1. Feline Reproduction ABDUL SAMIK DEPARTEMENT OF VETREINARY REPRODUCTION
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE-UNAIR

2. Reproductive Tract Oviduct Ovarian Bursa Ovary Bladder Uterine Horn
Uterine Body
Cerivx
Urethra
Vagina
Vestibule
Clitoris
Vulva

3. Ovary in Bursa Ovarina Bursa Follilcles Oviduct Opening to Bursa Ovary
Uterine Horn

4. Anatomy of Tom Bulbourethral Gland Scrotum Kidney Rectum Testis Ureter
Bladder
Glans Penis
Ductus
Deferens
Prostate
Gland
Cornified
Spines
Urethra
Os Penis
Glans Penis

5. Reproductive Anatomy of Tomcat
Ductus Deferens
Ureter
Scrotum
Glans
Penis
Urethra
Prostate
Gland
Bladder

6. Cat: Reproduction Data
Estrus cycle duration 14 days
Estrus duration days
Type of ovulation induced
Mating methods 1M /1-15F
Gestation days
Litter size
Litters / year 2
Weaning age weeks

8. Feline Physiology and Reproduction
Reproduction in the Queen
Average age of puberty in the queen:10 months (range 4-18).
Queen is seasonally polyestrous breeder in that photoperiod
controls the period of cyclicity.
Breeding season: is from March to September. Actually split
seasons with January to March and August to October.
Queen is anestrous during late fall and winter.
Household queens can cycle during winter with lights in house
giving 12 to 14 hours of light.

9. Estrous Cycle of Queen
Reproductive cycle in the queen is similar to other species
with one unique difference. Queen requires copulation to
stimulate ovulation.
Average length of the estrous cycle is 14 to 21 days. Estrus
will last approximately 7 days followed by a period of
non-receptivity for 10 days if no mating occurs.
Estrous Cycle
Proestrus:
Characteristic: Rolling, head rubbing, vocalization,
crouching often with rear quarters elevated, treading
movement of feet but still rejecting male.
Duration one day or less

10. Estrus: Duration is 6 to 7 days.
Characteristic: Increase intensity of proestrus activity
but will now accept male. Acceptance allows mating
with deviation of tail to one side and permission of
Tom to grasp her neck, mount and copulate
Metestrus: Duration is 1 to 2 weeks
Characteristic: Following non-ovulation (no mating)
there is no acceptance of male and loss of signs of heat.
Psuedopregnancy:
Sterile mating induces ovulation of follicles and formation of CL release progesterone which is maintained for days

12. Spontaneous Ovulators
Generic Physiology of
Spontaneous Ovulators

13. Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus
Estrogen
FSH
Proestrus
GnRH
FSH

14. Spontaneous ovulation - Diestrus Estrogen LH Corpus luteum Ovulation
GnRH LH
Corpus luteum
Ovulation LH
Progesterone

15. Generic Physiology of
Induced Ovulators

16. Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus
Estrogen
FSH
Proestrus
GnRH
FSH

17. Induced ovulation - Diestrus GnRH Ovulation Corpus luteum ProgesteroneLH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH
Corpus luteum LH LH LH LH
Progesterone
Vaginal stimulation

18. Physiology of the
Queen as an
Induced ovulator

19. Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus
Estrogen
FSH
Proestrus
GnRH
FSH

20. Feline without induced ovulation
No neural response
Ooocyte degeneration
Follicular atresia
No vaginal stimulation

21. Interestrus -
1-10 days
Inactive ovaries

22. Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen
Pro/Estrus
Interestrus
No Ovulation

23. Insufficient vaginal stimulation results in insufficient LH to cause ovulation and results in the queen entering:
Anestrus or interestus

24. Proestrus GnRH Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus
Estrogen
FSH
Proestrus
GnRH
FSH

25. Feline insufficient vaginal stimulation
Inadequate
GnRH LH
Follicular atresia LH LH LH
Inadequate or short-lived LH
Ooocyte degeneration
Insufficient
LH release and binding
Insufficient vaginal stimulation
Vaginal stimulation

26. Interestrus -
1-10 days
Inactive ovaries

27. Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen
Pro/Estrus
Interestrus
No Ovulation

28. Sufficient vaginal stimulationLH
Results in queen entering
Ovulation
Diestrus or
pseudopregnancy
Corpus luteum
Progesterone

29. Spontaneous follicular growth - Proestrus, Estrus
Estrogen
FSH
Proestrus
GnRH
FSH

30. Induced ovulation - Diestrus GnRH Ovulation Corpus luteum ProgesteroneLH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH
After day 3 estrus
> 2 hours apart LH
Corpus luteum LH LH LH LH
Vaginal stimulation
Progesterone
Vaginal stimulation
Vaginal stimulation

31. Diestrus or Pseudopregnancy
40 Day Duration (not like dog)
Corpus luteum
Progesterone

32. Go into anestrus or interestrus
Diestrus or Pseudopregnancy
After 40 days have luteal degeneration
Corpus luteum
Progesterone
Go into anestrus or interestrus

33. Interestrus -
10-14 days
Inactive ovaries

34. 10-14 days Diestrus 40 days Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus
Interestrus
Ovulation
Diestrus
40 days

35. Induced ovulation - Pregnancy GnRH Ovulation Corpus luteumLH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH LH
After day 3 estrus
> 2 hours apart LH
Corpus luteum LH LH LH LH
Breeding
Progesterone
Breeding
Breedihng

36. Hormonal Changes during Estrous Cycle and Pregnancy
Copulation LH
Parturition
Estradiol Progesterone
Heat
Heat
Days

37. Mating of Queen induces LH surge for Ovulation
Mating by male induces ovulation but it takes approximately
a minimum of 4 matings to induce ovulation in queen.
Male may breed 10x/hour (WOW!!!)
The penial spines on the cranial end of the Tom’s penis
induces the stimulation of the vagina for the LH surge to
ovulate.
Duration of Gestation in Queen:
63-66 days
Pregnancy Diagnosis:
Abdominal Palpation: days

38. Average age at: 9 months.
Semen Characteristics:
Volume: ml
Total Sperm x 106
Motility %

39. Breeding and Mating Behavior
Cats are nocturnal
Female in heat crouches, rolls
stamps hind feet and raises pelvis
Male detects female through
pheromones
Female bends tail to one side and male bites back of neck to insert penis.
When penis is withdrawn, female will move forward and give out the “copulation cry”.
The copulation cry is thought to be caused by the penial spines as
the penis is withdrawn.
Breeding is repeated several times

40. Breeding and Mating Behavior

41. Pregnancy 65 Day Duration Ova spread throughout uterus in 6 - 8 days
Oocytes enter oviducts 4- 5 days post breeding
Ova spread throughout uterus in days
Fertilization
in the oviducts
65 Day Duration
Sperm cells are moved to oviducts

42. Anestrus -
days
Inactive ovaries

43. Pregnancy Estrous Cycle(s) of the Queen Pro/Estrus Interestrus
Ovulation/Fertilization
Pregnancy

44. Termination of Pregnancy
Cabergoline was given orally (n=5; 50 µg/cat/day) for five consecutive days.
Prostaglandin F2 was administered SC (n=5; 2.5 mg/cat/day) for five consecutive days.
Both cabergoline (n=5; 50 µg/cat/day) and prostaglandin F2. (2.5 mg/cat/day) were administered.

45. ESTRUS COITUS NO COITUS OVULATION NO OVULATION ESTRUS NO CONCEPTION
PSEUDOPREGNAN
CY (30-50 DAYS)
ABORTION
PREGNANCY 65 DAYS
NO LACTATION
LACTATION
ESTRUS (3-16 DAYS
LATER)
ESTRUS
3-16 d LATER
PROLONGED INTERES
TRUS, 35 d
ANESTRUS d
ESTRUS

46. Parturition Similar to other species in events and hormonal control
Dystocia rare - caesarian
Uterine inertia - oxytocin

47. Control of Estrus Ovariohysterectomy Induction of Ovulation
HCG
Vaginal Stimulation
Prevention of estrus
progestins

48. Disorders of the Queen Psuedo-pregnancy
Mating to sterile male
Vaginal stimulation or hormonal stimulation
Cystic endometrial hyperplasia (Pyometra)
Same as in bitch
Failure to cycle
Stress, poor nutrition, disease, inadequate light, cystic follicles

49. Diseases of the Tom Cat Spraying Cryptochid Castration
Descended at birth
Treatment is castration