-gross appearance, signalment, and reproductive history

-with excisional biopsy reserved for discrete/unclear masses

what is the treatment for feline fibroadenomatous mammary hyperplasia/hypertrophy

Spontaneous resolution occurs once progesterone declines, following luteolysis, parturition, pregnancy termination, or cessation of exogenous progestagens