“Reproductive Behavior of Small Captive Exotic Cats (Felis Spp.)”, 1989 (; similar):
The focus of this dissertation was on species in the genus, Felis, maintained in captivity. With the exception of the domestic cat, all species of small cats (Felis) are threatened or endangered in at least some portion of their original range and although captive propagation of some groups of animals has facilitated their preservation, zoos have not been particularly successful in breeding small cats. These felids reproduce inconsistently, at best, in captivity. The purpose of this dissertation research was to examine behavioral aspects of reproduction of small cats (Felis) in a captive environment, to determine why reproductive success is limited, and to offer suggestions for improving their reproductive potential.
Part I of the dissertation examined whether or not estrus could be detected and monitored solely through systematic behavioral observations. The behavior of 61 individuals representing 15 species of felids housed at 7 zoological institutions was systematically recorded for a total of 485 hours. Estrus was detectable using behavioral observations. In addition, it was found that compatibility of a pair and specific behavioral indicators of estrus could be determined through behavioral observations. Other reproductive parameters, eg. length of estrus and gestation, birth season, litter size, and age at maturity, were gleaned from zoo records. Information on size of captive populations and level of inbreeding for these species was also collected and analyzed.
In Part II of this dissertation, the effects of early rearing experience on subsequent adult sexual behavior were examined. It is a pervasive opinion among zoo professionals that hand/human-raised felids are less likely to reproduce than are maternally-raised cats. However, numerous exceptions, ie. hand-raised cats, have reproduced. An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of hand-rearing on adult sexual behavior, using domestic cats as a model for captive small exotic cats. Results from this experiment demonstrate that hand-rearing substantially reduces the cats’ ability to reproduce. Implications for rearing techniques in zoo nurseries are discussed.
Part III of this dissertation presents suggestions for the management of these cats in captivity, both at the level of the individual (husbandry protocol) and at the level of the captive population (population management).