Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (Felis catus)
Abstract
:Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
2.2. The Cats
2.3. Treatments and Procedures for Queens
2.4. Observations of Behavioural Oestrus
In-Ward Physical Assessment for Display of Oestrus Behaviours
2.5. Monitoring Cat Health and Adverse Behaviours
2.6. Queen and Tom Behaviours
2.7. Statistical Analyses
3. Results
3.1. Observations of Oestrus in the Queen
3.2. Queen and Tom Behaviours
3.3. Cat Health and Adverse Behaviours
4. Discussion
Adverse Effects on Queens
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Parameter | Definition | References |
---|---|---|
Calling | Prolonged or repeated vocalisation. | Jemmett and Evans (1977) [30]; Liberg (1983) [31] |
Scent marking | The queen repeatedly rubbed/brushed her cheek and neck to mark her scent on objects. | Mellen (1993) [32]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Treading | The queen displayed a rhythmic, raising and lowering of the hind legs so that she was stepping in place without locomotion. | Mellen (1993) [32]; da Silva et al. (2006) [17]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Tail deflection | The queen moved her tail off to one side (also at a slightly upwards angle) in a stationary position; normally seen in conjunction with lordosis. | Mellen (1993) [32]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Lordosis | The queen raised hindquarters while lowering the forequarters onto the ground, presenting genitals with her tail usually positioned to one side. This posture was stationary, however, it was sometimes accompanied by treading of the hind legs. | Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Rolling | Whilst the queen was lying, her body rotated from one side to another and this action was repeated. When rolling her back was rubbing against ground, the belly exposed and all paws extended in the air. | Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Flirt walk | The queen cat feigned walking/running back and forth or around the potential breeding partner. | Liberg (1983) [31]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Genital groom | The queen groomed its own genitals itself by licking, biting or chewing the fur around the vaginal region. Often seen with increased vaginal secretion. | Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Vaginal secretion | The secretion of a clear and viscous fluid was discharged from the vagina. | da Silva et al. (2006) [17] |
Behaviour | Definition | References |
---|---|---|
Calling | Prolonged or repeated vocalisation. | Jemmett and Evans (1977) [30]; Liberg (1983) [31]; Mellen (1993) [32] |
Scent marking | The tom repeatedly rubbed/brushed his cheek and neck to mark his scent on objects and often on a potential mate. | Mellen (1993) [32]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Spraying | When standing with the tail vertically erect, tom released a jet of urine backwards against a vertical surface or object. | Natoli and De Vito (1991) [34]; Mayes et al. (2015) [35]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Flehmen | Tom made a scowl-like facial expression, mouth open, upper lip elevated and teeth often exposed. The tongue may protrude out of the mouth; the tom using olfactory senses to detect scents. | Mellen (1993) [32]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Stalking | A very slow and controlled forward walk in a crouched position directed towards the target (queen in oestrus), the head kept low and eyes focused on the target. | Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Aggression | Included: a) growling—a low pitched, throaty, deep rumbling vocalisation produced while mouth closed or teeth may be exposed, b) striking—swiping a forepaw but no direct contact, and c) attack—the tom launches itself at a target with extended forelegs and attempts to engage in physical conflict. | Natoli and De Vito (1991) [34]; Bradshaw et al. (2007) [36]; Yeon et al. (2011) [37]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Tom attempts to mount cage | The tom attempted intromission by attempting to climb or straddle the cage with front and hind feet whilst the female was in close proximity. Often accompanied by a treading movements of the hind legs and thrusting actions with his pelvis against the cage. | da Silva et al. (2006) [17]; Stanton et al. (2015) [33] |
Treatment | Mean Oestrus Length (Days) | 95% CI | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
se | Lower | Upper | ||
Pre | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 6.4 |
A | 3.6 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 8.2 |
B | 27.1 | 3.1 | 21.0 | 33.3 |
C | 24.2 | 3.1 | 18.2 | 30.2 |
D | 3.5 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 9.9 |
E | 19.2 | 2.8 | 13.8 | 24.6 |
Treatment | Category | Estrus | No Oestrus | % In Oestrus | 95% CI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower | Upper | |||||
Control (A) | Exposure to tom 1 | 4 | 21 | 16.0 | 6.4 | 34.7 |
Control (A) | Exposure to tom 2 | 4 | 21 | 16.0 | 6.4 | 34.7 |
B | Exposure to tom 1 | 15 | 15 | 50.0 | 33.2 | 66.8 |
B | Exposure to tom 2 | 18 | 12 | 60.0 | 42.3 | 75.4 |
C | Exposure to tom 1 | 21 | 13 | 61.8 | 45.0 | 76.1 |
C | Exposure to tom 2 | 22 | 12 | 64.7 | 47.9 | 78.5 |
D | Exposure to tom 1 | 1 | 8 | 11.1 | 2.0 | 43.5 |
D | Exposure to tom 2 | 1 | 8 | 11.1 | 2.0 | 43.5 |
E | Exposure to tom 1 | 39 | 7 | 84.8 | 68.1 | 89.8 |
E | Exposure to tom 2 | 35 | 11 | 76.1 | 59.0 | 83.4 |
Treatment | Queen Oestrus Days | Tom Attraction Days | 95% CI | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N | Tom 1 | Tom 2 | Average | % | Lower | Upper | |
A | 25 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 20.0 | 8.9 | 39.1 |
B | 30 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 40.0 | 24.6 | 57.7 |
C | 34 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 58.8 | 42.2 | 73.6 |
D | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 22.2 | 6.3 | 54.7 |
E | 48 | 34 | 21 | 28 | 58.3 | 44.3 | 71.2 |
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Murray, P.J.; Rogie, M.; Fraser, N.; Hoy, J.; Kempster, S. Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (Felis catus). Animals 2020, 10, 1843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101843
Murray PJ, Rogie M, Fraser N, Hoy J, Kempster S. Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (Felis catus). Animals. 2020; 10(10):1843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101843
Chicago/Turabian StyleMurray, Peter J., Melanie Rogie, Natalie Fraser, Julia Hoy, and Samantha Kempster. 2020. "Development of the Mata Hari Judas Queen (Felis catus)" Animals 10, no. 10: 1843. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101843