Page 1167 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

55 – THE INFERTILE QUEEN 1159

Diagnosis food, then give good nutritional counseling so that the
fundamentals of cat nutrition are understood.
Measure the vitamin A levels of the queen. Normal
plasma vitamin A levels are 2866 ± 2390 IU (960 ±
770 mg/ml). TAURINE DEFICIENCY

Differential diagnosis
Classical signs
Any of the causes of anestrus, fetal resorption or abortion.
● Central retinal degeneration.
● Cardiomyopathy.
Treatment ● Reproductive failure.
Feed a good-quality commercial diet.
See main reference on page 1181 for details.
Feed liver (good source of vitamin A) no more than
once a week if the cat is on an inbalanced diet and
the owner does not want to change to a balanced Clinical signs
commercial diet. If liver is fed too frequently, cats can Taurine-deprived queens maintain normal weight and
become addicted to liver and refuse to eat anything else. appetite and come into estrus, however, they commonly
Vitamin A supplementation. The amount needed for reabsorb fetuses, or produce stillborn or low-birth-
normal reproduction has been reported to be at least weight kittens.
2000 IU/day (670 μg/day). The NRC recommended ● Kittens may be born with brain deformities, limb
daily requirement for cats is 5000 IU/kg. deformities, and grow slowly.
Beware of over-dosing with vitamin A and producing
skeletal exostoses. Diagnosis
Measure plasma taurine levels. Whole blood levels of
Prognosis 250 nmol/ml have been suggested as representing a sat-
Prognosis is excellent for normal reproduction once the isfactory taurine status.
deficiency has been rectified and the diet continues to
be adequate in vitamin A. Treatment

A requirement of 400 mg of taurine for growth, and
Prevention
500 mg for reproduction, per kilogram (5000 kcal) of diet
The best prevention is to feed a good-quality commer- has been suggested by the National Research Council.
cial diet. If the owner wishes to feed home-prepared This means approximately 25 mg of taurine per day.

RECOMMENDED READING
Feldman EC, Nelson RW. Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction, 3rd edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia,
PA, 2004.
Guptill L, Slater LN, Wu CC, Lin TL, Glickman LT, Welch DF, Tobolski J, HogenEsch H. Evidence of reproductive
failure and lack of perinatal transmission of Bartonella henselae in experimentally infected cats. Vet Immunol
Immunopathol 1998; 65: 177–189.
Hurni H. Daylength and breeding in the domestic cat. Lab Anim 1981; 15: 229–233.
Johnston SD, Root MV. Managing infertility in purebred catteries. In: August JR (ed) Consultations in Feline Internal
Medicine, 3. Philadelphia, PA, WB Saunders, 1997, pp. 581–586.
Pedersen NC. Feline Husbandry: Diseases and Management in the Multiple Cat Environment. Goleta, CA, American
Veterinary Publications, 1991.
Sherding RG. The Cat: Diseases and Clinical Management, 2nd edn. Churchill Livingstone, New York, 1994.