RESPIRATORY RATE (resting & healthy) is 20 to 30 respirations per minute and is not specific for any breed. Try to prevent the cat  the from becoming excited or panting.

Spay/neuter:                                                 Traditionally 6 months, healthiest before the first heat cycle for females
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Appearance of first estrus at the age of:    4 - 12 months

Estrous cycle in animals not served:           Every 4 - 30 days (14-19 day model) if constant photoperiod

Duration of estrus period:                            2 -19 days

First occurrence after parturition:               7 -9 days

Gestation period :                                         Mean = 63 days   Range = 58-70 days

Number of Young:                                        4 - 6

Suckling Period:                                            3 - 6 weeks

Reproductive Physiology

Unlike human beings and some nonhuman primates females which experience menstrual cycles, female cats experience an estrous cycle. Estrus ~ a recurrent period of varying length ( a display of outward signs lasts 4-7 days), during which the female ovulates (releases an egg from the ovary), produces a watery secretion from the genital tract, and becomes sexually receptive to the male. Estrus is preceded by several days of proestrus (the period during which the female becomes sexually active) and is followed by several days of metestrus (this period usually last 7-14 days, during which time the female is no longer receptive and may aggressively reject males),  it is separated from the next estrus by a quiescent period known as diestrus or interestrus.

The cat is unusual among mammals in some aspects of its reproductive physiology. Most mammals, including human beings, are spontaneous ovulators: at a given stage in the female reproductive cycle, regardless of whether sexual intercourse has occurred, an ovum is produced by a follicle in the ovary. The cat, however, is a reflex ovulator: an ovarian follicle produces an ovum only in response to mating.

Feline reproduction also differs in another way. The cat, like the horse, is seasonally polyestrous - that is, she is receptive to the male several times within the breeding season. The season in temperate zones usually begins twenty to sixty days after the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year), and it may end any time after the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). in the northern temperate zone, breeding usually begins in January or February and extends through the early part of September. in some cases, it may extend into October or early November. The first cycle usually occurs between January and March, the second from April to early July, and the last during late July through early September. Frequently, the first cycles of the year in free-ranging cats have been noted during a January or February thaw.   Kittens can be born in any month of the year.  During the fall, the cat experiences a sexually inactive period known as anestrus. 

The queen is known as a "long day" breeder, like the mare; that is, she is influenced by the lengthening of daylight. Twelve to fourteen hours per day of continuous artificial light may result in continuous polyestrus, with no anestrous period noted in the fall and winter. Fewer than twelve hours of artificial light per day, in a cat that is not exposed to daylight, may lead to anestrus regardless of the season. Even in breeding colonies with artificial light, some queens will experience a fall anestrus.

Feline Biochemistry Normals
Note: These normals are for a specific lab.  Each lab has their own normal reference ranges which may vary.
These values are for general reference only; refer to the laboratory normals from the lab you are using for specific reference values applicable to your situation.

Urinalysis Chemistry - CSF Parameters - Hormones
Under Construction

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