Birth control in the queen

Birth control in the queen

Preventing unwanted kitten birth and uncontrolled breeding is the goal of most conscientious cat owners. The majority of birth control methods stop queens from going through their heat cycle, which stops mating and conception. It is possible to temporarily or permanently control the cycle. It is also feasible to avoid pregnancy following an unexpected mating.

Queens have a very different reproductive cycle than do women. Oestrus cycling, sometimes referred to as heat or season, occurs in queens typically one to three times per year, however there is some individual variation in this. The time when mating and consequently pregnancy can happen is known as oestrus. Queens often go through a predictable cycle, thus any changes to this pattern need to be carefully considered. Periodic oestrus cycle can occasionally be postponed or suspended due to circumstances like illness. Queens, in contrast to women, do not go through the menopause and typically go through phases in their lives.

The first oestrus period, or puberty, usually starts when the queen is six to twelve months old, or eighty percent of her mature size. Large breed queens may reach their initial oestrus period later, for example, 1218 months. Owners occasionally fail to notice this first oestrus since the physical symptoms can be fleeting and modest.

The normal oestrus cycles lasts around 3 weeks in the queen, and can be divided into a number of distinct stages:

• Pro-oestrus usually lasts for around 9 days. In pro-oestrus the vulva becomes swollen with a red (bloody) discharge. Male cats may show interest in queens in pro-oestrus, but the queen will not allow mating.
• Oestrus lasts around 9 days. The bloody discharge typical of pro-oestrus is reduced. This is the time when queens will allow mating.
• Dioestrus lasts around 45 days. After oestrus the same hormonal changes occur in the queen whether or not she is pregnant. During dioestrus, levels of progesterone rise.  Dioestrus ends spontaneously in the non-pregnant state, and with whelping in the pregnant state. It is this part of the cycle that can result in a false pregnancy.
• Anoestrus is the 3-4 month period between oestrus cycles. In this period the uterus shrinks down and repairs. The reproductive system is outwardly inactive during this time.

There are  ways to prevent pregnancy in the queen.

• Avoidance of male cats whilst in heat.
• Neutering (spaying).
• Chemical prevention of the oestrus cycle

1. Avoiding male cats

This could be a natural birth control technique. It depends on the possessor of an entire queen having a solid comprehension of the typical oestrus cycle (see above). During the responsive oestrus period, extreme caution must be exercised. Male cats are not only rather adept at seducing females while they are in heat, but the queens themselves could depart if given the chance. However, this should be a viable technique of birth control provided that owners of both male and queen cats practice responsible cat ownership. Owners who plan to breed from their queen in the future frequently utilize this technique of birth control.

2. Neutering (spaying)

This permanent surgical method of preventing oestrus cycling and thus conception is the most often used form of birth control. Usually, an ovario-hysterectomy—a surgical procedure in which the uterus and ovaries are removed—is carried out. In some countries, a less prevalent form of surgical neutering is called an ovariectomy, or removal of the ovaries alone. In either scenario, the inability to conceive results from ovarian removal, which interrupts the reproductive cycle.

Although surgical neutering is a big treatment, the danger is modest and the majority of veterinarians do the procedure frequently. The majority of neutered animals are young and healthy. Before puberty, the treatment can be safely carried out (even on cats as young as 6 weeks old). There is a further health benefit of early neutering: the risk of developing breast cancer later in life is reduced.

3. Chemical prevention of oestrus cycles

There are several medications that mimic natural reproductive hormones that can be used as birth control. The medications are given as injections or tablets at predetermined intervals, and it's critical to adhere to veterinary recommendations regarding the course of therapy. Although many of the medications have potentially dangerous side effects, which you should discuss with your veterinarian, they can also prevent or shorten oestrus cycles. This approach is comparable to human contraception, but because of the possible hazards, it is not usually recommended for continuous, long-term birth control in cats. It can be applied as a temporary solution or permanently, but only in cases where cats are unable to have a traditional surgical neutering procedure.

Melatonin – alternative  & safer birth control in queen

Decreasing photoperiod is related to high endogenous melatonin concentrations, which are then followed by decreased sexual activity. Exogenous melatonin can be used to mimic this situation. Either oral or parenteral administration of exogenous melatonin or melatonin receptor agonists will suppress feline reproductive function.

Long-term melatonin administration is safe, but this treatment only results in short-term estrus suppression in postpubertal cats; it has not been effective in prepubertal cats.