Table 1.

Key for abnormalities of pregnancy in queens

Assumption: the queen is in good body condition and is being fed a commercial diet for adult cats that contains sufficient levels of protein and fat
1. The queen is aborting or fetal resorption has been documented using ultrasonography but the queen is not systemically ill	4
1′. The queen is aborting or fetal resorption has been documented using ultrasonography and the queen is systemically ill	2
2. Abdominal pain and signs of shock are not present	3
2′. Abdominal pain and signs of shock are present	Uterine torsion
3. Serum calcium concentrations are normal	5
3′. Serum calcium concentrations are low	Eclampsia
4. Possibilities include infection with feline leukemia virus, FIV, panleukopenia, chromosome errors and possibly hypoluteoidism—test for FeLV and FIV, check vaccination status for panleukopenia and necropsy abortuses if possible, karyotype abortuses, consider monitoring serum progesterone concentrations throughout pregnancy at a subsequent breeding
5. Possibilities include infection with bacteria, feline viral rhinotracheitis or toxoplasmosis. Bacterial infection is non-specific in clinical signs; necropsy and culture the abortuses. Treat the queen and any surviving kittens with an appropriate antibiotic and consider prophylactic antibiotic therapy at subsequent breeding. Look for an environmental source of bacterial contamination. Feline viral rhinotracheitis is associated with severe upper respiratory infection; check vaccination status of the queen. Toxoplasmosis is associated with severe neurologic disease of the queen; toxoplasmosis titers may be evaluated in serum