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As you may have guessed it,  the mothers take precedence in raising their young.

It is important to keep males away from kittens because they have the tendency to kill their young due to hunting habits. They may also kill kittens they didn't father. This stops other toms genes from spreading.

Toms aren't known for their fathering skills. Other than siring as many kittens as possible, tom cats don't tend to get involved in the raising of the kittens.

Queen's, however, are known for their maternity. They are even known to adopt other species of animals by nurturing and grooming them.

Queen's groom, protect, and nurture their kittens. At around 2-3 weeks of age, the queen will spend less time with her litter. This signifies the weaning process.

Since cats are indiscriminate in their mating, queens can and will mate with different toms. This can lead to the cats semi-unique ability to have one litter with different fathers. This is called superfecundation. This is when two or more eggs from the same heat cycle are fertilized by different sets of sperm.

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Pheromones are a chemical substance that is secreted and used to communicate with conspecifics. Chemical odors can also serve as a sexual attractant.

Cats will rub their face and body on almost anything. This rubbing action is called "bunting."

When cats bunt, they are using their facial pheromones to mark places. These facial pheromones leave a scent of contentment.

Males tend to bunt female cats more often which is a way to sexually interact. If a female bunts a male, her scent changes and the male knows she is getting ready to breed.

When female cats are in heat, they produce a pheromone that can attract males from from up to 1 mile away.

Perioral Glands:
Located in each corner of the mouth. These glands are important for mating for male cats as they mark the backs of a females neck and leave behind a scent after mating. This is used to hinder other males from mating with the same female that was already claimed.

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Influence of estrus synchronization on male reproductive success

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Influence of estrus synchronization on male reproductive success

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According to the article, since males are territorial, when females are in synchronized estrus it is more difficult for dominant males to "spread their seed."

Females are spatially aggregated which represents potentially more resources for the male to defend and conquer.

It is more beneficial to a male when outside groups of females in estrus are asynchronous so that they can travel, breed in more territory, and not have to worry about their current territory being overrun by new males.

Females living in groups tend to have synchronized estrous cycles.

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Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences

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Abstract

Previous studies have predicted that the availability over time of females in oestrus influences the variance of male reproductive success in a given year. When females are spatially aggregated, they represent a potentially defendable resource for each male when oestrus is asynchronous, and the most competitive males are expected to gain priority of access to receptive females. When females breed synchronously, a single male, even when highly competitive, is not able to prevent them from mating with other males. This hypothesis was tested in a large multimale-ultifemale group of domestic cats, Felis catus, which was monitored for three years. The results support the prediction that the variance in male reproductive success was four times greater in years when females bred asynchronously, and dominant males sired the highest proportion of offspring. We conclude that the temporal availability of mates plays a role in the adoption of reproductive tactics in the domestic cat.

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Influence of oestrus synchronization on male reproductive success in the domestic cat (Felis catus L.)

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Previous studies have predicted that the availability over time of females in oestrus influences the variance of male reproductive success in a given year. When females are spatially aggregated, they represent a potentially defendable resource for each male when oestrus is asynchronous, and the most competitive males are expected to gain priority of access to receptive females.

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... Are actions taken to avoid mating within close relative proximity. This reduces the concern of  genetic success and vigor.

Females living in groups with related males will leave their groups while they are in estrus. This was interpreted as incest avoidance. Cats will drive their young away before they reach sexual maturing for this reason.

Unfortunately, cats can also be indiscriminate breeders and WILL breed within their family if in close proximity (irresponsible human breeding).

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Courtship behaviour and sexual selection in the domestic cat

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Oestrus timing and courtship behaviour in a rural free-ranging domestic cat population was examined and discussed in the context of sexual selection t...

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1) Anestrous - the queen does not go into heat and her ovaries are in a quiescent (inactive) state. No sexual activity happens at this time and it can last from late September to mid January.
2) Proestrus - during this time she is progressing towards her sexually receptive time. But during this phase she will not accept a tom's sexual advances.
3) Estrus - known as "true heat" is the time where she can get pregnant.
4) Metestrus - happens immediately after estrus. She will pay no attention to or accept males and will return to her normal self.

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Unlike dogs, female cats do not cycle at regular intervals throughout the year. Cats tend to come into heat in relation to the season. The mating season in cats is determined by a number of factors, including the length of daylight and the presence of other cats. When there are 10 hours of daylight and other conditions are optimal, the hormonal system is activated, and the queen begins the reproductive cycle. The natural mating season of cats in the Northern Hemisphere is from March to September. Long-haired cats are more sensitive to light and temperature than short-haired breeds. Cats under artificial lighting may come in heat anytime of the year, while house cats under intermittent light have unpredictable heat cycles.

Throughout the breeding season, queens go into and out of heat several times but not always at regular intervals. They may exhibit continuous heat cycles in early spring (averaging 14 to 21 days from the beginning of one cycle to the beginning of the next), followed in late spring by cycles that are further apart. Each queen establishes her own normal rhythm.

Puberty

Most female cats reach puberty and have their first heat cycle between five and nine months of age, occasionally earlier. Yet we do not want her to become pregnant until the queen is physically and mentally ready. Persians as a breed are considered late matures and may not reach puberty until one and a half years of age.

The estrous heat cycle or reproductive cycle of cats has four distinct stages: anestrous, proestrus, estrus and metestrus.

Anestrous
Is where the queen does not come into heat and her ovaries are in a quiescent (inactive) stage. This would be the period of no sexual activity. In most areas of the United States, this would run from late September through mid-January. The low light and short length of daylight is a primary factor in suppressing the heat cycles during the winter months. Cats kept indoors may be stimulated to cycle from artificial light sources that are lengthening the queen's day. If light levels are similar to those experienced during the peak breeding seasons of early spring, they start cycling.

Proestrus
Is used to describe the stage of estrous immediately following anestrus. In this stage of heat, the ovaries are becoming active in follicle formation. This lasts from one to four days. Unlike the bitch, the queen's vulva enlarges only slightly and appears somewhat moist, but no discharge comes from the hormonal changes. The queen shows increased appetite and restlessness, utters short low calls, and displays more than usual affection for her owner. This is best described as the period in which the cat is coming into heat, but is not yet ready to be bred. Hormones such as the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen help promote the egg development occurring during this phase.

Estrus
Is the period of the heat cycle when the cat is able to become pregnant. It is what breeders refer to as heat or the call, as queens can be quite vocal, yowling when in heat. Length is variable but usually lasts 10 to 14 days. During this period, the queen will insist the owner notice behavioral and other physical changes in the female. The queen "in heat" will vocalize and urinate frequently. She will appear overly passionate by rolling, rubbing and assuming the breeding posture with the head and forelegs low to the ground and the rump area held high. As the urge to mate becomes pronounced, her cries become alarming - sounding like those of an animal in pain. This "call" will attract toms from near and far. Unlike the female dog, the queen usually has little if any noticeable vaginal discharge in either the proestrus or estrus phase.

Metestrus
Is the time immediately after estrus. The female will not pay attention or accept the male at this time and will return to her normal self.

The actual breeding or copulation takes place during the estrus phase. Copulation usually lasts 10 seconds or less, but although the time is short, most females will breed repeatedly over a 24 to 48 hour period, helping to ensure semen from the male is present and the queen's eggs are ovulated. Queens are "induced ovulators," meaning the act of breeding stimulates the female to release (ovulate) her eggs. Repeated breeding ensures ovulation with copulation happens as many as 36 times in 36 hours. In other mammals (dogs, cattle and humans), ovulation occurs even if breeding does not. A cat not bred will not ovulate, but will usually go out of heat within 10 to 14 days. Female dogs will be in anestrous for four and a half months, but the queen not induced to ovulate by breeding will come into heat every two to three weeks (or sooner) until breeding and ovulation occurs.

Queen Problems

Queens have very little reproduction issues, but when they do, it is often related to lack of ovulation. This is an issue with submissive, extremely shy, intimidated queens. Little estrus behavior occurs and little copulation happens, as opposed to the queen that seeks the male. This lack of copulation numbers result in no ovulation and no pregnancy, in spite of a fertile male.

Treatment

Young males often do not repeatedly breed if the shy female does not exhibit breeding behavior. An experienced male will help and often breed in spite of the female's shyness. HCG can be given when copulation has happened and semen is present. Check for semen by collecting the vaginal discharge onto a slide. If semen is present, veterinarians have induced ovulation with 250 IU of HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) given IM.

It is possible to artificially induce ovulation in the cat with vaginal stimulation. A clean rectal thermometer can be lightly inserted in to the vagina to induce ovulation and therefore "knock" the queen out of heat. This is usually done to synchronize queens for embryo transfer or with AI when collecting eggs for embryo transfer.

If you need help, call us at 800.786.4751.

-Dr. B
Don Bramlage, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services at Revival Animal Health

The materials, information and answers provided through this website are not intended to replace the medical advice or services of your personal veterinarian or other pet health care professional. Consult your own veterinarian for answers to specific medical questions, including diagnosis, treatment, therapy or medical attention.

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Unlike dogs, female cats do not cycle at regular intervals throughout the year. Cats tend to come into heat in relation to the season. The mating season in cats is determined by a number of factors, including the length of daylight and the presence of other cats.

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Will reach her first estrous heat cycle at around 5-8 months of age

Queens are seasonally polyestrus with their cycles classified as long-day - occurs during late winter/early summer (January to September)

Females will display estrous behavior every 14-21 days

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During certain times of her cycle, she will experience behavioral changes.

In proestrus, she will seem a little more affectionate than normal. She will rub her face on objects, will roll on the ground, and have a type of low sounding call for males.

In estrus, she will call out for males even louder (yowl) and urinate more frequently. In this phase, she will be even more affectionate than in proestrus but still by rubbing and rolling. She will also assume the breeding posture.

The male penis may cause pain due to penile spines which are there to stimulate the queen. She may scream and try to move away.

The female will spend time self-grooming after the session is over. If the male attempts to make advances on her while grooming, she will strike and hiss at him.

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Female cat mate calling, clear sound, no background noise. Cat video for cats! Play it to your cats and see what happens. :)

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Urine marking summons females to the male cat's territory during breeding season.

Males also have a call and females will respond to it by, if given the opportunity, to run to them and see if they like the male.

A courtship display between the two can last a while and it will be dependent on if the female chooses this male. They will roll around or bunt each other, then the female will assume mating positions. Or acts of aggression can be displayed and fighting can occur.

The tom will put his front paws on each side of the female. The tom will hold on to the females neck with his teeth (see Perioral gland in pheromones) as he moves up and down with the back feet. The male penis enters at this time until the tom ejaculates (5 to 15 seconds). When the penis stimulates the vagina, this causes the queen to ovulate.

Mating cats may copulate more than one time in a session to ensure that ovulation in the queen has been stimulated.

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"Sniffing or touching the vulva or urine of an estrous female with the tongue often stimulates a 'flehmen response' by the male, an upward curling of the upper lip" (Price, 117).

Cats have an extra organ called the Jacobsen organ,  which allows them to interpret or "taste" a scent. This organ lies below the floor of the nasal cavity and opens to the mouth just behind the incisor teeth. This organ is a sac that does not allow air into them unless the cat (or other animal) does some breathing control (Understanding Cat Behavior, Tabor, 19).

By using this response, a male will smell urine to "test" the sexual condition of females.

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* A non-spayed female cat that is pregnant or nursing is called a queen
* A female cat that is not in estrus, pregnant, or nursing is called a Molly, but this term is rarely used
* A non-neutered/castrated cat is called a tom
* A neutered male cat is called a gib, but this term is rarely used