Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Lodi, Italy.
J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Mar;24(3):232-242. doi: 10.1177/1098612X221079709.
Despite considerable interest in the field of companion animal reproduction, feline neonatology remains largely unstudied. This contrasts with the need for a more professional veterinary approach to newborn kittens and feline husbandry, across the pet, breeding cattery and rescue shelter settings, to reduce kitten mortality.
Feline neonatology has relevance for veterinarians around the world as cats are continuing to become established as popular companion animals.
Perinatal mortality in cats is remarkably high. Therefore, adequate neonatal evaluation and assistance at birth, careful monitoring of kittens in the vulnerable period until weaning begins, assessment of maternal factors and well-informed management of orphans are crucial in helping to reduce kitten losses.
This review aims to deepen the basic knowledge of the veterinary clinical team regarding the characteristics of feline newborns under normal conditions at birth through to the commencement of weaning. Much of the information is also relevant to breeders and rescue/shelter caregivers.
In compiling the present review, the authors have drawn on specific feline research data, where available, complemented by data extrapolated from scientific publications on newborn dogs, and also their own and their colleagues' professional clinical experience.
尽管伴侣动物繁殖领域引起了广泛关注，但有关猫科动物新生幼崽的研究仍然很少。这种情况与在宠物、繁殖猫舍和救援收容所环境中，需要更专业的兽医方法来照顾新生小猫和管理猫科动物的情况形成对比，以降低小猫死亡率。
随着猫科动物继续成为受欢迎的伴侣动物，猫科新生幼崽学对于世界各地的兽医都具有相关性。
猫科动物的围产期死亡率非常高。因此，在出生时对新生儿进行充分的评估和帮助、在脆弱期仔细监测小猫直至开始断奶、评估母体因素以及明智地管理孤儿，对于帮助减少小猫的损失至关重要。
本综述旨在加深兽医临床团队对正常情况下出生的猫科幼崽的基本认识，直至开始断奶。其中大部分信息也与繁殖者和救援/收容所护理人员相关。
在编写本综述时，作者借鉴了特定的猫科动物研究数据（如有），并辅以从有关新生犬的科学出版物中推断出的数据，以及他们自己和同事的专业临床经验。
