Page 391 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
22

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Feeding

Reproducing Cats

Kathy L. Gross
Iveta Becvarova
Jacques Debraekeleer

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged
by the way its animals are treated.”
Mahatma Gandhi

ease of conception, a low rate of fetal and neonatal deaths, nor-
INTRODUCTION mal parturition, maximum litter size, adequate lactation and an
optimal growth rate of healthy kittens. Providing adequate
Domestic cats generally reach puberty by six to nine months of nutrition throughout reproduction has long-range health
age. However, the best age for breeding is between one and implications for the offspring. Immune function is impaired for
one-half to seven years of age (Feldman and Nelson, 1996). life in animals born to nutritionally deficient dams (Burkholder
Queens 10 to 12 months of age are still growing and must meet and Swecker, 1990). Meeting the nutritional needs of repro-
nutritional demands for their own growth as well as for their ducing queens is critical to successful conception, delivery and
fetuses. Queens older than seven years should not be bred due weaning of healthy kittens.
to reproductive complications, irregular estrous cycles and Lactation begins at parturition and lasts six to 12 weeks
reduced litter size (Feldman and Nelson, 1996). The reproduc- depending on breed, kitten growth rates and management
tive stage of the queen can be divided into four periods: 1) practices. Most kittens are sufficiently mature at eight weeks of
estrus and mating, 2) gestation, 3) lactation and 4) weaning. In age to maintain adequate food intake for optimal development.
general, reproducing queens have increased nutritional needs Purebred kittens are typically weaned later than domestic
compared with maintenance requirements, especially during shorthair kittens. Lactation is the most demanding stage of
late pregnancy and lactation. During reproduction, energy reproduction. The queen must maintain its own nutritional
requirements increase and the minimum requirements for cer- needs and provide nutritionally complete, nutrient-dense milk
tain nutrients exceed even those required for growth. to support the needs of growing kittens. Consequently, queens
The objectives of a good feeding program for reproduction should enter lactation with sufficient energy stores to support
are to optimize: 1) the health and body condition of the queen needs above those supplied by daily food intake. Poor lactation
throughout the various reproductive periods, 2) reproductive performance is common without these reserves. Thus, success-
performance and 3) kitten health and development through the ful lactation depends on appropriate nutritional management
weaning period. Key indicators of optimal reproduction are during the pre-breeding period, gestation and lactation.