Research overview: pyometra and reproductive tract health in felids

Diseases of the reproductive tract, such as the uterine infection pyometra, affect fertility and welfare in domestic and nondomestic cats. This overview surveys reproductive tract pathology in felids, with attention to pyometra and the role of repeated luteal phases or progestin exposure in predisposing to uterine disease. It reviews how reproductive senescence, contraception, and irregular cycling contribute to such conditions and how they are diagnosed and managed. The review connects reproductive tract health to fertility, contraception practices, and the reproductive lifespan. Understanding pyometra and related pathologies clarifies an important dimension of felid reproductive health that bears on both individual welfare and the reproductive viability of animals in managed breeding programs.