All hail the queen!

1
All hail the queen!

• The gestating or lactating mother needs more
  energy.
• 20-30 more during last 2-3 weeks gestation
• Up to 100 more during peak lactation
• Look for this label
• "Complete and balanced nutritionfor all stages
  of a cat's life or for reproduction."
• Contains extra vitamins and minerals

2
Kittens need special care

• Provide 2-3 days colostrum if queen is not
  available.
• Colostrum gives extra nutrition and temporary
  disease immunity.
• Feedings start at every 3-4 hours.
• Eventually feed 3 times dailyuntil 8 months old.
• Wean at 6-8 weeks.

3
Reproduction

• Toms - male cats
• Queens - female cats
• Puberty reached at 4-12 months
• Females mature earlier than males.
• Varies by breed
• Reproductive behaviorsmay include
• Restlessness, yowling, scent marking

4
Estrous cycle

• Queens are seasonally polyestrous
• Heat (estrus) occurs at certain times of the
  year.
• Tied to longer daylight/higher temperatures
• Heat lasts 3-6 days.
• Estrous cycle lasts 15-21 days.
• Induced ovulators - egg released after being
  bred, then heat ends
• Gestation is 63-67 days.

5
Parturition hurrah, it's kittens!

• Queen chooses quiet, remote spot
• Time between births from 15 minutes to 2 hours.
• Queen licks newborn kitten to stimulate activity
  removes embryonic sac
• Litter size averages 4-6
• Kittens born helpless, with eyes closed

6
Castration/spaying

• Castration removing male testicles
• Spaying removing female reproductive organs
• Why do it?
• Overpopulation
• Resolves problem mating behaviors

7
Questions

• 1. How long is a cat's estrous cycle?
• 2. A male cat is called a __________ and a female
  cat is called a __________ .
• 3. Cats can learn to be vegetarians. TRUE or
  FALSE?
• 4. Kittens should receive at least two days of
  __________ , the queen's first milk.
• 5. The gestation period of cats is __________ to
  __________ days.