Reciprocal chromosome painting illuminates the history of genome evolution of the domestic cat, dog and human

Domestic cats and dogs are important companion animals and model animals in biomedical research. The cat has a highly conserved karyotype, closely resembling the ancestral karyotype of mammals, while the dog has one of the most extensively rearranged mammalian karyotypes investigated so far. We have constructed the first detailed comparative chromosome map of the domestic dog and cat by reciprocal chromosome painting. Dog paints specific for the 38 autosomes and the X chromosomes delineated 68 conserved chromosomal segments in the cat, while reverse painting of cat probes onto red fox and dog chromosomes revealed 65 conserved segments. Most conserved segments on cat chromosomes also show a high degree of conservation in G-banding patterns compared with their canine counterparts. At least 47 chromosomal fissions (breaks), 25 fusions and one inversion are needed to convert the cat karyotype to that of the dog, confirming that extensive chromosome rearrangements differentiate the karyotypes of the cat and dog. Comparative analysis of the distribution patterns of conserved segments defined by dog paints on cat and human chromosomes has refined the human/cat comparative genome map and, most importantly, has revealed 15 cryptic inversions in seven large chromosomal regions of conserved synteny between humans and cats.

Lateralized behaviour in the domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus

Lateralized behaviour in the felids has been subject to little investigation. We examined the paw use of 42 domestic cats on three tasks designed to determine whether the animals performed asymmetrical motor behaviour. The influence of the cats' sex and age on their paw preferences was also explored. The distribution of the cats' paw preferences differed significantly between the three tasks. Task 1, the most complex exercise involving retrieval of a food treat from an empty jar, encouraged the most apparent display of lateralized behaviour, with all but one animal showing a strong preference to use either their left or right paw consistently. Tasks 2 (an exercise involving reaching for a toy suspended overhead) and 3 (a challenge involving reaching for a toy moving along the ground) encouraged ambilateral motor performance. Lateralized behaviour was strongly sex related. Male and female cats showed paw preferences at the level of the population, but in opposite directions. Females had a greater preference for using their right paw; males were more inclined to adopt their left paw. Feline age was unrelated to either strength or direction of preferred paw use. Overall, the findings suggest that there are two distinct populations of paw preference in the cat that cluster strongly around the animals' sex. The results also point to a relationship between lateralized behaviour and task complexity. More apparent patterns of lateralized behaviour were evident on more complex manipulatory tasks, hinting at functional brain specialization in this species. © 2009 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

The ontogenesis of lateralized behavior in the domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus

For the first time, the development of paw preferences in the domestic cat, Felis silvestris catus, is explored. Twelve cats were tested at ages 12 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year on a challenge requiring them to use one of their paws to retrieve food. To control for repeated testing of the same cats at different ages, the subjects' paw preferences were compared with those of cats tested just once, at 6 months (n = 11) or 1 year (n = 14) of age. Analysis revealed a significant effect of age on the distribution of cats' paw preferences. Cats were significantly more likely to be ambilateral than paw preferent at 12 weeks and at 6 months but more likely to display a lateral bias in paw use at 1 year. There was a significant positive correlation between cats' paw preferences at 6 months and at 1 year. Lateralized behavior was strongly sex related. Females had a greater preference for using their right paw; males were significantly more inclined to adopt their left. Analysis revealed no significant difference in the direction or strength of paw preferences of cats tested longitudinally or cross-sectionally at 6 months or 1 year of age. Findings indicate that cats develop paw preferences by 1 year and hint at a relative stability in preferred paw use over time. The strong sex effect observed strengthens the case for the influence of a biological mechanism in the emergence of motor asymmetry in cats.

Lateral bias and temperament in the domestic cat (Felis silvestris)

Research points to a relationship between lateralization and emotional functioning in humans and many species of animal. The present study explored the association between paw preferences and emotional functioning, specifically temperament, in a species thus far overlooked in this area, the domestic cat. Thirty left-pawed, 30 right-pawed, and 30 ambilateral pet cats were recruited following an assessment of their paw preferences using a food-reaching challenge. The animals’ temperament was subsequently assessed using the Feline Temperament Profile (FTP). Cats’ owners also completed a purpose-designed cat temperament (CAT) scale. Analysis revealed a significant relationship between lateral bias and FTP and CAT scale scores. Ambilateral cats had lower positive (FTP+) scores, and were perceived as less affectionate, obedient, friendly, and more aggressive, than left or right-pawed animals. Left and right pawed cats differed significantly on 1 trait on the CAT scale, namely playfulness. The strength of the cats’ paw preferences was related to the animals’ FTP and CAT scores. Cats with a greater strength of paw preference had higher FTP + scores than those with a weaker strength of paw preference. Animals with stronger paw preferences were perceived as more confident, affectionate, active, and friendly than those with weaker paw preferences. Results suggest that motor laterality in the cat is strongly related to temperament and that the presence or absence of lateralization has greater implications for the expression of emotion in this species than the direction of the lateralized bias.

Ranging characteristics of the domestic cat (Felis catus) in an urban environment

In many countries, high densities of domestic cats (Felis catus) are found in urban habitats where they have the potential to exert considerable predation pressure on their prey. However, little is known of the ranging behaviour of cats in the UK. Twenty cats in suburban Reading, UK, were fitted with GPS trackers to quantify movement patterns. Cats were monitored during the summer and winter for an average of 6.8 24 h periods per season. Mean daily area ranged (95 % MCP) was 1.94 ha. Including all fixes, mean maximum area ranged was 6.88 ha. These are broadly comparable to those observed in urban areas in other countries. Daily area ranged was not affected by the cat’s sex or the season, but was significantly larger at night than during the day. There was no relationship between area ranged and habitat availability. Taking available habitat into account, cat ranging area contained significantly more garden and other green space than urban habitats. If cats were shown to be negatively affecting prey populations, one mitigation option for consideration in housing developments proposed near important wildlife sites would be to incorporate a ‘buffer zone’ in which cat ownership was not permitted. Absolute maximum daily area ranged by a cat in this study was 33.78 ha. This would correspond to an exclusory limit of approximately 300–400 m to minimise the negative effects of cat predation, but this may need to be larger if cat ranging behaviour is negatively affected by population density

Morphological, biological and molecular characterization of three strains of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909 (Kinetoplastida, Trypanosomatidae) isolated from Triatoma sordida (Stal) 1859 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) and a domestic cat

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Occurrence of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi in a domestic cat (Felis catus) in Andradina, São Paulo, Brazil: case report

Neste trabalho, é relatada a infecção natural por Leishmania em um gato doméstico no qual, formas amastigotas do parasito foram observadas em imprint de linfonodo poplíteo. Reações sorológicas positivas e negativas foram observadas pelo teste de imunoadsorção enzimática (ELISA) e reação de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI), respectivamente. A reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) revelou que a sequência de nucleotídeos foi idêntica à Leishmania (L.) chagasi. Este é o primeiro relato da doença em felino da cidade de Andradina, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, área considerada endêmica para leishmaniose visceral canina e humana.

Cryopreservation effects on domestic cat epididymal versus electroejaculated spermatozoa

Frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa have already been successfully used in artificial insemination in the domestic cat, proving to be a valuable resource for the reproduction of felid species, which are threatened with extinction. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of freezing and thawing on domestic cat semen collected by electroejaculation (EL) and from the epididymides (EP) and vasa deferentia. Ten adult cats were anesthetized, electroejaculated and immediately thereafter, orchiectomized. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected through the compression of caudae epididymidis and vasa deferentia. Spermatozoa were frozen-thawed following a single protocol. Sperm motility, sperm progressive status (0-5), plasma membrane integrity and morphology (light and transmission electron microscope) were assessed on two occasions, immediately after collection and after freezing and thawing. There were no significant differences between the electroejaculated and epididymal fresh or frozen-thawed spermatozoa for any of the variables. However, the incidence of acrosome defects after freezing and thawing increased by 19% based on light microscopy, whereas ultrastructural images revealed acrosome damages in most sperm cells. Since these acrosomal changes are known to affect sperm fertilising capacity, further studies are needed to optimize cryopreservation techniques for epididymal as well as electroejaculated domestic cat spermatozoa. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of efficiency between two artificial insemination methods using frozen-thawed semen in domestic cat (Felis catus) Artificial insemination in domestic cats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Impact of 24-h Cooling Prior to Freezing on the Survival of Domestic Cat (Felis catus) Epididymal Sperm

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a 24-h cooling period prior to freezing on domestic cat epididymal sperm viability. Fifteen tomcats were submitted to routine orchiectomy and sperm samples were retrieved from both epididymides in a Tris-glucose-20% egg yolk extender. For each tomcat, the diluted sperm was split into two equal volumes and cooled to 5 degrees C at a rate of 0.5 degrees C/min; one sample for 60 min (control) and the other for 24 h (cooled). After the cooling period, samples from both groups were frozen using an identical freezing protocol. Sperm samples were evaluated in three different periods: immediately after harvesting, after cooling at 5 degrees C for 24 h (cooled group) and after freezing thawing of control and cooled groups. Evaluations consisted of sperm motility and progressive status, sperm morphology and plasma membrane integrity (PMI) using two fluorescent probes. After cooling for 24 h, a decrease (p < 0.05) in sperm motility, progressive status and PMI was observed when compared to sperm samples immediately after collection. Comparing the results obtained after thawing, no difference (p < 0.05) was found regarding sperm motility, progressive status, PMI and sperm morphology between control and cooled groups. The results from the present study show that cooling cat epididymal spermatozoa at 5 degrees C for 24 h prior to freezing does not lead to major damage of spermatozoa impairing the freeze-thaw process.