Research overview: GnRH-based ovulation induction protocols in felids

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and its agonists are used to induce ovulation in cats by stimulating the pituitary to release luteinizing hormone, substituting for the natural mating stimulus. This overview reviews how such protocols are applied in domestic and nondomestic felids to time ovulation for artificial insemination or to manage reproduction. It discusses dose, timing relative to estrus, and the advantages of triggering an endogenous gonadotropin surge compared with administering preformed gonadotropins. The approach can reduce risks of ovarian overstimulation seen with some other hormones. The topic is central to assisted reproduction in endangered cats, where reliable, repeatable ovulation is needed to coordinate insemination with the brief window of egg viability.