Feline Cryptorchids

2023 Author: Molly Page | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 22:49

Breeding and commercial problems of testicular dystopia in felines. The kitten was adorable. Modern type, big-eyed, with long, fluffy hair of a magnificent red-red color. He had just entered the junior feline class and, at first glance, had both show and breeding career ahead of him. The mistress of the little Persian was all glowing in anticipation of the expert's flattering words and the appreciation of her pet.

Nearby stood a proud breeder, the owner of the mother-cat. Fans and potential buyers crowded around. There was a little over a meter to the expert's table, and everything that the expert said to the assistant, who wrote down what was said in the assessment sheet, was perfectly heard by everyone present.

Having praised the general type and preparation of the kitten's fur, the expert proceeded to palpate the body and check the testicles (testicles) for completeness and development. Something alerted the judge. He asked a steward and an assistant to fix the kitten in the correct position for a special examination with the tummy up. (In adult sexually mature cats, this position is usually not used: they have all the personal belongings not only easily felt by the fingers with a superficial touch, but are also freely viewed even by most Persians.) After completing the examination and description, the expert asked to call the owner of the baby, who was impatiently awaiting the end of all the manipulations … He had a difficult and unpleasant duty to explain why such a charming kitten of the best type in the ring and better preparation not only gave way to its simpler competitor,but he must also say goodbye to the supposed career of a pedigree breeder forever: when examined, he found only one testicle, the second was not in place.

The age of reliable establishment of cryptorchidism should be clarified immediately. With normal development in most breeds of dogs and cats, the testicles descend into the scrotum by the time of birth. They are still small, mobile, when viewed with a cold hand, they are easily drawn into the inguinal canal. There is even a special muscle that lifts the testicle, which is poorly visible in adults. By the age of two months - the time of the graduation act - the testicles already firmly take their place in the scrotum and should not get away from it. If, for some reason, the testicle is not fixed in place, this happy moment is expected up to 5-8 months. And from three kittens can already participate in exhibitions in the children's class. Therefore, in the classes of kittens and juniors, cryptorchidism is noted, but not fined and the animal is not disqualified … The exhibit can lose the 1st place in the ring, or even get it, as the expert decides. But it is imperative to warn the owner, in an adult open class such a specimen must be exhibited already in the premiere class after castration, or it will be disqualified and will lose not only an assessment, but also a description.

The distressed owner rushed to the breeder, no less discouraged by the result of the examination, and both rushed to make claims to the owner of the cat, believing that the sex characteristics of the cat were his property - from him and the demand. Is this so? And where did the second testicle go? Let's try to figure everything out in order and start, as usual, ab ovo - with an egg.

Cat with two drooping testicles

Anatomical and morphological aspect. After fertilization, our "egg" - a cat's ovum, undergoes multi-stage division, differentiation of cells begins for further specialization. The laying of cells, which will later provide the basis for the formation of the gonads in both sexes, occurs in the same way and is located on both sides of the spine inside the future abdominal cavity. The ovaries remain there in the future, but the testicles make a long journey, the memory of which is only a rudimentary connective tissue ligament, which allows the researcher to follow this journey, as a result of which the testicles descend into the scrotum through the outgrowth of the peritoneum into the inguinal canals, which later close almost completely. If the inguinal canals are preserved, then the contents of the abdominal cavity (omentum,intestinal loops) and a pathological condition of an inguinal hernia occurs. In cats and dogs, this pathology is extremely rare, and its carriers are not allowed for breeding. The cats are castrated, and they undergo abdominal plastic surgery, after which they live happily ever after, delighting the owners with prizes won in the rings of the premiere. Males can also be castrated, but it is easier to keep them from mating, and in their behavior there are no unpleasant features of a sexually mature cat, which marks all household and street items with a stinking stream.but it is easier to keep them from mating, and in their behavior there are no unpleasant features of a sexually mature cat, marking all household and street items with a stinking stream.but it is easier to keep them from mating, and in their behavior there are no unpleasant features of a sexually mature cat, marking all household and street items with a stinking stream.

Related article Cryptorchidism in cats

The inguinal canal in cats is quite high from the scrotum, not far from the umbilical ring, and in adult healthy cats it is practically undetectable.

On the way of its journey, the testicle can make a stop under the influence of hormonal and mechanical influences, if the vessels or ligaments are for some reason shorter than necessary and are not allowed further. If the testicle stops somewhere, another pathological condition arises - testicular dystopia or finding it in the wrong place. It may not reach the scrotum for a couple of centimeters, or it may show up under the skin of the abdomen, almost in the area of the faintly visible navel - subcutaneous testicular dystopia. We may not find at all one or about the testicle either in the scrotum or under the skin of the abdomen, if one or both testicles are retained in the abdominal cavity - internal testicular dystopia.

The absence of a testicle in the place assigned to it by mother nature is called cryptorchidism, which can be one- or two-sided. Unilateral cryptorchidism is sometimes called monorchism from the words monus - one and orchida - testicle, i.e. carrying one testicle, which, firstly, has nothing to do with state monarchism (the only ruler), and secondly, as the name implies, monarchism can never be bilateral. It is correct to call this condition unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism.