Feline reproduction: problems and clinical challenges

Abstract

Audience: Many veterinarians are closely involved with pedigree cat breeding and have become familiar with the unique characteristics of feline reproduction and breeding management. However, even veterinarians who do not have involvement with the pedigree cat fancy require a basic knowledge of the reproductive problems that are most likely to be encountered in working with non-breeding pet cats as well as stray and feral cats.

Clinical challenges: This article reviews reproductive problems and challenges in both sexes - namely, ovarian remnant syndrome, mammary fibroadenomatous hyperplasia, congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract and pregnancy diagnosis in the queen, and cryptorchidism and low libido in the tom.

Evidence base: Feline reproduction has not received the amount of investigation and attention that has been directed at canine reproduction. The result is that less data is available both for description of normal reproduction and for management of common problems. This article reviews most of the available evidence for the conditions discussed. Efforts should focus on making information more readily available to the practitioner and expanding the knowledge base in this important area of feline medicine.

FIG 1

Taking a sample for vaginal cytology. The swabbed sample should be spread across the slide for examination

FIG 2

(a) Mammary hyperplasia in a young late-gestation pregnant queen. A litter of kittens was born 12 days later. The queen was treated with cabergoline, broad-spectrum antibiotics and analgesics. The kittens were hand-raised. (b) The same queen approximately 2 months later, after ovariohysterectomy. Courtesy of Dr Shelagh Morrison

FIG 3

The flank approach to ovariohysterectomy is useful in cases of mammary hyperplasia

A pregnant queen at term. Radiography is useful for determining the number of fetuses, simply by counting the number of skulls present

FIG 4

(a) Uterus unicornis discovered in a young queen at ovariohysterectomy. (b) Although one uterine horn may be hypoplastic or missing, the ipsilateral ovary is almost always present. Courtesy of Dr Jim Sweetman

FIG 5

Glans of the penis of (a) an intact tom cat with penile spines and (b) a castrated cat without penile spines

FIG 6

The retained testis in cats with abdominal cryptorchidism is often found near the bladder