There is an erroneous opinion that a cat cannot have a false pregnancy - this is characteristic only of dogs. However, in fact, such a phenomenon in veterinary practice happens. Owners of house puppies often encounter him and help their pet survive this difficult period.
What is a false pregnancy?
This is the name of the special condition of the cat, which, in the absence of fertilization, experiences all the symptoms characteristic of pregnancy. This is a rather complex process associated with the neuropsychic state of the animal and any hormonal disorders in the body.
The corpus luteum, which forms during the period of ovulation, in the absence of fertilization does not die off, but begins to produce hormones characteristic of the pregnant body. One of them is prolactin, which is responsible for lactation. The behavior of the pet in this regard is not much different from how a pregnant cat behaves. The body undergoes physiological and psychological changes aimed at waiting for fictional offspring.
Signs of False Pregnancy
First of all, owners usually notice changes in the behavior of the pet. This may be excessive drowsiness, apathy, refusal to play. Cats in this period are characterized by a sharp change in mood - the animal either refuses close contact, or, on the contrary, requires increased attention to itself. Often a cat tries to build a nest - drags clothes from place to place, delves into wardrobes. Sometimes it even carries small toys in its teeth that act as imaginary kittens. Some try not to get caught in the eyes, but sit in secluded corners. Others behave very noisily - meow loudly, scratch closed doors, etc. Any attempts to restrain and call to order only reinforce this behavior.
The confirmation that a cat has a false pregnancy is physiological symptoms. Approximately 1.5–2 months after the end of estrus, small discharge from the vulva is observed. On examination, you may notice an increase in the abdomen. Nipples swell and colostrum stands out from them. The body temperature rises slightly, the appetite increases or disappears. The severity of certain symptoms is influenced by the type of nervous system of the animal and the level of various hormones. Confirm the fact that a cat has a false pregnancy, the signs of which are described above, can only be a veterinarian and an ultrasound examination.
Causes of the disease
Experts find different explanations for the physiological and psychological malfunction in the animal’s body:
- One of the most common causes is mating with a cat that is unable to give offspring.
- Violations of the reproductive system.
- Finding a pregnant cat in the neighborhood. In this case, a situation of substitution occurs, and the animal subconsciously simulates the expectation of offspring.
- Psychological stress is often the cause of a false pregnancy in a cat. Serious injury can be caused by separation from the beloved owner, moving, loss of the pet itself, etc. In the mind of the animal, a psychological reaction arises that gives the cat a sense of need for someone (in this case, kittens).
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Individual qualities.
- Overfeeding can sometimes cause a similar problem.
Psychological help
In order to find the right methods of treatment, it is important to establish the reason why the cat has a false pregnancy. What to do next will be clear depending on this. If the cat does not have enough love and attention, then you should surround it with care, spend more time with it, often pick it up, stroke it and even let it sleep next to it. It takes 1 to 4 weeks to stabilize the cat. All this time you need to take care that she feels necessary and loved. Joint walks and games help well in this. For cats, a sense of their need is very important. When it appears, then the desire to manifest pseudo-motherhood will quickly fade.
Medical assistance
Not only psychological problems, but also physiological disorders in the body can cause a false pregnancy in a cat. Treatment in this case will require the use of medications. All of them should be prescribed only by a veterinarian after examining the animal. To stop lactation, sedatives are usually used. Reducing the production of milk will help adjusting the cat's diet in the direction of reducing the number of dairy products, as well as carbon-containing ones. The prolonged lactation process can lead to mastitis and other problems. Therefore, it is recommended to take all kinds of measures - to do a massage of the mammary glands, cooling compresses, apply stretching bandages. If mastitis does begin, antibiotics are indispensable.
Doctors often recommend Naloxone or Cyclosocin. Their dosage should be calculated individually for each animal and applied no more than twice a day. Medications have a large number of side effects and contraindications. "Naloxone" can cause nausea and vomiting, therefore, before taking it, it is advisable for the cat to give an antiemetic, for example, "Cerucal" or "Metoclloramide".
Why is false pregnancy dangerous?
Timely seeking help from a veterinarian and following all his instructions and recommendations will most likely lead to the condition of the pet being stabilized and no health problems will arise. But if a cat has a false pregnancy on a regular basis, this contributes to the depletion of her body and mental disturbance. Often the consequence is the development of mastitis, which sometimes leads to death if you do not start treatment.
Repeated miscarriage threatens endometritis, pyometers, inflammation of the reproductive organs, malignant tumors, impaired thyroid function and other serious diseases. Therefore, you should not leave this problem unattended and expect that everything will go away by itself. At the first suspicion of her, it is necessary to show the pet to the doctor.
Prevention
Owners of cats with a tendency to this disease need to more closely monitor the health status of the pet. Mating should be done only with obviously healthy cats. A few weeks after it, it is imperative to do an ultrasound examination in order to verify the onset of pregnancy.
One of the most important preventive measures is the correct diet. Overfeeding an animal can affect not only metabolic, but also hormonal processes, causing them to malfunction. In addition, the cat needs to be protected from possible stresses and shocks, which can also provoke a false pregnancy.
Thoroughbred predisposition
For a long time it was believed that this condition can manifest itself in any cat. However, today experts agreed that there are 3 breeds that are most vulnerable. These are rex, sphinx and oriental cat. In 15% of individuals of these breeds, cases of false pregnancy were noted. At the same time, the observed symptoms in the mother cat must be inherited by her female kittens.
Usually, in the case of fertilization during the next estrus, the cat is able to endure and give birth to healthy offspring. If it is not breeding, veterinarians recommend sterilizing such an animal. Too much damage to physical and mental health is caused by a false pregnancy in a cat. After sterilization, it happens that there is a swelling of the nipples, but then it quickly passes and no longer repeats.