Comparative endocrinology of domestic and nondomestic felids

This review compiled what was known about reproductive hormone patterns across the cat family, drawing heavily on noninvasive fecal and urinary steroid monitoring developed for zoo animals. The author summarized species differences in estrous cyclicity, the prevalence of induced versus spontaneous ovulation, seasonality, and ovarian responses to exogenous gonadotropins. The review highlighted how endocrine profiling can reveal silent estrus, pseudopregnancy, ovarian inactivity, and the effects of social housing on reproduction. By assembling comparative data from domestic cats through cheetahs, tigers, and small wild felids, the article provided a reference framework for diagnosing reproductive problems and tailoring assisted-reproduction protocols. It remains widely cited in felid conservation breeding and reproductive physiology.