Mating cats and cats: why they yell, how they reproduce, how long sexual intercourse lasts

Every breeder wonders why a one-year-old funny fluffy ball, which, it would seem, was brought home yesterday, one fine day suddenly begins to scream loudly and terribly. An owner who has no experience will think that the pet is in pain or is not feeling well. However, the terrible screams of an animal are a manifestation of the most important instinct, thanks to which reproduction occurs. The pet screams because it has already reached puberty and needs a partner to procreate. Not everyone knows how cats mate.

This procedure is far from simple, requiring special and careful preparation. The owner must take care of choosing a mate for his pet, make sure that he is not sick, and do not forget to trim his claws. He should approach this issue wisely, because any mistake can pose a threat to the cat’s health or not bring any results. In this article you can find answers to many questions relevant to the topic of cat mating: permissible age, frequency of breeding, possible problems and ways to solve them.

Mating cats is necessary for procreation

Age suitable for mating

Many cats mature by the age of seven months, but this does not mean that they are ready for mating. If the animal behaves calmly, then there is still no reason for concern, but if changes in behavior are observed, this already indicates “combat readiness.” What exactly indicates that your pet is ready to mate?

The cat began to mark his territory in various places;
He began to actively show aggression, which had not been noticed before:
You regularly hear its long howl;
Your pet is trying to sneak out into the street;
Soft toys began to act as sexual objects.

With cats things are a little different. They mature at the same age as cats, but the hormonal system is fully formed by one and a half years. Therefore, it is better to wait until this period, even if your pet has already begun to give “signals” about her readiness to conceive. The following symptoms indicate a cat's puberty:

Mournful and sometimes continuous persistent meowing;
The cat often rolls on the floor, arching her back;
She loses interest in her owner and refuses food;
The previously affectionate pet becomes aggressive;
And vice versa: a previously active cat becomes apathetic.

Mating contract

The contract is an important part that is simply stupid to ignore - it is a legal guarantee of honest cooperation between two animal owners.

The contract clearly states information about the animals, their owners and health status. Also, the obligations and rights of the parties are outlined point by point, all actions in case of various circumstances are regulated, the type of payment and its methods, management of pregnancy, responsibility for childbirth, and registration of offspring are also immediately indicated.

A cat mating agreement protects each party from possible problems, where clear instructions are given regarding all the nuances of the process.

Sample cat breeding contract.pdf

Preparing a cat for mating

When it becomes obvious that it’s time for the cat to go on a “date” with the cat, you should take the necessary measures to properly prepare your pet for the meeting with the “groom”. What nuances need to be taken into account before giving her for mating?

If mating is planned, do not give the cat any hormonal drugs, they have a negative effect on the body and can harm the reproductive system.
Make sure that the female has all her vaccinations and is free from any diseases - they can affect the birth of sick kittens.
It is better to carry out mating on the cat’s territory - in a familiar environment, the male is less nervous. Don't forget to prepare a comfortable carrier in advance.
Take into account the fact that the “bride” will become aggressive towards the “groom” and may scratch him. Therefore, before mating, do not forget to trim the cat’s claws a little.
Under no circumstances should you wash the female before a “date,” as the shampoo will overwhelm her natural odor and the male simply will not perceive her as a potential bride.

How to determine pregnancy

The main symptom is the immediate disappearance of sexual heat . If the estrus does not stop, the cat does not become pregnant.

An indirect indicator is behavior change. The cat stops screaming, becomes affectionate, rubs against its owners all the time and demands attention. But it is only possible to determine conception in the early stages with high reliability using ultrasound.

From the third week, some external changes appear: the nipples swell and acquire a bright pink color. The cat eats a lot and with appetite, gains weight and sleeps constantly.

A pregnant cat moves little and sleeps a lot

In the fourth week, you can carefully palpate the lower part of the tummy. Small compactions can be felt there. This procedure should be done as gently as possible so as not to cause pain to your pet.

Possible difficulties

Each cat has its own character. Features of behavior: fearfulness, aggressiveness, arrogance - can interfere with successful mating.

If the cat is afraid of the cat and wants to hide, you can leave them in a room where there are no hard-to-reach places, and put a carrier in which the cat will feel safe and calm.

The size of the partners matters. If the cat is much larger than the cat, and he has short legs, he will not be able to jump on her or reach the vaginal opening.

Cats tend to fall over on their side at the most critical moment, and it is more difficult for the cat to cover it. If the owner is present during the mating, he can try to hold the cat, but this must be done carefully so as not to scare the cat away.

It happens that during mating, the denticles on the cat’s organ tear out the hair from the cat’s body and fall into a ring. Usually the cat is a good licker, but sometimes he cannot remove it himself, and this makes copulation difficult. The owner must ensure that this does not happen and remove the ring of hair himself or contact a veterinarian.

In some cases, partners simply don't like each other. If a cat had a bad experience with a cat of a similar color, or such a cat scared him in childhood or scratched him, then by association he will not want to make contact. There are cats that choose one partner and refuse to mate with others. You can try to choose a cat with a similar exterior, but it is not a fact that the idea will lead to the desired result.

An inexperienced cat may not be able to complete sexual intercourse the first time - you need to leave the couple together for a longer time. The same method helps when a cat goes into heat due to stress when moving to a male cat. Just give it some time and the cycle will resume.

During the first heat of the year (late winter - early spring), cats rarely ovulate, even if the cat successfully ovulates it. Therefore, pregnancy does not occur. It is better to wait a few weeks until the second wave of sexual conscription.

To perform sexual intercourse, the cat needs to feel confident and be in a familiar environment, otherwise he will not be able to perform coitus.

The reason for refusal on the part of the cat is low levels of hormones. This is a rather rare case, since cats do not lose the ability to copulate even when their hormonal levels are reduced by half.

False pregnancy

A false pregnancy is a condition in which a cat exhibits symptoms similar to a true pregnancy, but conception has not occurred. The reasons may be mating with a sterile cat, a malfunction in the female’s body, or being near a pregnant or lactating cat. In the latter case, the causes of false pregnancy are psychological, due to the instinct of reproduction.

Ovulation occurs, in place of the egg a “corpus luteum” is formed, which provokes hormonal activity and preparation for the birth of offspring: appetite increases, the belly grows. After two months, milk will be released from the mammary glands, and if there are kittens from another mother nearby, the cat will feed them. This phenomenon is aimed at increasing the survival of the species in the wild, and is more typical of school animals, so it is not as common among cats as in dogs.

False pregnancy is not a disease. Manifestations are mitigated by sedatives and mild hormonal medications prescribed by a veterinarian. However, regular symptoms negatively affect the cat’s psyche and character, as well as healthy hormonal levels. Therefore, in such cases it is worth considering complete sterilization.

What should you take with you?

Simply taking your pet to mating is not enough; you need to take care in advance to ensure that the cat’s “wedding” is successful. Remember that the female will end up in someone else's territory, where she should feel more or less comfortable. In order for the cat to calm down at least a little, do not forget to take with you her rug, on which she is used to sleeping; the familiar smell will have a beneficial effect on her nervous system. It would also be a good idea to take her favorite food, a comb and, if possible, a tray. You can also grab your favorite toy, which the “bride” can distract herself with. As for the male, he will need a rubber bedding so that his paws do not slip during mating.

How to choose a partner

The union of two pets should produce beautiful kittens that will become worthy successors to the family. They choose a partner responsibly.

It is important to find out in advance the candidate’s pedigree, his state of health, vaccination dates and breed. This is especially important when breeding Scottish cats. They are prohibited from being mixed with representatives of their own breed and British Folds.

An agreement is concluded between the owners, which stipulates the conditions and monetary compensation. If doubt arises, one of the parties has the right to request that the animal be examined by a veterinarian.

How cats and cats mate

When meeting in person, the animals begin to get to know each other. Usually the male is the first to show interest and diligently “courts” his new girlfriend. He shows her all sorts of attentions, trying to interest her in his person. In most cases, females behave aggressively at first, but usually calm down quickly. And this is only the very beginning of their acquaintance; a rather long “foreplay” awaits them ahead, which can last up to several days.

Mating itself occurs quickly, from ten seconds to three minutes, and consists in the fact that the cat arches her back and the cat crushes her under him, holding the scruff of the neck with his teeth. Don’t be alarmed if your pet screams heart-rendingly during this process; this is a normal reaction. After everything is over, the female calms down, and some cats even tolerate the “act of love” with indifference. For fertilization, one mating is usually enough, but for greater success, experts recommend leaving the cat with the cat for several days so that mating can be repeated.

How to prepare an animal

Before mating, male cats are vaccinated and treated against helminths and external parasites. Anti-worm medications are given once a quarter, but no later than 10 days before the meeting of the animals. Vaccination is carried out annually, but no later than 14 days before mating.

The main condition for a favorable mating is the absence of diseases and strong immunity in both partners. To do this, owners protect their pets from infections and strengthen the immune system with a balanced diet and vitamins.

female

The rules for mating cats and female cats provide for the creation of safe and favorable conditions. Before meeting, the owner of the female must:

Avoid swimming in the last 5 days. Water washes away pheromones that attract males.
Take care of the length of the claws. This condition applies to both animals, as they may accidentally or intentionally scratch their partner.
Make sure there is heat. Artificial stimulation is not allowed. The use of hormonal drugs is fraught with cancer.
Avoid sedatives. Do not try to eliminate stress with valerian or other popular drugs. A drowsy and apathetic state will cause even more problems. Favorite toys that have a familiar smell will help you cope with stress in a new place.

Mating of cats and cats occurs in the territory of the male. For your pet's comfort, take care of a basic set of necessary things. She will need water and food bowls, a litter box, food and a carrier.

Male

The owner of the male is the receiving party. He needs to take care of comfort and safety. The room chosen for the meeting will have to be cleared of foreign objects and equipped with an anti-slip coating.

If you don’t yet know how mating occurs in cats, then the cat’s first time should happen with an untied partner. The male will gain confidence no earlier than the second mating.

To prepare your pet, follow the basic rules - cut the claws and do not give the cat any medications. Remember that your main task is to control the animals during and after mating. Responsibility for the partner will lie with the receiving party until she is returned to the owner.

Help from the owners

Mating is a natural process, but despite this, animals require the attention of their owners. And, in order not to wonder why the cat does not mate with the cat, mating should be controlled. Remember that this process requires maximum patience.

Show you care. Do not rush your pets, do not push them towards each other - this will only aggravate the situation. The “newlyweds” must reach a certain stage themselves.
Never raise your voice at your pets if you see that they are unable to come to an agreement. It is quite possible that they simply could not “agree.”
If you see that potential partners have already moved on to a “showdown,” you can stop the meeting. There’s no point in expecting that they’ll get along anyway.
If intimacy occurs, control the situation. The female may need your help if she begins to fall on her side, limiting access to her partner.
After the successful completion of the “date,” carefully examine the female for wounds, since the male, in a fit of passion, may accidentally leave scratches on the cat.

Possible complications

Mating is a difficult event for both animals and their owners. Sometimes this process is accompanied by various kinds of problems, which you need to have a general understanding of in advance so as not to be afraid of them in the future. We will talk about the most common difficulties that prevent fertilization in this chapter.

Disproportionality of partners

In some cases, owners do not guess the size of their pets. This does not happen so often, since mature animals of the same breed, as a rule, have similar dimensions. But, if the female turns out to be significantly larger than the male, fertilization itself often becomes impossible, since the cat’s body ends up on the cat’s back at the moment of failed intercourse. Of course, the owner can try to move the male to the desired part of the female’s body, but such attempts can lead to resistance from both animals.

When mating cats of the same breed, difficulties with dimensions usually do not arise.

If the male turns out to be larger than the female, then during the mating process the cat may receive injuries of varying severity. In this case, the owners can also artificially intervene and help the animals establish contact, but it is advisable, if possible, to avoid this problem and look for a suitable partner in advance.

Falling over a cat

Sometimes it happens that during intercourse the cat falls on its side, which prevents the cat from finishing what he started. In such situations, the only thing that can improve the situation is the support of the owner. It is necessary to be very careful when placing the cat in the correct position, since the presence of a person can cause severe irritation in it.

When collapsing a cat, you need to give it the correct position

It is worth noting that in some cases cats themselves cope well with this problem, fertilizing those cats that lie on their backs or sides.

Cat aggression towards cat

There can be many reasons why a cat fundamentally does not allow a cat to approach her. Most experts advise not to exhaust animals with each other’s meaningless company and to stop such matings before they end in direct conflict.

It is absolutely impossible to predict the compatibility of animals in advance.

If the partner is of particular value, some owners resort to forced ovulation in the cat, achieved through the use of a special probe. After this procedure, the cat will no longer have control over its instincts and willy-nilly let its partner in.

No heat in a new place

It is important to remember that a change of environment is stressful for every pet. Cats react to stress in different ways, and one of these psychosomatic reactions may be stopping the heat. Such manifestations go away on their own as soon as the animal gets used to the new place.

An unfamiliar environment can temporarily disrupt the functioning of an animal’s body.

Therefore, the best thing the owner can do is to give the female time to get used to the new conditions. This can take half a day or a couple of days. In some cases, owners leave the cat until the next heat to eliminate the likelihood of such a reaction from the body.

Why doesn't pregnancy occur?

Unfortunately, it also happens that even after several meetings, fertilization of the female does not occur. The reason may be the cat's infertility, but if he has previously mated successfully, then it is necessary to examine the cat. What might be the results?

The cat is either obese or malnourished;
Obvious problems with the reproductive system;
Stress that becomes chronic;
Any viral diseases are possible;
Deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the diet:
Failure in the body's hormonal system;
The mating was simply carried out at the wrong time.

Puberty and physical maturity of animals

Many inexperienced owners confuse these two concepts. As a result, they breed a cat with a cat too early, which provokes a difficult birth and the appearance of a weak litter. Mating of animals should occur only after they reach puberty. In cats and cats it occurs at different times.

In this case, the cat comes into heat much earlier than puberty. It usually begins at six months, and in some cases it may appear earlier. This physiological process does not mean that it is necessary to immediately take the cat to mating. Therefore, when a cat wants a cat for the first time, there is no need to immediately take her to mating. The pet’s body is not yet formed at this age, and therefore the cat will not be able to give birth to healthy offspring.

Her own life will also be at risk, since childbirth occurs normally only in fully developed animals. Therefore, you can contact your veterinarian for advice when your cat asks for a cat for the first time. This specialist will tell you best what to do in such a situation. He may prescribe special herbal drops for cats. They will calm the animal and relieve signs of estrus without side effects on the body.

Can a neutered cat mate with a female cat?

Some owners are surprised to discover that their pet, even after castration, shows interest in the opposite sex, and sometimes even tries to mate with a cat. How can this be if the operation was carried out specifically to make the male indifferent to the females? In fact, it is not uncommon for a neutered cat to mate with a female cat, but only if he already has such experience. That is, if the pet has already known the “taste of love” before the operation, and now does it, rather, out of habit. But, of course, he will have no more offspring.

If the male was castrated before his first mating, then mating with the female is impossible. If only because the cat simply does not know what it is and why it is needed. It also happens that a beloved pet continues to stubbornly ask for a cat after surgery. Don’t be surprised or panic, the cat’s testosterone levels have not dropped yet. Just be a little patient and it will pass soon. This condition will not last long; it is a kind of side effect of the operation.

Features of sexual hunting

From 8 months the cat is considered sexually mature. If the male does not live in a closed room (apartment) and has free access to the street, during this period he begins to disappear from the house for a long time in search of a sexual object. The owners will immediately understand that their pet has grown up - during the onset of puberty, he begins to meow frequently at night.

The behavior and character of the cat changes, it may become more aggressive. Sexual activity among representatives of the cat world is well expressed. If a pet does not have access to the street, it can imitate sexual intercourse using soft toys and wool clothing. Every time the cat will react violently if a sexually mature female is next to him. If a pet lives in a private home, the owners need to try very hard to keep it from escaping.

For the first sexual intercourse, a sexually mature cat will always choose an experienced female who has already given birth.

If mating occurs in a cat without sexual experience, the owners of the animals should bring them to mating no more than once a month. When they become more experienced and learn to behave appropriately, mating can be carried out 2 times a week.

What to do if a neutered cat asks for a cat?

The cat’s further behavior after surgery depends on his age and the number of matings before castration. If your pet had “dates” regularly, then he remembers how it was and can try to mate again. Sometimes neutered cats succeed in this, and they even experience pleasure. But over time, such desires pass, since the body no longer requires it. If a pet has undergone surgery at a young age, without having had time to experience the “taste of love,” but for some reason asks for a female, it means that the hormone responsible for sexual desire still remains in its body. Whether a neutered cat can mate with a cat depends on his past “experience.” If he has something to remember, then the “date” may well take place, and in no case should you worry about this. Because the pet does this “out of old memory”, and not out of desire. Some catteries even specifically keep such “loving” cats - for cats whose owners do not want to mate, but bring them to a neutered cat for “calm down”.

Rules and nuances

Before meeting the animals, their claws are cut. The procedure will help avoid accidental scratches during the process.

A few weeks before mating, you should avoid swimming. Water and shampoo will wash away the smell of pheromones, which will confuse the cat.

One of the pets must have mating experience; two virgins cannot be mated together. Otherwise, their communication can lead to physical or even psychological harm.

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Will a neutered cat beg for a male cat?

After sterilization, the female retains her gonads, but she loses her reproductive function, that is, she becomes infertile. The cat will no longer be able to have kittens, but she will have periods of estrus, and accordingly, the desire for close communication with the cat will remain. Such an operation is ideal for females who love to walk outside - they will “meet” males, but will not become pregnant. If the cat is an indoor cat and does not go outside at all, then it is better for her to undergo castration - an operation to remove the ovaries. After it, the female disappears from estrus and the desire to “date” with cats. A castrated cat will not ask for a cat, even if she has already given birth. Whereas a sterilized cat will sometimes show interest in the opposite sex and mate with cats, but without any consequences. In both cases, a female who has undergone an operation, be it castration or sterilization, will no longer be able to bear offspring.

Still have questions? You can ask them to our site's in-house veterinarian in the comment box below, who will respond to them as soon as possible.

Behavior of a cat during estrus

Unlike dogs, in which estrus is signaled by bloody vaginal discharge, cats do not have this symptom. But the behavior of cats changes so dramatically and becomes specific that the owner can easily determine that the pet has entered the active sexual phase:

Becomes more affectionate, following on the heels of the owner. If the owner is a man, he begs for attention and tenderness from him.
Spends most of its time in motion, rubbing against furniture and the legs of its owners.
Takes a specific pose - raises its tail, leans on its hind legs, lifting its pelvis up as much as possible. In this position he can move around the room, backing away.
Either he stops eating anything altogether, or his appetite decreases significantly.
He asks to use the litter box more often, as the urge to urinate becomes more frequent.
It meows more and more often, gradually the usual meowing is replaced by extremely unpleasant, heart-rending screams, which are very difficult for the owners to endure.

Estrus lasts for 5-6 days and repeats every 15-20 days. The presence of the above-described signs is the standard course of estrus in cats, but it also happens that the stage of sexual activity occurs without pronounced signs, this is the so-called latent estrus. The owners will only be glad that their pet lacks open sexual activity, but for breeders this feature of the female can be a real problem.