Reproductive Management in Catteries: Optimising health and wellbeing through veterinarian-breeder collaboration

Abstract

Practical relevance: Many veterinarians – even those engaged in small animal reproduction – are uncomfortable with taking care of cat breeders or being in charge of catteries. Likely reasons for this are that feline reproduction is largely under-represented in undergraduate and graduate reproduction teaching, as well as in postgraduate education and science, whereas cat breeders themselves are often well informed and actively share knowledge with other cat breeders via the internet and social media. Clinical challenges: A variety of problems can exist within a cattery, and collaboration between veterinarian and breeder to solve these is ultimately beneficial for the breeder, for the veterinarian, and for the health and wellbeing of the individual cats and of the cattery as a whole. Aim: This review presents a comprehensive overview of aspects of cattery management that might negatively impact reproduction, including sanitation, hygiene and infectious disease control. It also discusses monitoring of reproductive performance, breeding recommendations, and the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to some common and specific problems. Equipment and technical skills: Reproductive management in the cattery requires no specialised equipment, as such. What it does need is an open mind, in terms of seeing how things are done, an open ear, for listening to the breeder, and the veterinarian’s clinical skills in palpation, auscultation and, where required, further examination of the animals. Keeping abreast of the latest information on infectious diseases, disinfection and genetics ensures proper advice is provided. Evidence base: Current knowledge of reproductive management in catteries is summarised in order to apply an evidence-based approach, whenever possible. Notwithstanding, much of the information remains empirical.

Scientific and technical assistance on welfare aspects related to housing and health of cats and dogs in commercial breeding establishments

“…( 2016 ) including 45 breeds and responses of 1,521 breeders investigated the age of first mating and reported a mean age at mating (±SD) of 2.7 ± 1.6 years with a range from 4 months to 11.5 years (n = 7,699). For large‐breed cats, the age at first litter reported was 24 months or more, depending on the season (Goericke‐Peschand Packeiser, 2022 ). Overall, based on the literature, there is evidence supporting the fact that the onset of puberty depends strongly on the breed.…”

“…Nine of them gave birth at 1 year of age and one cat gave birth at 6 months of age. The breeding of cats should be done when the cat is fully grown (Goericke‐Peschand Packeiser, 2022 ) as reproductive efficiency, health and welfare of the queens and the litters are closely interconnected. Therefore, measures linked to reproductive performance are often used to assess the overall health and welfare of a breeding queen (Nowak et al., 2020 ).…”

“…The Cat breeding associations usually suggest a maximum of three litters per queen over a 2‐year period (Goericke‐Pesch and Packeiser, 2022 ). A common recommendation given by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy (GCCF) is to respect at least 26 weeks between two kittenings for young breeding queens and 12 months for multiparous queens (more than three litters) (Goericke‐Pesch and Packeiser, 2022 ).…”

“…When determining the timing for the next mating, previous litter size, body condition and the health status of the reproduction systems must also be checked (Goericke‐Pesch and Packeiser, 2022 ). In a review by Fontbonne ( 2022 ), it is recommended that before deciding whether a queen should be mated again a thorough examination should be performed by examining the vaginal discharge.…”

Infertility In Queens: Clinical approach, experiences and challenges

“…it is characterised by hyperplasia of the endometrial epithelium and cystic dilatation of the endometrial glands (Figure 9). CEH may occur following the erroneous use (too high a dose or too long a treatment duration) of exogenous progestins (see accompanying reviews on reversible control of reproduction in queens and reproductive management in catteries 23,24) , 25 or in a cat that has experienced several episodes of spontaneous ovulation or infertile matings, with subsequent prolonged progesterone secretion leading to endometrial development without pregnancy. 22 CEH may be a cause of infertility as it seems unlikely that embryos could survive in such a hostile environment and placentation would be hampered.…”