Journal of Veterinary Clinics (한국임상수의학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics (한국임상수의학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Fetal Growth Rate and Determination of Weaning Time for Adoption of Kittens in Free-Roaming Cats

  • Kang, Yeon-Jeong (Laboratory of Veterinary Theriogenology, Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Kim, Ill-Hwa (Laboratory of Veterinary Theriogenology, Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University) ;
  • Kang, Hyun-Gu (Laboratory of Veterinary Theriogenology, Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University)
  • Received : 2014.12.05
  • Accepted : 2017.01.19
  • Published : 2017.02.28
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The aims of the present study were to determine the weaning time for adoption of kittens, and to evaluate the fetal growth rate during pregnant in free-roaming cats. This study was conducted on three pregnant free-roaming cats (one feral cat and two stray cats). Radiography and ultrasonography were performed on the feral cat and on one of the stray cats. In the feral cat, fetal head diameter was measured once during pregnancy to determine the cesarean section (C-sec) time. In the stray cat, serial fetal head diameter was measured from capture to parturition. The body weight of the feral cat's kittens was measured from 4 weeks postpartum because of their wildness. That of the stray cats' kittens was measured immediately after birth. In the feral cat, scheduled C-sec was performed at predicted parturition day by measurement of head diameter, and six healthy kittens were delivered. The stray cats had five and six kittens by natural delivery, respectively. In the body weight gain of feral and stray cat's kittens, two female kittens of the feral cat lost weight rapidly after they were separated from their mother, so they were returned to their mother for 1 more week. After that, the female kittens grew up without difficulty. Body weight gain of the ten kittens born to the two stray cats consistently increased, by approximately 14 g every day, until they were adopted. The body weight of kittens born by natural delivery was on average 77.5 g greater than that of kittens born by C-sec. However, the gap decreased with time. During the stray cat's pregnancy, fetal head diameter increased by 0.042 cm every day. Maximum head size before parturition was 2.43 cm. These results indicate that the weaning time for adoption of kittens was 5-week-old postpartum.

Keywords

References

  1. Beccaglia M, Anastasi P, Grinmaldi E, Rota A, Faustini M, Luvoni GC. Accuracy of the prediction of parturition date through ultrasonographic measurement of fetal parameters in the queen. Vet Res Commun 2008; 32 (Suppl 1): 99-101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-008-9107-1
  2. Beck KA, Baldwin CH, Bosu WTK. Ultrasound prediction of parturition in queens. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 1990; 31: 32-35. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.1990.tb00069.x
  3. Bloomer JP, Bester MN. Effects of hunting on population characteristics of feral cats on Marion Island. S Afr J Wildl Res 1991; 21: 97-102.
  4. Bryan K. Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook, 2nd edition: The Guide to Trap-Neuter-Return for the Feral Cat Care taker. New York: Neighborhood Cats. 2013: 133.
  5. Farnworth MJ, Campbell J, Adams NJ. What's in a name? Perceptions of stray and feral cat welfare and control in Aotearoa, New Zealand. J Appl Anim Welf Sci 2011; 14: 59-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2011.527604
  6. Hendriks WH, Wamberg S. Milk intake of suckling kittens remains relatively constant from one to four weeks of age. J Nutr 2000; 130: 77-82. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.1.77
  7. Howell PG. An evaluation of the biological control of the feral cat Felis catus (Linnaeus, 1758). Acta Zool Fennica 1984; 172: 111-113.
  8. Levy JK, Gale EW, Gale LA. Evaluation of the effect of a long-term Trap-neuter-return and adoption program on a freeroaming cat population. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003; 222: 42-46. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2003.222.42
  9. Mahlow JC, Slater MR. Current issues in the control of stray and feral cats. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996; 209: 2016-2020.
  10. Nutter FB, Levine JF, Stoskopf MK. Reproductive capacity of free-roaming domestic cats and kitten survival rate. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004; 225: 1399-1402. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.1399
  11. Robertson SA. A review of feral cat control. J Feline Med Surg 2008; 10: 366-375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfms.2007.08.003
  12. Roger T. The Wild Life of the Domestic Cat. London: Arrow Books Ltd. 1983: 224.
  13. Scott KC, Levy JK, Crawford PC. Characteristics of freeroaming cats evaluated in a trap-neuter-return program. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002; 221: 1136-1138. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2002.221.1136
  14. Slater MR. The role of veterinary epidemiology in the study of free-roaming dogs and cats. Prev Vet Med 2001; 48: 273-286. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(00)00201-4
  15. Slater MR. Understanding and controlling of feral cat populations. In: Consultations in Feline Internal Medicine. Philadelphia: WB Saunders. 2001: 561-570.
  16. Van Rensburg RJ, Bester MN. Experiments in feral cat population reduction by hunting on Marion Island. S Afr J Wildl Res 1998; 18: 47-50.
  17. Zambelli D, Castagnetti C, Belluzzi S, Paladini C. Correlation between fetal age and ultrasonographic measurements during the second half of pregnancy in domestic cats (Felis catus). Theriogenology 2004; 62: 1430-1437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2004.02.009