Research overview: the menopause debate in felids

Whether any felid experiences a true menopause, with reproduction ceasing well before the end of life, is a subject of comparative interest. This overview surveys the evidence and theory bearing on post-reproductive lifespans in cats, contrasting the gradual fertility decline documented in lions with the distinct, prolonged post-reproductive period characteristic of humans and a few other mammals. It reviews the demographic conditions, such as kin structure and the benefits of helping relatives, that could favor menopause and why these are generally weak in felids. The review weighs the data cautiously. Understanding the menopause question in cats contributes to broader evolutionary discussions about why reproduction stops before death in some species but not others.