Tabby Cat

　　Ovarian Cysts

　　Female cats belong to the category of seasonally polyestrous animals, meaning they only go into heat during seasons with sufficient light exposure. This light exposure includes daylight as well as electric lights. Taiwan enjoys spring-like weather all year round with abundant light, so female cats living in Taiwan often experience continuous estrus. Some cat owners find this ongoing estrus troubling. When a female cat continuously shows signs of heat, the possibility of ovarian cysts must be suspected.

　　Clinically, large cysts are often found on the ovaries during spaying surgeries, which is the cause of excessive estrus. Generally, continuous heat cycles may cause female cats to become thin or even anemic. Hormone treatments used in the past are not recommended due to severe side effects such as pyometra and mammary tumors. The best method is spaying surgery to resolve the issue permanently.

　　Pyometra

　　Pyometra is a well-known disease among many dog owners but is relatively rare and easily overlooked by cat owners. Unlike dogs, cats with pyometra do not show acute and obvious symptoms, which often delays diagnosis until the condition becomes severe. Especially with open pyometra, pus or purulent bloody discharge continuously flows from the female cat’s vagina. Because cats are naturally clean animals, they will lick these discharges clean, making it difficult for owners to detect.

　　Generally, cats with pyometra only display obvious clinical signs in the late stages, including fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and weakness. Pyometra is caused by progesterone and bacteria. Under abnormal progesterone action, the uterus becomes congested and swollen with nutrient-rich fluid, allowing bacteria to thrive and form the pyometra. Therefore, unspayed female cats, those given progesterone injections for contraception, and cats that frequently experience false pregnancy are high-risk groups for pyometra.

　　Treatment for pyometra is still recommended to be surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries. Post-surgery, cats may develop septicemia, bacteremia, or toxemia, so hospitalization for three days is necessary.

　　Mammary Tumors

　　This is a common tumor disease in older female cats, mostly occurring in unspayed cats or those frequently undergoing false pregnancy. It is widely believed that mammary tumors are highly related to progesterone. To prevent mammary tumors, female cats should be spayed early.

　　Mammary tumors can be simply categorized as benign or malignant, but visual judgment alone is insufficient. Histopathological examination of biopsy samples is needed for a diagnosis. Early mammary tumors should be removed promptly and biopsied. If the affected cat has not been spayed, spaying should be done simultaneously.

　　If the tumor is malignant, chest X-rays should be performed to check for lung metastasis. More extensive mammary removal and chemotherapy may be necessary.

　　False Pregnancy

　　False pregnancy is a hormonal imbalance where a non-pregnant female cat exhibits the same hormonal state as if she were pregnant. At this time, progesterone levels remain high in the blood. As previously mentioned, progesterone plays a significant role in gynecological diseases. Therefore, false pregnancy can be considered the root cause of many female cat gynecological diseases. If you notice your female cat exhibiting breast enlargement, milk secretion, and nest-building behaviors without being pregnant, it means your cat is experiencing false pregnancy, which also indicates a higher risk of pyometra and mammary tumors in the future. (Source：PetsZone)