Page 68 - Complete Cat Care: How To Keep Your Cat Healthy and Happy

Reproductive disorders

Most cats are neutered at about 4 months of age, so are unlikely to develop
disorders of the reproductive system. However, “intact” toms (males) and
queens (females) may develop problems with their reproductive organs.

(release eggs from their ovaries) Giving birth may cause the uterus
until they mate. However, this to be pushed outside the body.
Signs of a problem means that matings usually result This is dangerous and needs
in pregnancy. If a queen mates immediate veterinary attention.
■ Distended abdomen (queen) with several toms, the kittens Another serious problem is
■ Thick, bloody, or foul-smelling in her litter may have more than infection of the uterus, causing a
discharge from vulva one father. Queens can naturally buildup of pus. This may develop
■ Inflamed mammary glands produce up to three litters per year. a few days after giving birth or in
■ Lumps in mammary glands the nonpregnant queen after a
■ Retained testes Female problems succession of seasons. Signs include

66 Infertility in queens can occur if fever, loss of appetite, and a bloody
problems during mating prevent or pus-filled vaginal discharge.
Maturity and mating ovulation from occurring. It Nursing mothers may develop
inflamed teats (mastitis) due
Kittens usually reach puberty at
may also be due to a hormone
Your cat’s health females can show signs of being organism such as Toxoplasma on the ovaries or tumors of the
to overfilling or infection.
imbalance, or an infectious
around 6 months of age, although
Older queens may develop cysts
or possibly Chlamydophila felis.
in season, or on heat, as young as
ovaries, uterus, or mammary
A vet may perform blood and
4 months. Queens naturally start
urine tests and scans to identify
glands. A vet may use ultrasound
coming into season with increasing
day length in spring, but indoor
these problems, and perform
cats may have seasons all year the underlying cause. scans and take biopsies to identify
Stress or infection may cause a
round. Seasons may occur every pregnant mother to abort her fetuses surgery to remove the growths.
3 weeks, but queens do not ovulate or reabsorb them into her body.
Male problems
The problem of male infertility
is rare, but one possible cause is
retained testicles (cryptorchidism).
In a male fetus the testes
develop in the abdomen, and by
the time the kitten is born they
usually descend and hang under
the tail in the scrotum. If both are
retained in the abdomen beyond
6 months of age, the tom will
be sterile because his body
temperature will be too high to
allow sperm production. Injury,
infections, or testicular cancer
can also reduce male fertility.
◁ Queen in season
A female in season may call to nearby males,
roll around on her back, and crouch with her
rump in the air.

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