Poor owner knowledge of feline reproduction contributes to the high proportion of accidental litters born to UK pet cats

摘要

The prevention of 'accidental' (that is; unplanned) litters from cats is an important population and welfare issue. Households inexperienced at breeding cats may not provide prenatal preventive healthcare, and peri- and postnatal problems may arise inthese litters. It has been estimated that 4 to 14 per cent of cat relinquishments in the UK are a result of unwanted litters.Respondents were most likely to report an accidental litter if they believed that a female cat should have a litter before being neutered, owned more than one cat or lived in rented accommodation. Believing that a female cat should have a litter of kittens before being neutered was the risk factor that had the greatest potential for reducing the number of accidental litters in the future. Respondents holding this belief were more likely to be male, believe that related cats would not mate (or not know)and have an annual household income of less than 20,000.