Spontaneous ovulation in the cat: incidence among queens presented at a veterinary teaching facility

The queen is recognised as an induced ovulator. Ovulation without male contact is generally regarded as spontaneous. The aim of this study was to provide an estimate of the incidence of spontaneous ovulation in a population of intact queens presented to a veterinary care facility for both reproductive and non-reproductive reasons. The secondary objective was to determine the roles of age, breed, body weight, presence of tom cats or other cycling queens, and physical contact with humans on triggering spontaneous ovulation, along with its implications.