Abstract

Fertility control measures aim to reduce reproduction and address the issue of overpopulation in pets. Progestins are among the most often utilized drugs for feline contraception, with Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) being one of the most frequently employed progestins. This study aims to observe the effects of a single intramuscular injection of MPA at a dosage of 50 mg per cat on the ovaries of female cats. Twenty adult indigenous female cats were selected to evaluate the effectiveness of MPA for 42 days. The cats were divided into control and treatment groups. Cats in the treatment group received a single 50 mg intramuscular injection of MPA. Both groups had an ovariohysterectomy after 42 days. Behavioral changes in cats following ovariohysterectomy, along with a morphological and histopathological examination of the ovaries, were observed. Mean and standard deviation of ovarian length and width were measured in both the control and treatment groups. Study results showed a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in ovarian size in the treatment group compared to the control group. The average ovarian length and width were 0.85 ± 0.10 vs 0.72 ± 0.11 cm and 0.60 ± 0.07 vs. 0.51 ± 0.08 cm in the control and treatment groups, respectively. Three out of ten female cats in the treatment group developed follicular cysts, while none in the control group experienced them. Histological slides revealed ovarian atrophy and cessation of folliculogenesis. Therefore, these results suggest that a single 50 mg dose of MPA could be advantageous for controlling cat fertility and tackling the problem of overpopulated pets.

Key words: Cat ovary, Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Progestin, Cat reproduction.