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All hail the queen!

Learn about the specialized care and nutritional needs of gestating and lactating mother cats to ensure healthy kittens. Understand the reproductive cycle, estrous period, and parturition process. Discover the importance of spaying and castration for managing cat populations responsibly.

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All hail the queen!

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  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.

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