Fertility parameters and reproductive management of Norwegian Forest Cats, Maine Coon, Persian and Bengal cats raised in Italy: a questionnaire-based study

Abstract

Objectives: Fertility and reproductive management were investigated, via questionnaires, in breeding establishments of Norwegian Forest Cats, Maine Coon, Persian and Bengal cats in Italy.

Methods: Six Bengal, five Maine Coon, eight Norwegian Forest Cat and seven Persian breeders responded for a total of 128 queens, 565 heats, 337 litters and 1424 kittens spanning the period 1998-2012. The mean number of queens per cattery was 4.9 ± 2.3, with primiparous queens constituting 20.5%. Of the catteries, 61.5% were indoor, with 50% of them having access to a fenced balcony. Fifteen percent of the catteries were outdoor with cat runs. No light supplementation was used in any of the catteries.

Results: Queens showed oestrous cycles throughout the year, although 67% of oestrous cycles occurred from January-June. Puberty occurred, on average, at 12.3 ± 7.4 months. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed routinely in only 30% of catteries. Both pregnancy length (average 64.7 ± 2.4 days, range 59-76 days) and litter size (average 4.2 ± 1.8 kittens, with 11.8% of kittens stillborn) showed some breed-specific differences; in Norwegian Forest Cats larger litter size was associated with shorter pregnancy length. Kitten mortality between birth and weaning was, on average, 14%. Stillborn kittens (P <0.01) and kitten mortality (0.01 <P <0.05) increased with litter size. In Maine Coons and Persians, a total of 3% of parturitions occurred via caesarean section (CS); litters born via CS were larger and characterised by a greater number of stillborn kittens and kitten mortality.

Conclusions and relevance: No previous data concerning reproductive patterns of pedigree cats raised in Southern Europe are available. Feline reproductive management should be adjusted for latitude owing to different climate and daylight patterns that may have an impact on feline reproduction.

Keywords: Queen; breeding management; fertility; litter size; oestrus cycle; pregnancy; stillborn kittens.

Figure 1

Average age (± SD) at puberty for 122 purebred queens raised in Italy. NFC = Norwegian Forest Cat

Figure 2

Distribution during the year of the oestrous cycles of 128 queens of four breeds (24 Norwegian Forest Cats, 24 Maine Coons, 28 Bengals and 52 Persians) raised in Italy. Data collected through questionnaires

Figure 3

Average (± SD) duration of gestation in purebred queens raised in Italy. Data collected through questionnaires. NFC = Norwegian Forest Cat

Figure 4

Distribution during the year of 337 litters of 128 queens of four breeds (24 Norwegian Forest Cats, 24 Maine Coons, 28 Bengals and 52 Persians) raised in Italy. Data collected through questionnaires

Figure 5

Distribution of litters size within each of four breeds of cats raised in Italy. Data collected through questionnaires. NFC = Norwegian Forest Cat

Figure 6

Number of live born vs stillborn kittens in 337 litters of four breeds of cats raised in Italy. Data collected through questionnaires. NFC = Norwegian Forest Cat

Figure 7

Pearson’s correlation between litter size and stillbirths in 337 litters of four breeds of cats raised in Italy. Data collected through questionnaires

Figure 8

Pearson’s correlation between litter size and pre-weaning mortality in 337 litters of four breeds of cats raised in Italy. Data collected through questionnaires. NFC = Norwegian Forest Cat