Questionnaire-based survey of parturition in the queen

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Reproduction
• Feline Health

Background:

• Parturition problems in queens often go unrecognized due to a lack of established normal parameters.
• Veterinarians and cat owners require clear data to identify deviations from normal feline parturition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine normal parturition parameters in domestic cats (queens).
• To establish reference values for gestation length, litter size, birth weight, and interkitten intervals.
• To identify factors influencing parturition progress and kitten outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire-based study was conducted with 197 queens.
• Data collected included gestation length, litter size, kitten presentation, birth weight, stillbirths, and interkitten times.

Main Results:

• Mean gestation was 65.3 days, decreasing with larger litter sizes.
• Median litter size was 4.5 kittens, with a slight male predominance (53%).
• Anterior presentation (69%) and posterior presentation (31%) were both observed as normal.
• Mean birth weight was 98g, influenced by litter size, sex, and presentation.
• Stillbirth rate was 5%, with stillborn kittens being more often female and lighter.
• Median interkitten time was 30 minutes, with 95% born within 100 minutes.

Conclusions:

• This study provides crucial reference values for feline parturition.
• The findings aid in distinguishing normal parturition from potential complications.
• Established parameters can form the basis for developing parturition protocols for queens.