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

There is an erroneous opinion that a cat has a false pregnancy can not come - it is peculiar only to dogs. However, in fact, such a phenomenon happens in veterinary practice. Owners of domestic mugs 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, with absent fertilization, experiences all the symptoms characteristic of pregnancy. This is a rather complicated process associated with the neuropsychological state of the animal and any hormonal disorders in the body.

The yellow body, formed during the ovulation period, does not die in the absence of fertilization, but begins to produce hormones peculiar to 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 the pregnant cat behaves. In the body, physiological and psychological changes occur, aimed at waiting for fictitious offspring.

Signs of a false pregnancy

First of all, owners notice usually changes in the behavior of the pet. This can be excessive drowsiness, apathy, refusal of the game. For cats in this period is characterized by a sharp change in mood - the animal then refuses to close contact, then, on the contrary, requires increased attention to itself. Often a cat tries to build a nest - drags clothes from place to place, digs in closets. Sometimes even he carries small toys in his teeth, which serve as imaginary kittens. Some try not to come across one more time, but sit out in secluded corners. Others behave very noisily - loudly meow, scratch closed doors, etc. Any attempts to curb and call to order only reinforce this behavior.

Confirmation that the cat has a false pregnancy, are physiological symptoms. Approximately 1.5-2 months after the end of estrus, small discharge from the vulva is observed. On examination, you can see an increase in the abdomen. Nipples swell and out of them is allocated colostrum. The body temperature rises slightly, the appetite increases, then disappears. The degree of severity of these or other symptoms is affected by the type of animal's nervous system and the level of various hormones. Confirm the fact that the cat has a false pregnancy, the signs of which are described above, can only the veterinarian and the examination of ultrasound.

Causes of the disease

Experts physiological and psychological failure in the body of the animal find different explanations:

• One of the most common reasons is knitting with a cat that is unable to give offspring.
• Violations in the work of the reproductive system.
• Finding a pregnant cat next door. In this case, a substitution situation occurs, and the animal subconsciously simulates waiting for the offspring.
• Psychological stress is often the reason that a cat has a false pregnancy. A serious trauma can be caused by separation from the beloved master, moving, loss of the pet, etc. In the animal's mind, a psychological reaction arises, giving the cat a feeling 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 correct methods of treatment, it is important to establish the reason for which the cat had a false pregnancy. What to do next - it will be understood depending on this. If the cat does not have enough love and attention, then you should surround her with care, spend more time with her, take more in hands, iron and even allow to sleep nearby. To stabilize the condition of the cat will take from 1 to 4 weeks. All this time you need to take care of making her feel needed and loved. This is helped by joint walks and games. For cats, the sense of their need is very important. When it appears, then the desire to exhibit pseudo-motherhood will quickly die away.

Medication help

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 medication. All of them should be appointed only by the veterinarian after the animal is inspected. To stop lactation, sedatives are usually used. Reduce the production of milk will help adjust the cat's diet in the direction of reducing the number of dairy products, as well as carbon-containing. The prolonged process of lactation can lead to mastitis and other problems. Therefore, it is recommended to take all sorts of measures - to do massage of the mammary glands, cooling compresses, to apply pulling bandages. If mastitis still started - you can not do without antibiotics.

Often, doctors recommend Naloxone or Cyclosocine. Their dosage should be calculated individually for each animal and applied no more than twice a day. Medicines have a lot of side effects and contraindications. "Naloxone" is able to cause nausea and vomiting, so before it is given to the cat it is desirable to give an anti-emetic, for example, "Cerucal" or "Metoclaramid".

Than false pregnancy is dangerous

Timely appeal for help to a veterinarian and the implementation of all his instructions and recommendations will most likely result in the pet's stabilization and no health problems. But if a cat undergoes a false pregnancy regularly, it contributes to the depletion of its body and the disturbance of the psyche. Often the consequence is the development of mastitis, which sometimes leads to death if not start its treatment.

A repeated false pregnancy threatens the appearance of endometritis, pyometra, inflammation of the reproductive organs, malignant tumors, thyroid dysfunction and other serious diseases. Therefore, it is not necessary to leave this problem without attention and expect that everything will pass by itself. At the first suspicions on it it is necessary to show the pet to the doctor.

Prevention

Owners of cats who have a tendency to this disease, you need to carefully monitor the health of the pet. Breeding only with known healthy cats. In a few weeks after it, you must make an ultrasound scan in order to be sure of the onset of pregnancy.

One of the most important preventive measures is the right diet. Overfeeding an animal can affect not only the metabolic, but also hormonal processes, causing them to malfunction. In addition, the cat needs to be protected from possible stresses and shocks, also capable of provoking a false pregnancy.

Generic predisposition

For a long time it was believed that this condition can occur in any cat. However, today experts agreed that there are 3 breeds that are most vulnerable. This is a rex, a sphinx and an oriental cat. In 15% of individuals of these breeds, cases of false pregnancy were noted. In this case, the observed symptoms in the mother cat are necessarily inherited by its female kittens.

Usually in the case of fertilization with the next estrus the cat is able to bear and give birth to a healthy offspring. If it is not pedigree, veterinarians recommend that the animal be sterilized. Too much harm for physical and mental health brings a false pregnancy in a cat. After sterilization, it happens that the nipples swell, but then it quickly passes and does not repeat.