Reproduction in the Cat

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.
 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: Duration one day or less

Characteristic: Rolling, head rubbing, vocalization,

crouching often with rear quarters elevated, treading
movement of feet but still rejecting male.
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 35-45 days
 Reproductive Tract
Oviduct

Ovarian Bursa Ovary

Bladder

Uterine Horn
Uterine Body
Urethra Cerivx

Vagina
Vestibule

Vulva Clitoris
Hormonal Changes during Estrous Cycle and Pregnancy
Copulation
Progesterone

LH
Parturition
Estradiol

Heat Heat

10 20 30 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Days
 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: 20-30 days
 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.
Ahmadzadeh et al, 2000
 Anatomy of Tom
Bulbourethral
Gland

Scrotum
Kidney Rectum

Ureter Testis

Bladder Glans Penis

Ductus Prostate
Deferens Gland
Cornified
Spines
Urethra

Os Penis
Glans Penis
 Reproductive Anatomy of Tomcat
Ductus Deferens
Ureter
Scrotum
Glans
Penis Urethra

Prostate
Gland

Bladder
Average age at: 9 months.

Semen Characteristics:
Volume: 0.04 ml
Total Sperm 15-130 x 106
Motility 60-95%
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
Breeding and Mating Behavior
 Ovary in Bursa

Ovarina Bursa Follilcles

Oviduct
Opening to Bursa Ovary

Uterine Horn
 Scrotum and Penis

Penis

Scrotum

Note opening to penis in the tomcat is below scrotum

 Scrotum and Testis

Caput
Epididymis

Corpus Testis
Epididymis

Scrotum
 Penis and Pelvic Region

Ductus
Bulbourethral
Glans Deferens
Gland
Penis

Bladder

Urethra

Penis Crus Prostate

Penis Gland
 Testis

Ductus Pampiniform
Deferens Plexus

Caput
Corpus Epididymis
Epididymis

Testis
Cauda
Epididymis
 Penis and Accessory Glands
Bulbourethral Prostate
Glans Gland
Gland
Penis Penis

Penial
Spines Urethra
Crus
Penis