Is electroejaculation a safe procedure in cats? An endoscopic and histological prospective blinded study

Transrectal electrostimulation is a technique used for semen collection in several animals including felids, but also in humans with spinal cord injuries and in specific cases of anejaculation. To the authors' knowledge, safety and innocuity on rectal mucosa has not yet been assessed histologically. A prospective study was performed on 10 European cats in order to determine the impact of electroejaculation on the rectal mucosa, by performing endoscopic and histological evaluation of the rectal mucosa. Endoscopic evaluation was performed before and after semen collection. Standardized biopsy specimens were collected immediately after semen collection, on the site of electrostimulation and on the proximal part of the descending colon as a control, for further double-blinded histopathological evaluation. The degree of inflammation was evaluated following the criteria from the WSAVA Gastrointestinal Standardization Group. Semen collection by electrostimulation did not induce significant histological and endoscopic lesions. Electrostimulation may therefore be considered as a safe technique to collect semen in cats.