How to understand that a cat is ready for mating: by the first signs and behavior

With a superficial dive into the topic of the first mating of purebred cats, it seems that everything is simple and uncomplicated. All that is required of the owners is to bring the “groom” and “bride” together, and nature will do everything itself. But professional breeders have a different opinion on this matter, and beginners always have a lot of questions: when is it better to breed, where to do it, how to prepare a pet, what documents need to be drawn up and are they needed at all? I will try to cover the issue in as much detail as possible. Let's start with the most important thing - puberty and then go in order.

Onset of puberty and estrus

Puberty occurs six months after birth. But even here you shouldn’t start mating, because the mother cat is still too young to properly bear and give birth to kittens.

The best age for a cat will be more difficult to determine. For ladies, everything goes individually and they need to be monitored during periods of estrus. Experts believe that the safest and best estrus is the third. And after one year.

The best age to breed a cat is after one year. At best, wait two years. After the first mating, the next one can be carried out a month later and throughout the year. The main thing is that mating does not take place more than two or three times a month. And from here you can start from how many cats you need to breed per year.

How can you understand that a cat is ready to continue its kind? This can be identified by symptoms: aggression, the cat is marking territory, refusal to eat, loud calls from the female, attempts to escape.

The cat will be ready to mate when you notice that she has begun to pet you and talk to you excessively. Rolling on the floor, arching her back, she shows her manifestation. If she moves her tail to the side, it means she is in heat.

Many people cannot determine whether the first heat is too early or is it already possible? Of course, with the cat’s first heat, everything has just begun and she does not need such an overload on her body. It is better to skip the initial stage so that the cat’s reproductive system rises a little higher in development. Closer to the third heat, everything will be formed in the cat.

At what age is a cat ready to breed?

You can breed a cat with a cat after the completion of the period of development and growth, when the formation of the main reproductive organ (uterus) is completed. Veterinarians advise skipping the first two or three heats. That is, mating can begin at the age of 10-15 months.

On the third day after the start of estrus, the cat is ready to let the male near her and shows signs such as meowing and rolling on the floor.
Estrus in cats occurs in several periods. The first stage is called proestrus and lasts no more than two days. The cat feels the desire, but she is not yet ready to let the cat come to her. At the 2nd stage of desire, which is called estrus, the animal makes calling sounds, rolls on the floor, raises its tail up, and moves its paws. The duration of the period is 3-5 days. It is during the estrus stage that fertilization occurs, so it is important for the owner to promptly recognize the signs of estrus in a cat so as not to miss this period.

Insemination at a late age is also often accompanied by complications, such as false pregnancy, inflammation of the uterus and bleeding, polycystic disease, and stress. Constant hormonal surges and a tense state lead to exhaustion and prolonged depression in the young pet, which does not go away for a long time. Another complication of untimely mating is the cat’s lack of heat and infertility.

How is estrus going?

For the first time, your cat may notice bloody discharge. By the third heat, this phenomenon should disappear.

The heat lasts about a week. The cat begins to scream heart-rendingly, roll on the floor, arch its back and tail. She also begins to rub herself excessively against her owners. He may even approach those whom he does not particularly perceive.

The cat may even refuse to eat, but at the same time often runs to the toilet.

Over the course of a week, you can observe how the cat changes in character, both for good and bad.

Onset of estrus, duration, fertile period

Let us immediately note that if you do not plan to get offspring from a cat, it must be castrated before the onset of sexual heat. As soon as a cat becomes sexually mature, it enters a state of estrus - readiness for mating and fertilization.

Important! A cat's first heat may occur as soon as she has gained 80% of her adult weight.

In outbred animals, the first heat may occur at 4 months of age, with a general range of 4–18 months.

The cat goes into heat in the spring, when daylight hours become longer than nights. The mating period lasts at least six months (from January to August), but can vary depending on climate, lifestyle and care.

Until mating and fertilization have occurred, the estrus cycle will repeat every 2–3 weeks. During each heat, the cat's behavior will change, which is due to hormonal imbalance.

Note! During sexual heat, the cat’s entire attention is focused on finding a partner and satisfying instinctive needs.

Estrus is usually called the period when a cat is receptive to mating and ready for fertilization. Changes in the body occur through the accumulation of sex hormones. Unlike dogs, whose estrus is accompanied by bloody discharge, the period of sexual activity in cats is more secretive.

Note! Bloody discharge from the cat's genital tract is a sign of pathology. During heat, your cat may produce a small amount of clear mucus.

The physiological structure of the cat ensures the preservation of the egg until mating or physical irritation of the genital tract. In theory, if a cat in heat is unable to copulate, it enters a dormant phase, and after 2-3 weeks the heat repeats.

Features of the first mating

The first mating for cats is the most difficult. So be prepared for this.

It is better to choose a partner who will already have experience. For males, of course, it is also important to choose a lady with experience. The best outcome is to choose several partners so that the cat has a choice. Once the choice is made, it is worth discussing all the nuances with the owners of the partners.

It is strictly not recommended for a cat to give birth frequently. 3 times every 2 years is enough. If childbirth is carried out more often, it threatens the life of the cat.

Even if difficulties arise, you will have to be with your pet and support him in every possible way from stress.

It’s better to immediately realize what will happen after mating in order to properly prepare.

Mating cats or how to knit for the first time.

A young cat can be mated with a male cat when the cat reaches puberty and is strong enough to become pregnant and give birth to kittens without risking her health. It is better to skip the first two heats, and untie them on the third. According to the rules of most clubs, mating of cats with a rating of at least “Very Good” received at a cat show is allowed, and cats with Champion titles and above can be mated without having to undergo exhibitions before mating. According to the same rules, a cat should not give birth to kittens more than three times every two years.

The first mating in cats is easiest before the age of one and a half years. If the cat was not untied (she did not have kittens) before two years, then problems may arise. Usually cats, not getting a cat during the onset of estrus, move on to the next active phase - they scream day and night, preventing their owners and their neighbors from sleeping. Owners, unable to withstand such torture, often resort to advertised hormonal drugs (Contrasex, Anti-Meow, etc.), after the use of which hormonal disorders occur in cats, which cause severe diseases of the reproductive system - infertility, endometritis, pyometra (“purulent uterus”), malignant neoplasms, deformities of offspring, etc.

Before mating, the cat must be vaccinated against the main infectious diseases: rhinotracheitis, rabies, calicivirus infection and panleukopenia (included in the complex vaccination), + against chlamydia and lichen (stamps in the veterinary passport no more than 1 year from the date of the first vaccination and no less than 1 month before mating). The cat must be dewormed 7 days before mating (deworming).

The first signs of heat: the cat begins to purr, becomes overly affectionate - constantly demands attention to itself, rubs against all objects and your legs, if you, stroking its back, reach its tail, it rolls its tail to the side, the tail trembles, and the cat begins to stamp his hind legs. Immediately pick up the phone and call the cat’s owners and arrange a mating.

The cat arrives on the second day of estrus for several days (from 1 to 3 days). You need to have with you: a tray, litter for the toilet, if she is used to it, bowls for water and food, a supply of the usual food for two days, a copy of the pedigree. The cat's front claws need to be trimmed. The cat's appearance should not confuse the cat's owners - the cat should look well-groomed, well-fed, clean, without streaks under the eyes, with clean ears, and of course, without fleas.

Usually the mating of two healthy animals occurs without any human assistance, so we will only note a few non-standard points. Some cats, finding themselves in an unfamiliar place, on foreign territory, “forget” about the purpose of their visit. Sometimes a cat may stop estrus due to stress, and may resume only a week later. It happens that cat owners are mistaken when they assume that she is in heat. However, the cat detects this instantly. As soon as the cat is released from the carrier and the cat sniffs her tracks, it immediately becomes clear from his behavior whether she is in heat or not. The cat either gets excited and announces in a loud voice that he is ready to reciprocate, or indifferently turns away from the guest and leaves, or even demonstratively goes to bed in her presence. Then you will have to take the failed bride home. Please note that in such a situation your cat begins to get nervous (new environment, new people, and even a cat nearby). She becomes aggressive or, conversely, becomes depressed. This, of course, adds trouble and inconvenience to the groom’s hosts.

If everything is in order, the cat is in heat, the cat has shown interest in her and began courtship, then you can leave the bride and groom alone. Most often, the first mating occurs at night, when all the people have dispersed, the sounds have died down, the lights are turned off, and no one bothers our couple. As a rule, the next morning it is already clear that the wedding has taken place: the cat’s behavior changes, she no longer hisses at the cat, allows him to lie next to her and even lick her fur coat. Despite the fact that the cat is tamed and itself calls the cat for the next mating, each time, after the end of the action, she ritually hits the cat with her paw. Therefore, cats' claws should be trimmed at home, before going to the wedding. There are cases when a cat did not have time to jump away and received an eye injury. It is believed that the cat experiences pain at the moment of copulation, which is why it screams terribly and attacks its lover with “cuffs.” Experienced cats quickly recoil to a safe distance until the cat calms down. The pain subsides after a few seconds, and then the cat, having put herself in order, begins to roll all over the floor with pleasure, and the cat watches her carefully.

A cat can sit for a whole day without letting the cat near. There are calm, “compliant” individuals, and there are extremely aggressive ladies. There are impudent ones who come to the cat’s territory and behave as if they have always lived here. And there are cowardly, scared cats that try to hide and hide in any conceivable or inconceivable crevice.

The cat first tries to approach the cat, but, as a rule, gets hit in the face. And then the persuasion begins. The cat sings songs, periodically uttering a questioning “mrr”? The cat hisses at the cat and waits just as long as it considers necessary so as not to lose its dignity. Each cat has its own ideas about this time. There is no general rule here. It is interesting that the same cat with different cats can behave differently. If the cat is timid and shy, then the cat can play along with her and pretend that he himself is afraid of her, then the cat becomes bolder and begins to flirt with the cat herself. If a cat behaves defiantly, the cat may come up, slap her in the face and grab her by the scruff of the neck. The cat reflexively goes limp and mating occurs. Such matings can occur 10-15 or more in one day. It all depends on the cat’s health and how sexy he is.

After a day, sometimes after two days, the cat loses interest in the cat. The cat can still “ask for a cat” for a few more days. This is not at all a sign that the cat is not mated. She simply cannot stop at the “motor” level. And the cat has already realized that he has fulfilled his marital duties, apparently because the cat’s smell that attracts his attention disappears.

Now count 65-66 days from the first day of mating and wait for the birth. If the cat does not become pregnant, you will understand this after about three weeks, or when the next heat begins. Be sure to inform the cat's owner about this in order to comply with formalities - after all, the unsuspecting cat will be expecting children and, accordingly, its owners - payment for mating. Usually in such cases the cat is brought to the next heat for re-mating under the same conditions.

How to prepare an animal

Before you go to breeding, you need to prepare the cat for birth. Establish proper nutrition, check that the cat has all vaccinations, and make sure that estrus starts on time. By the way, care for the cat also applies. Do not let both of you catch a cold, cut their nails, wash their fur and skin. It is better to wash your cat 5 days before the event, otherwise the smell of chemicals will ruin everything. Many people prefer not to wash to preserve the real smell.

You can go straight to the doctor so that he can confirm that there will be no threat to life during pregnancy.

The owners of the male should prepare everything for mating, because the entire process of mating cats should take place on the territory of the male. It is better to provide the young people with a separate room, preferably with a minimum of furniture, so that there is nowhere to hide.

Cat owners should prepare all the cat's belongings for temporary residence on the side of the male. All items include a litter tray, litter, food bowls, toys and carrier.

Owners must be vigilant and monitor the process.

Mating contract

The contract is an important legal part when mating two animals. He gives a guarantee and confidence that everything will go as it should and we will have strength.

The contract must contain information about the partners, the owners, all information about health, the rights and obligations of the parties, all actions according to the regulations, and problem cases. The contract also specifies payment, how pregnancy and childbirth are managed, and how offspring are registered.

A contract is needed in any case, even if the animals are not purebred.

How does mating occur in cats?

Mating in cats does not occur in one hour, but over several days. That's why the cat's things are packed in suitcases.

It all starts with arrival. The cat is brought to the cat's territory and allowed into his room.
Couple getting acquainted. Familiarity sometimes turns into anger, and then abruptly into mercy. This is how they flirt with each other and explore. They need to be given time to learn.
When the time comes for the process itself, the cat suddenly jumps on top of the cat, presses it to the floor, and grabs it by the withers. Sexual intercourse does not last long - about a minute. After this time, the cat will begin to show aggression towards its partner, so it is better to exclude him from the room for a while.
If everything went well, then after the act the cat begins to roll on the floor, and the cat licks itself at this time. You can try to introduce the male so that they can lick themselves together.
You shouldn’t finish the job right away, but for better results try to repeat the process. Well, just in case. Over the course of a few days, you can do a couple more sexual acts, which will be easier.

Owners should monitor the process, but not show the animals too much that you are watching them. In some cases, your help will be needed, so don’t close the door and go into oblivion.

The main thing is not to touch them during the process unless there is a reason for this. It will be possible to get closer if a fight breaks out between the animals.

You can recognize a cat’s favorable mood by its behavior when it begins to flirt with the cat itself.

Frequently asked questions about mating a cat and a male cat

The most suitable time for mating a female cat is the dark time of the day. Cat breeders know that it is necessary to treat this process with great trepidation. The duration of sexual intercourse is several minutes, but the very acquaintance of animals with each other and their adaptation to a new territory can usually last a very long time. Stray cats, unlike domestic cats, find males within a few hours.

Need for mating

Every cat owner faces a dilemma: to sterilize or breed their pet. If you plan to get offspring from a cat, you should not give her pills that suppress the desire to mate. These medications are only suitable for pre-neutered dogs, but should only be taken three or four times. After all, these drugs affect changes in hormonal levels, which will damage the reproductive system. Their long-term use can cause disruption or complete disappearance of estrus in females, a feeling of aggression towards the opposite sex, and also cause severe harm to the health of the animal.

For your information! If you do not bring an animal that has not been sterilized, there is a risk that it will behave aggressively, mark its territory, and refuse to eat.

Frequency

Quite healthy cats can mate several times a week, but this does not lead to good results. If you breed an animal frequently, there will be less sperm, its quality will deteriorate, and the female’s chance of becoming pregnant will decrease.

Veterinarians advise breeding cats once a month for the birth of healthy and beautiful offspring in the future.

At what age can you do it for the first time?

Breeders should not delay breeding. Late mating for cats can cause a variety of problems for them:

polycystic disease;
inflammation of the uterus;
false pregnancy;
stress;
exhaustion.

Note! A cat is fully sexually mature at around 7-10 months, when she goes into heat. It lasts from 7 to 12 days.

But it’s too early for an animal to conceive, since the body is not yet ready for these stresses associated with pregnancy. If you fertilize a young cat early, it will have a bad effect on the reproductive organ and pose a threat to her life. The best age for mating females is from one year. Males can be mated from six months of age; from this period they are fully mature for breeding.

Why do cats scream?

How cats make love to a cat is very difficult not to hear. Before mating, representatives of the feline breed experience a change in hormonal levels. At this stage, pathogens are produced that affect the cat’s behavior. In science, this initial phase is called estrus. It is accompanied by a very loud meow in females in order to attract a partner.

Why do cats scream during mating?

During mating, cats experience severe pain as their uterus is irritated by scales located on the male's genitals. This is necessary to stimulate ovulation, which begins within 24 hours after the end of mating. The resulting pain causes her to scream loudly and strongly.

What should you pay special attention to?

Before and during mating, you should adhere to general recommendations for the successful intercourse of two lovers.

Before mating - only natural products, fish and meat, as well as vegetables. You can feed exclusively with holistic food.
Examinations by a veterinarian are required. This way you can be confident in the health of your cat and your partner.
It is also not recommended to mate a cat often. This reduces the quality of conception and may not bring any effect.
Do not give your cat or cat medications or sedatives.
Discuss all the conditions with the male owner to avoid bad consequences.

Experts say that a cat experiences pain during sexual intercourse. But after finishing it’s a pleasure.

How to determine pregnancy

At first, you won’t even notice the differences, whether before the act or after the act. The cat can behave as usual: ask for the cat and lie around. This is because the cat’s body has not yet been rebuilt and its hormones are acting up.

You can notice pregnancy yourself after three weeks, when the cat’s nipples swell and the sides become a little rounder. One hundred percent pregnancy can be determined by a veterinarian.

Pregnancy takes place within 60 days.

Even if pregnancy does not take place, the cat can repeat the cycle of sexual intercourse with the same partner, but without payment.

WHOM TO MATE A SCOTTISH FOLD AND STRAIGHT EARED CAT WITH

Which cat should be mated with, you ask? All arguments about which breed to breed a Scottish Fold and Straight-eared cat with are completely wrong. After all, mating is allowed only with a cat of the Scottish breed (fold-eared and straight-eared). Interbreeding can lead to unpredictable consequences with appearance and health. Plus, the offspring will be mestizos: you won’t be able to sell such kittens, but will be forced to give them away. Therefore, the answer to the question whether it is possible to cross fold-eared and straight-eared cats with outbred grooms and vice versa, is a clear “no”.

In addition, there are rules within the breed. To the question of who you can breed (cross) a Scottish Fold cat with, the correct answer is: with a Scottish Straight cat. And to the question of which cat to breed (breed) a Scottish straight-eared cat with, we will answer this way: with a Scottish fold cat. Did you catch the pattern? Mating of straight-eared Scottish cats is allowed only with fold-eared cats and vice versa. This is the only way you will get healthy offspring.

The fact is that the lop-eared gene is a gene that not only causes the ears to “fall off”, but also changes other cartilages in the body, so in no case should you cross two lop-eared (folds): their genes must be mixed with straight-eared ones, which will allow the offspring will not have pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Read more about the lop-eared gene and the rules for selecting a pair here. Thus, we breed Scottish Straights with either Scottish Folds or Highland Folds, and Scottish Folds with Scottish Straights and Highland Straights.

So, let’s summarize the answer to the question of who can breed a Scottish cat with. The cat must be a good representative of its breed with a pedigree. We knit a fold-eared cat with a straight-eared cat, and a straight-eared cat with a fold-eared cat. Crossing straight-eared cats with straight-eared cats is also allowed, but such manipulations only produce straight-eared kittens.

The cat must be experienced, especially if the cat is not yet experienced. And he must be larger in order to be able to perform sexual intercourse by grabbing the withers with his teeth and at the same time reaching to the back. If it is smaller, the owner will have to hold the cat by the withers.

The cat and cat should not be sick with anything, including fleas and sexually transmitted infections. You can ask the owners for a certificate stating that there are no infections.

If it is important to you what color the kittens will be, you should choose a pair based on color.

The cat and male must be vaccinated against all infections at least three weeks before mating. Two weeks before vaccination, deworming should be carried out. If vaccination is not carried out before the meeting, because was carried out earlier, deworming is done 2 weeks before mating.

Mating problems

Mating will not always be successful. There are also some problems in which nothing may work.

Animal sizes. It happens that a cat is too big in size to overtake a cat. Then the cat simply will not be able to fertilize the female, because he needs to cling to the withers, but his size does not allow it. Here the owner can come to the rescue and hold the female.
Rolling to one side. When a cat rolls over on its side, the cat will no longer be able to impregnate the female. In this case, the owner can also help by holding the cat with his hands in the desired position. But there are exceptions when cats don’t care about pose.
Aggression from the cat. The female may not perceive the male as a potential partner. Then there are several options: look for another partner, insert a probe into the vagina, support the cat with soothing movements on the stomach. The insertion of the probe must be done strictly with a doctor.
When a cat is stressed, it may stop estrus. This happens, so if she lives with the male for a couple of days, everything will return.

After sexual intercourse, the cat shows anger towards the partner because of the pain she received. But after a while her mood will return to normal. You need to understand this.

Optimal period for first mating

The first time a cat comes into heat is between 7 and 9 months of age, sometimes it can happen a little earlier or later. In the future, it can be repeated again after 14 - 25 days.

This is influenced by the breed of the animal, as well as the living conditions and proper nutrition. However, at such an early age, the cat’s body is not yet fully formed; the growth period is not yet over. Psychologically, the animal is also not ready for procreation, so the cat should not be mated for the first time during the first heat. In some cases, this can lead to difficult childbirth, death of offspring, or further infertility of the animal.

Cats reach final sexual maturity between 1 and 1.5 years. This age is considered the most suitable for the first mating. If you are determined to start breeding kittens, then mating a cat for the first time will best take place during this period of time.

Estrus, main signs

The entire estrus period can take from 5 to 10 days. On the first and second days, the cat's behavior changes; it may become agitated, more affectionate, or aggressive. Often she begins to rub against her legs, furniture and various things. The gait may noticeably change: the hind legs are slightly bent, the tail is raised and the lower back is slightly arched. At this stage, the cat will not allow her boyfriend to approach her.

Over the next 3-6 days, the cat begins to meow loudly, calling for the cat; if you stroke her in the sacral area, she takes a certain pose. The tail moves to the side, raises the croup and falls on the front paws. During this period of sexual heat, the animal's appetite may also decrease significantly and the number of urinations of the animal may increase.

As a rule, in order to avoid exhaustion of the cat’s body, felinologists recommend breeding cats no more than three times in two years.

Puberty of a cat

The first signs of sexual maturity in a cat appear between the ages of 8 and 10 months. First of all, changes occur in the pet’s behavior:

the kitten’s cheerfulness and playfulness may give way to more aggressive actions;
in the evening and at night, the cat meows annoyingly or even screams heartbreakingly, thus inviting females;
begins to mark the territory with a strong-smelling secret, thereby indicating that this is his possession;
tries to use various soft things to satisfy his sexual needs.

The first mating of a cat should occur only after he has fully reached puberty.

The onset of this period may vary slightly in different breeds, on average it is from 1.3 to one and a half years old. Unlike cats, cats are ready to mate all year round, but with the arrival of spring the desire to procreate becomes stronger.

In order for the mating of a cat to be successful for the first time, it is better to select an experienced partner for him. However, even a couple of untied animals often cope with this task quite well. Do not forget that the reproductive instinct is very strong and is one of the basic natural needs.

Veterinarian advice

Contraceptives. Experts do not recommend using such products, because they have a bad effect on the cat’s body. Causes neoplasms, cysts, and hormonal imbalances. Although they can temporarily reduce sexual activity.
When choosing a partner, it is important to look not only at health, but also at color and blood type. If the blood is incompatible, kittens are born with defects. It is much more difficult with purebred cats. Here it is necessary that the reigning family does not cease.

Now you know what cat mating is. In any case, the fate of the cat is in your hands. If you decide to take such a serious step, be prepared for anything. Well, let the kids live happily!

The happiness of partners depends on the owners.