Wander a show hall in the late winter to early spring and you are likely to overhear a similar conversation before very long. Most female cats are not bashful about announcing their availability during estrus (“heat”), and their continual howls can leave a new breeder— or even an experienced one —wondering why they ever though breeding cats was a good idea.
It’s not just the noise that makes frequent heat cycles without a pregnancy a bad idea; they can be detrimental to the prospective queen’s health. Repeated heat cycles can result in the formation of cysts in the lining of the uterus, known as cystic endometrial hyperplasia, which not only can be painful for the cat and reduce fertility, they are also prone to bacterial infection, particular while the cervix is open during the heat cycle and mating. This is known as pyometra, a severe uterine infection that is difficult to treat and can lead to infertility, spontaneous abortion, sterility, and even death in an afflicted queen. Queens with strong heat cycles in show halls can be problematic for both their handler and their neighbors. Their calls and their pheromones are stress-inducing for neighboring cats, particularly adult males, not to mention the girls themselves. At best, the cycling cat and her neighbors may become a little difficult to handle; at worst, someone could get bitten.
Denne historien er fra February 2020-utgaven av Cat Talk.
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Denne historien er fra February 2020-utgaven av Cat Talk.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Checklist For What to Look For in Your Club's Next Show Venue
Show Manager To Ring One, Please
Tonkinese
When You're Well and Truly Tonked
AVOIDING The Kitten Fear Period
Young kittens seem fearless.4 As soon as those eyes open and they can get their legs under them, they are off to see the world if their mama and humans let them.
No Milk For You!
Milk Issues and Kittens
Fostering Kittens
When asked if I would be interested in fostering a queen and her eight newborn kittens, I volunteered without question.
Do You present ? Polish! OR DO YOU
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS!
No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!
Felines have graced the decks of boats and ships back nearly to the beginning of time, roaming freely on passenger ships, war vessels, and merchant schooners, keeping vermin at bay.
Feline Summer Movie Fun!
School is almost OUT! Huzzah! But raindrops are plunking against the window, the amusement and water parks haven’t opened yet, camping is out, and roasted hot dogs and S’mores are another month away.
Kittens Are Special...
...and so are some of the show rules for them:
Genetic Pleiotropy and the Risks in Breeding Recessive Mutations
Nearly everyone loves what’s rare and unique. A slight defect in the minting process of a coin can create a demand and a value well beyond the face value of the coin. The coin is functionally no different than its perfectly minted counterpart, but its scarcity and uniqueness alone make it more desirable than the rest.