Cats reproduce sexually, and they become sexually mature as early as 6 to 9 months old. Female cats come into heat from January through September, but house cats may experience estrous cycles all year long. Cats may be in heat three to four times a year. Female cats accept a mate during the estrus stage of the reproductive cycle.
Cats’ mating may take anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes and will take place six to seven times until the female rebuffs further attempts by the male to mate. Mating can last for up to four days. If the mating is successful, ovulation will occur after 27 hours. The gestation period in domestic cats lasts between 63 and 67 days before the female gives birth to a litter with three to five kittens on average.
Breeding Season
So how do cats mate? Cat mating can occur at any time, but cats are more likely to be drawn to mating during the day. This is usually between March and September in the northern hemisphere. That is more likely to be between September and March in the southern hemisphere.
What Happens During the Estrus Cycle?
The best way to describe estrus is as the time when a female cat is more interested in mating. It is associated with the release of estradiol (a type of estrogen) from ovarian follicles. While it may appear to be similar to a human woman’s menstruation, it is not. For one thing, there should be no sign of bloody discharge, though some mucous discharge may exist.
Female cats are called induced ovulators. That is, unless there is mating or manual stimulation, ovulation will not occur. If female cats, which are also called “queens,” don’t mate when they are in estrus, their hormone levels will gradually drop. The estrus cycle will then end until it begins again in two to three weeks.
How Do Cats Mate
The queen cats will display an unusual posture known as lordosis to indicate their willingness to mate. To expose her vulva, she will raise her back end in the air and move her tail up and to the side. She will walk in place by rhythmically treading her back legs.
The male cat (also known as a “tom”) will mount the female from behind, his teeth gripping the scruff of her neck. This biting behavior could be used to ensure her cooperation. Another theory is that it stimulates the part of the female brain responsible for ovulation. Intact toms have barbed penises (similar to a fishhook), and when the queen withdraws it, she often makes a scream-like sound.
It is unknown whether the scream is from pleasure or pain at this time, but because she may swat the male across the face afterward with claws drawn, it can be assumed to be a pain. She can then groom herself. Regardless of how much pain mating causes her, the female may be eager to try again not long after.
When Does Conception Occur After Mating?
What causes cats to become pregnant? Ovulation usually occurs between twenty and fifty hours after mating. The eggs can be fertilized for about a day after they are laid. If the eggs are viable, they are fertilized in the oviduct. They then make their way down to the uterus via the uterine horn. Within ten to twelve days, the eggs will be implanted in the uterine lining.
Mating Behavior in Cats
#1. Female Cat on Heat
The animated German film “Felidae” depicts how queen cats behave when they want to mate. (Warning: even though all of the main characters are cats, cat lovers may find it difficult to watch.)
She’ll start rolling over and rubbing up against everything. While in the lordosis position, she may make some yowling sounds. Any touch on her back could cause her to assume the position. She might spray more and eat less.
She’ll also be looking for any chance to get outside. Allow her to do this only if you are prepared to care for a litter of kittens.
#2. Male Cat Calling
“A stray cat is crying, so a stray cat sings back,” goes the song “All Through the Night” by Cyndi Lauper.
You may have woken up in the middle of the night after hearing a cat’s mating call. While toms do not go on heat, they will act strangely if they catch a whiff of a queen on heat.
He’ll try to locate this potentially willing lady by calling out to her. He’s essentially saying, “Hey, baby! Hello, baby! “Where have you gone, baby?” Catcalls are reasonably loud and obnoxious sexual remarks made by men.
#3. Aggression
Some queens are more affectionate, while others are more aggressive. Toms may compete with one another for the right to mate with queen cats. If your feline pal flattens their ears and hisses, they are in a bad mood and should be left alone.
Mating Physically
Males will mount the female from behind and bite her around the nape. The male cat will then mate with the female cat, and if he loses his hold on her, he will grab her again. Although this is a natural process, because male cats have barbs on their penises, it can be extremely painful for the female cat. Although it has not been determined why male cats have these barbs, it is thought that they are there to aid in the ovulation process.
Female cats frequently yell loudly after the process is complete and the male cat pulls out. The entire procedure takes an average of 19 minutes; however, depending on whether or not there are complications, some cats may take anywhere from 11 to 95 minutes. Male cats, on the other hand, can repeat this process up to ten times in an hour.
Conception
You would think that a kitten would be conceived during the tomcat’s climax, but this is not the case. Ovulation usually takes between 20 and 50 hours, and the eggs can only be fertilized if they are viable.
Then, fertilized eggs that are still alive will move through the uterine horn to the uterus and implant in the lining of the uterus 10 to 12 days later. Having said that, a litter can have multiple fathers because the cat will ovulate for up to 21 days. While this is correct, the average is 7 days. Female cats have been known to mate up to 50 times during a heat cycle.
How to Mate Cats
While it is possible to mate two cats of opposite sexes by simply putting them in the same room together, this is not the safest option. Mating cats necessitates that both cats have grown to their full size and that you have checked them both for any genetic or health issues.
In addition, you must capture the female cat during her cycle. When the breeding process is done right, the chances of getting pregnant on the first try and having healthy kittens at pregnancy are both higher.
Step 1
Allow both cats to reach full maturity before mating. When a female cat has kittens too soon, she will use all of her energy caring for them, which can slow her growth. If you breed the male cat too soon, you may miss any genetic problems in his genes. Female cats should be 18 to 24 months old before mating, and male cats should be at least 18 months.
Step 2
Make a veterinarian appointment for each cat before mating. Ask the vet to give any shots that are needed, check the animal’s health, check stool samples, and do any other tests that are needed. Check that each cat is in good enough health to mate. The vet should be able to tell you if there are any possible problems with mating the two cats or with the kittens they will have.
Step 3
Wait for the female cat to come into heat. Outdoor cats are more likely to become pregnant in the spring and summer. She will become extremely affectionate and will attract any male cats for about three weeks. If she is not mated, she will exit the heating phase and return about two weeks later. Indoor cats can generally be mated all year due to how artificial light affects their cycles.
Step 4
Place the male and female cats together in the same room. When a female cat is in heat, she will allow the male to approach and mate with her. Mating can take anywhere from 1 to 20 seconds. After mating, the male cat will flee, while the female cat will appear to thrash around. This is a normal process that can last up to ten minutes. If desired, you can mate the female with another male cat in about 30 minutes. This broadens the range of offspring she is likely to have.
Step 5
Keep an eye out for a pregnant female cat. The cat will be active for the entire two-month period of the pregnancy. As early as day 18 of the pregnancy, the nipples may turn red and enlarge. If you’re not sure if the female is pregnant, you can take her to the vet and ask for an ultrasound.
How does cat mate with each other?
When the cats get together, the mating process lasts only about half a minute to four minutes. The male first bites the female’s neck, mounts her, and climbs on top of her. He then thrusts his pelvis into her before finally penetrating her, which usually takes about 4 seconds.
Why do cats scream when they mate?
Cats scream when they mate because the barbed reproductive organs of a male cat scratch them painfully. Male cats may also yell in response to the noises made by the female cat. The noise is a natural reaction to the stimulation required for ovulation and pregnancy.
Do cats feel pleasure when they mate?
When it comes to sex, dogs and cats are not like people. They do not cycle in the same way, and there is no evidence, behavioral or otherwise, that sexual activity provides them with any specific pleasure, such as orgasm.
How long does it take for cats to mate?
Cats mate in a matter of minutes or seconds, and they may mate multiple times in a short period of time. During this time, queens may mate with several different tomcats, so a litter of kittens may have multiple fathers.
How do I know if my cat has mated?
How to Determine Whether or Not a Mating Was Successful:
- Ignored estrus. If you’ve been keeping track of your cat’s heat cycles, the first sign that mating has resulted in pregnancy could be their estrus cycle.
- Swollen and pink nipples change nipples is another early sign of pregnancy.
- Behavioral changes
- Other Physical changes
Can a cat get pregnant after one mating?
To find the best mate, queens in heat may mate with several toms over a few days. Because it takes an egg about two days to get to the uterus, a cat can get pregnant with more than one male. This is because different sperm attached to the queen’s reproductive tract can fertilize two eggs.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, cats have a fairly simple form of mating, but it was shocking to me to learn that a litter could come from multiple males. Even if your cat is indoors, you should know if she is spayed or if your male cats are neutered. When they are in heat, cats that haven’t been spayed often run away to find a mate. That being said, it is also critical to spay or neuter your cats at the time recommended by your veterinarian.
So, I’m curious, pet parents: what was the most surprising thing you learned about how to mate cats today? Please let me know in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can cats mate with two cats?
It’s a little-known fact that kittens from the same litter can have different fathers. There might even be as many fathers as kittens! Superfecundation refers to the ability to produce a litter of kittens fathered by more than one tom cat.
Do cats fall in love after mating?
However, cats do not typically bond after mating. They may never see each other again, so it is not the same as falling in love in the human sense (physical attraction combined with an emotional bond).
What happens after a cat has mated?
The stalking courtship may have lasted hours, but the mating only lasts a few seconds. The tom usually skedaddles after the breeding is finished, whereas the female has an “after reaction” in which she rolls or thrashes around like a fish out of water to clean herself.
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