The effect of management and psychosocial stress on the fetal and postnatal development of the domestic cat

A cattery consisting of 31 queens was divided into two groups. Group 1 remained in a location which they were accustomed to for years, while group 2 was exported to an environment of psychosocial and environmental stress. During the following seven months we observed four parturitions in group 1 and five parturitions in group 2. The new-born kittens in group 2 showed a significant lower birth weight and slower weight gain after the third week of lactation than group 1.