Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical Gonadectomy

Few studies address behavioral changes after deslorelin treatment in cats. As increasingly more owners opt for pharmacological sterilization, understanding deslorelin effects on behavior is critical. This multicentric study compared behavioral changes in cats that were surgically sterilized with tho...

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Main Authors: Mihaela Velkovska, Maria Pereira, Maja Zakošek Pipan, Darja Pavlin, Lluis Ferré-Dolcet, Simona Normando, Stefano Romagnoli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/430
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author Mihaela Velkovska
Maria Pereira
Maja Zakošek Pipan
Darja Pavlin
Lluis Ferré-Dolcet
Simona Normando
Stefano Romagnoli
author_facet Mihaela Velkovska
Maria Pereira
Maja Zakošek Pipan
Darja Pavlin
Lluis Ferré-Dolcet
Simona Normando
Stefano Romagnoli
author_sort Mihaela Velkovska
collection DOAJ
description Few studies address behavioral changes after deslorelin treatment in cats. As increasingly more owners opt for pharmacological sterilization, understanding deslorelin effects on behavior is critical. This multicentric study compared behavioral changes in cats that were surgically sterilized with those that were treated with deslorelin using an anonymous survey of 19 behavioral changes. Owners of deslorelin-implanted cats completed two questionnaires related to the flare-up and downregulation periods, while owners of gonadectomized cats completed only one questionnaire. A total of 66 answers were collected (24 for surgical sterilization, 24 for flare-up, and 18 for downregulation). Decrease in urine marking, excessive vocalization, intact male cat urine odor, and disobedience were significantly higher in downregulated cats compared to gonadectomized ones. In the flare-up group, 68% of females exhibited behavioral manifestation of induced heat. Males displayed flare-up behaviors less frequently and intensively than females after implantation with deslorelin. Age at sterilization exerted a significant effect on five behaviors in deslorelin-implanted cats. Owners of deslorelin treated cats in the downregulation phase reported a more pronounced decrease in undesirable behaviors than the owners of surgically sterilized cats.
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spelling doaj-art-512403e4cc5a4d399f62d63455363b332025-08-20T01:56:38ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-04-0112543010.3390/vetsci12050430Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical GonadectomyMihaela Velkovska0Maria Pereira1Maja Zakošek Pipan2Darja Pavlin3Lluis Ferré-Dolcet4Simona Normando5Stefano Romagnoli6Clinic for Reproduction and Large Animals, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, ItalyClinic for Reproduction and Large Animals, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaClinic for Small Animals, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaAnicura Ars Veterinaria, 08034 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, ItalyDepartment of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, ItalyFew studies address behavioral changes after deslorelin treatment in cats. As increasingly more owners opt for pharmacological sterilization, understanding deslorelin effects on behavior is critical. This multicentric study compared behavioral changes in cats that were surgically sterilized with those that were treated with deslorelin using an anonymous survey of 19 behavioral changes. Owners of deslorelin-implanted cats completed two questionnaires related to the flare-up and downregulation periods, while owners of gonadectomized cats completed only one questionnaire. A total of 66 answers were collected (24 for surgical sterilization, 24 for flare-up, and 18 for downregulation). Decrease in urine marking, excessive vocalization, intact male cat urine odor, and disobedience were significantly higher in downregulated cats compared to gonadectomized ones. In the flare-up group, 68% of females exhibited behavioral manifestation of induced heat. Males displayed flare-up behaviors less frequently and intensively than females after implantation with deslorelin. Age at sterilization exerted a significant effect on five behaviors in deslorelin-implanted cats. Owners of deslorelin treated cats in the downregulation phase reported a more pronounced decrease in undesirable behaviors than the owners of surgically sterilized cats.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/430felinesflare-uppharmacological sterilizationcastration
spellingShingle Mihaela Velkovska
Maria Pereira
Maja Zakošek Pipan
Darja Pavlin
Lluis Ferré-Dolcet
Simona Normando
Stefano Romagnoli
Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical Gonadectomy
Veterinary Sciences
felines
flare-up
pharmacological sterilization
castration
title Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical Gonadectomy
title_full Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical Gonadectomy
title_fullStr Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical Gonadectomy
title_full_unstemmed Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical Gonadectomy
title_short Behavioral Changes in Cats Following Deslorelin Implantation or Surgical Gonadectomy
title_sort behavioral changes in cats following deslorelin implantation or surgical gonadectomy
topic felines
flare-up
pharmacological sterilization
castration
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/5/430
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AT darjapavlin behavioralchangesincatsfollowingdeslorelinimplantationorsurgicalgonadectomy
AT lluisferredolcet behavioralchangesincatsfollowingdeslorelinimplantationorsurgicalgonadectomy
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