ESTROUS LENGTH, PREGNANCY RATE, GESTATION AND PARTURITION LENGTHS, LITTER SIZE, AND JUVENILE MORTALITY IN THE DOMESTIC CAT

Reproductive performance in a feline research colony of 14 queens is r eported. Average estrous length in 38 cycles was 5.8 +/- 3.3 days, wit h a range of two to 19 days. Estrous length in 23 bred cycles was not shorter (p greater than 0.05) than in 15 nonbred cycles, suggesting th at induction of ovulation does not decrease estrous length. Pregnancy rate in 23 bred cycles was 73.9%. Gestation length averaged 66.9 +/- 2 .9 days with a range of 62 to 71 days (n=15). Average parturition leng th was 16.1 +/- 14.3 hours (n=7), with a range of four to 42 hours. Li tter size ranged from one to five kittens, with an average of 3.7 kitt ens per litter (n=15). Percent mortality by eight weeks of age was 29. 1%, with 4.7% stillbirths.