A cat has a false pregnancy: causes, signs, symptoms and treatment

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

There is an erroneous opinion that a false pregnancy cannot occur in a cat - this is peculiar only to dogs. However, in fact, such a phenomenon in veterinary practice happens. Pet owners often face it and help their pet survive this difficult period.

What is a false pregnancy

This is the name of a special condition of a 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 is formed during the period of ovulation, in the absence of fertilization, does not die, but begins to produce hormones characteristic of the pregnant body. One of them is prolactin, which is responsible for lactation. The behavior of a pet in this regard is not much different from how a pregnant cat behaves. Physiological and psychological changes occur in the body, aimed atwaiting for fictional offspring.

Signs of a false pregnancy

First of all, owners usually notice changes in their pet's behavior. This may be excessive drowsiness, apathy, refusal to play. During this period, cats 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 - dragging clothes from place to place, rummaging through closets. Sometimes he even carries small toys in his teeth, which act as imaginary kittens. Some try not to catch the eye once again, but sit in secluded corners. Others are very noisy - meowing loudly, scratching closed doors, etc. Any attempts to rein in and call for order only reinforce this behavior.

Confirmation that a cat has a false pregnancy is physiological symptoms. Approximately 1.5–2 months after the end of estrus, small discharges from the vulva are observed. On examination, you can notice an increase in the abdomen. The nipples swell and colostrum is released from them. The body temperature rises slightly, the appetite either increases or disappears. The degree of severity of certain symptoms is influenced by the type of nervous system of the animal and the level of various hormones. Only a veterinarian and an ultrasound examination can confirm the fact that a cat has a false pregnancy, the signs of which are described above.

Causes of disease

Physiological and psychological failure in the body of the animal specialistsfind different explanations:

• One of the most common causes is mating with a cat that is unable to reproduce.
• Disturbances in the reproductive system.
• Finding a pregnant cat in the neighborhood. In this case, a substitution situation occurs, and the animal subconsciously simulates the expectation of offspring.
• Psychological stress is often the reason why a cat has a false pregnancy. Separation from a beloved owner, moving, loss of the pet itself, etc. can cause serious trauma. In this case, a psychological reaction arises in the mind of the animal, giving the cat a feeling of being needed by someone (in this case, kittens).
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Individual qualities.
• Overfeeding can sometimes cause this problem.

Psychological help

In order to find the right treatment, it is important to determine the cause of the false pregnancy in the cat. What to do next will be clear depending on this. If a cat lacks love and attention, then you should surround it with care, spend more time with it, take it in your arms more often, stroke it, and even allow it to sleep next to it. It will take 1 to 4 weeks for the cat to stabilize. All this time you need to make sure that she feels needed and loved. Joint walks and games help a lot with this. For cats, the feeling of being needed is very important. When it appears, then the desire to manifest pseudo-motherhood will quickly fade away.

Medication 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. Sedatives are usually used to stop lactation. Adjusting the cat's diet to reduce the amount of dairy products, as well as carbon-containing ones, will help reduce milk production. A prolonged lactation process can lead to mastitis and other problems. Therefore, it is recommended to take all sorts of measures - massage the mammary glands, cool compresses, apply tightening bandages. If mastitis still started - you can not do without antibiotics.

Often, doctors recommend drugs "Naloxone" or "Cyclozocin". Their dosage should be calculated individually for each animal and used no more than twice a day. Medicines have a large number of side effects and contraindications. "Naloxone" can cause nausea and vomiting, so before taking it, it is advisable to give the cat an antiemetic, for example, "Cerucal" or "Metocloramide".

What is the danger of a false pregnancy

Timely seeking help from a veterinarian and following all his instructions and recommendations will most likely lead to the fact that the pet's condition will stabilize and no he alth 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 disorders. Often the consequence is the development of mastitis, which is sometimes fatal if left untreated.

Repeated false pregnancy threatens with the occurrence of endometritis, pyometra, inflammation of the reproductive organs, malignant tumors, disruption of the thyroid gland 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 it, it is necessary to show the pet to the doctor.

Prevention

Owners of cats with a tendency to this disease need to monitor their pet's he alth more closely. Mating should be carried out only with obviously he althy cats. A few weeks after it, it is imperative to do an ultrasound examination in order to make sure that pregnancy has occurred.

One of the most important preventive measures is proper diet. Overfeeding an animal can affect not only metabolic, but also hormonal processes, causing them to fail. In addition, the cat must be protected from possible stresses and shocks that can also provoke a false pregnancy.

Purebred 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 the most vulnerable. This is Rex, Sphinx andoriental cat. In 15% of individuals of these breeds, cases of false pregnancy were noted. At the same time, the observed symptoms in a mother cat are necessarily inherited by her female kittens.

Usually, in case of fertilization at the next estrus, the cat is able to bear and give birth to he althy offspring. If it is not breeding, veterinarians recommend that such an animal be sterilized. Too much harm to physical and mental he alth brings a false pregnancy in a cat. After sterilization, it happens that there is swelling of the nipples, but then it quickly passes and does not recur.