| Abstract: | The incidence, causes and age distribution of preweaning deaths in a specific pathogen free (SPF) cat colony are described. The age distribution of kitten mortality is compared with that in one other SPF and four conventionally housed colonies. Almost all preweaning deaths in the SPF colonies occurred within the first week of life. The only infectious agent considered to be a cause of death was Escherichia coli. It is suggested that in the selection of breeding stock the mothering ability of the dam is of particular importance. |
