Catholic University of Cordoba, Argentina.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2011 Nov;129(1-2):78-81. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.10.007. Epub 2011 Oct 15.
Domestic cat seasonality between the tropics and the arctic zones is scarcely described and results are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to describe domestic feline seasonal patterns under a natural temperate photoperiod. A total of 372 estrous cycles were studied in 34 post pubertal cats during 900 days. The queens were housed in a cat colony (31°25' South Latitude, 64°11' West Longitude), acclimated under natural photoperiod and daily observed for reproductive behavior. Vaginal cytology was conducted three times a week. For each cat the number of estrous cycles and days in estrus per month for each year were recorded. The months of the year were grouped in four periods of 3 months each according to day length and photoperiod. Comparisons of estrous days among periods were performed by ANOVA for repeated measures. All the cats had estrous cycles throughout the year without intervals of anestrus. Mean number of estrous days differed among the periods (P<0.01), those of long day length and ascending photoperiod being greater (12.5±0.6) to those of descending photoperiod either with long (8.9±0.7) or short (9.3±0.7) days. When the two periods with ascending day lengths were merged and compared to the two periods with descending day lengths merged, the number of estrous days were greater when day length ascended (P<0.01). Nearly 60% of the estrous cycles occurred during the periods of ascending day length. It is concluded, that domestic cats under natural temperate photoperiod have estrous cycles throughout the year showing peak activity the months with increasing photoperiod.
家猫在热带和北极地区的季节性差异很少被描述，而且结果也不一致。本研究旨在描述在自然温带光照周期下家猫的季节性模式。在 900 天内，对 34 只已过青春期的猫进行了 372 个发情周期的研究。这些母猫被安置在一个猫舍中（南纬 31°25'，西经 64°11'），在自然光照周期下适应环境，并每天观察其繁殖行为。每周进行三次阴道细胞学检查。记录每只猫每年每个月的发情周期数和发情天数。根据每天的光照时间和光照周期，将一年中的月份分为四个为期三个月的时间段。通过重复测量方差分析比较各时间段的发情天数。所有的猫在一年中都有发情周期，没有无发情期的间隔。发情天数在不同时间段之间存在差异（P<0.01），长光照时间和上升光照周期的发情天数较多（12.5±0.6），而下降光照周期的发情天数无论是长光照（8.9±0.7）还是短光照（9.3±0.7）时间都较少。当将两个光照时间上升的时间段合并，并与两个光照时间下降的时间段合并进行比较时，当光照时间上升时，发情天数更多（P<0.01）。近 60%的发情周期发生在光照时间上升的时间段。因此，可以得出结论，在自然温带光照周期下，家猫全年都有发情周期，在光照时间增加的月份活动最为活跃。
