ᐉ The cat does not give the cat what to do

A cat in the house is certainly a source of joy, good mood and a cozy atmosphere. But almost all owners of these animals, sooner or later, encounter difficulties associated with their maintenance. Let’s look at one of them in more detail today. Just yesterday, the furry darling of the family behaved absolutely peacefully, but now she harasses everyone with her screams at any time of the day, scratches the furniture and does not allow the owners passage. This is how the instinct of procreation can manifest itself in an animal. Read more about possible reasons for a cat's constant meowing here.

The cat does not want a cat (mating problems)

Cats are mysterious and unpredictable creatures.
Each cat has its own character, its own tastes in food, choosing a place to relax, choosing partners for mating, and its own view of the world. For a breeder, the obstinate nature of a cat can be a big problem, since it jeopardizes the entire breeding work of the nursery. Unfortunately, not all cats are favorable to any proposed partner; some of them show enviable persistence in not recognizing this or that cat, refusing to mate, or suddenly going into estrus. This behavior sometimes causes a lot of difficulties for the breeder, especially if the cat has excellent characteristics for improving the breed.

What is the secret of this behavior? Is it possible to correct it and still get the long-awaited offspring? Let's try to figure out this problem.

Cats are free-living predators in nature; they are traditionally focused on improving the genes of their kittens, choosing the healthiest and strongest cat for this. In nature, a cat can refuse one cat, preferring another, or a stronger cat in a battle will win the right to mating, proving to the cat that he is the best.

In a cattery, cats don't have that choice. They are content with whoever is offered to them as a partner. In this case, the unexpected may happen: the cat refuses to mate.

There are several reasons for this behavior. For example, a cat was brought in during proestrus. In this case, estrus may not occur at all. And although the cat will react favorably to the cat and will be interested in her, the cat will not allow copulation. This situation is typical for approximately half of the cases when a cat refuses to mate.

Perhaps the cat experienced extreme stress during transportation to the cat. In this case, estrus can turn into anestrus due to the large amount of adrenaline entering the blood. In this case, the cat will show little interest, which will soon end. If estrus continues, the cat can hide for a long time, not letting the cat near her, not make contact, refuse food and water, and, ultimately, wait for the onset of metestrus and anestrus. The same reaction is observed in cats that received their first negative experience, if the first partner was an aggressive cat. In this case, the cat has experienced rape, which will greatly influence its future mating behavior.

It is also worth taking into account the biochemical processes occurring in the cat’s body that negatively affect its sexual behavior: a weakened body, low levels of estrogen and progesterone, estrus without ovulation, or drug suppression of a previous estrus.

The cat may have a negative olfactory reaction to the room; the room may not be suitable for mating. Of course, like some other mammals, cats have their own preferences in choosing partners, which are based on previous positive experience, matching colors, size of the partner, and time of adaptation.

Petting a cat when it doesn't want to

We tend to pet a cat to calm it down when it's anxious or stressed, but doing so can make it feel even worse. The cat may react by avoiding you and therefore not allowing you to touch it.

Anyone who has a cat knows how much these animals love to stare at everything that happens outside the window, especially if they see a bird or insect. When they do this they usually twitch their tail and you notice that they are tense. If you want to touch him right now, the cat will not allow you to pet him because he is focused and also upset: the last thing he needs is to feel a hand on his head or back.

Cats have a hard time accepting new things, so if there are a lot of people, if you've changed the furniture arrangement or moved, the animal needs time and space to get used to it. On the other hand, if what you're doing is trying to calm him down by constantly touching him, it's normal for him to shy away from affection.

If your cat has just been through a traumatic experience (such as a visit to the vet), they will either avoid you or ignore you. They do the same thing when you need to give him medicine or heal his wound.

The cat doesn't give the cat what to do

Home Questions and Answers Cats Breeding cats

You really want kittens from your cat, and now she is in heat. It's time to take her to the cat. But, while visiting, instead of accepting the cat’s advances, the cat became extremely aggressive... Why? The most common reason is incorrectly chosen days for mating - i.e. the cat is just not ready yet. Usually the cat is allowed in to the cat on the 2-3rd day of estrus.

Most owners take their cat to the cat's territory, and sometimes this is very stressful for the cat, and this leads to aggression towards everyone and everything that moves. To somehow calm your cat, you can use a diffuser or Feliway spray, or give her Stop-Stress herbal drops. It is necessary to leave the animals alone for 2-3 days in an isolated room, where there is a tray and food with water. If the cat is experienced and persistent, then the mating will take place. But such a cat can be very intimidating to a young cat.

Another reason could be a health problem with the cat, so she should be examined by a veterinarian before breeding. For example, if a cat has inflamed anal glands, then during mating it becomes painful for her, and she rushes at the cat. Perhaps the cat experiences pain during estrus, which also leads to aggression on the part of the animal.

It happens that a cat simply doesn’t like a particular cat, but later she mates with others without any problems. But there are cats who never let cats near them. This indicates an incorrectly formed sexual instinct, which may be the result of problems with the ovaries or uterus.

For successful mating, animal owners and experienced felinologists recommend a variety of methods : pour a solution into a bowl or scatter mint herb; leave the cat in a cage or carrier so that it can get used to the cat and communicate with it for a couple of days; periodically take the cat out of the room “for a walk”; for an aggressive cat to look for an equally aggressive groom who will show “who’s boss”; press the cat to the floor yourself during mating; give the cat a tablespoon of Cahors (wine); injections of a drug that induce ovulation...

Petting a cat where it doesn't want to

Cats enjoy being stroked on some parts of their body, while they hate being touched on others. Preferred areas are:

neck
behind the ears
jaw and part of the back of the head
the back of the back where the tail begins.

One part of the body that all cats tend to hate being touched is the stomach: when a cat lies on its stomach, it feels helpless and not at all calm. So if you've often tried to pet them in this area and haven't seen them very happy, here's your explanation. The thighs are also delicate areas that cats don't like to be petted on. The first thing to do when taking your cat with you is to find out what the most delicate areas are where they don't want to be petted and which you should avoid at all costs to avoid disturbing them.

Even from this point of view, every cat is made differently, so some like to be petted all over, purr and enjoy cuddles. But if you ask yourself “why isn’t my cat being petted?” This is not your case and you will have to respect your cat's wishes.

Why does a cat not let a cat near her during heat: reasons

Physiology is designed in such a way that the pet allows mating only during estrus. The optimal time for fertilization is considered to be the period between the third and fifth days of estrus. It is at this time that ovulation occurs. Therefore, animals should be brought together for mating on the second day.

They will get used to each other. The first mating stimulates the movement of the egg from the ovary towards the uterus. The signal is the pain that the female experiences when the cat removes its rough genital organ. In one of the next intercourse, conception occurs.

However, for the following reasons, the cat does not allow the cat to approach, behaves aggressively and mating does not occur:

Owner's error. The acquaintance between the couples took place too late, when ovulation had already occurred. In such a situation, a fight cannot be ruled out.
Mating in the female's territory. Moving and finding yourself in an unfamiliar environment leads to stress. A cat can more easily tolerate the adverse effects of change, but a cat feels insecure in a foreign land and does not show persistence. The female does not like it when her suitor does not pay due attention. At the first unsuccessful experience, the cat becomes depressed and stops harassing.
The cat didn't like the male. She falls to the side, hisses and scratches.
They forgot to feed the female. She may not like the food the cat eats. Therefore, you should take granules from home that your pet is accustomed to eating at home. The best option is to find out from the cat’s owners what they feed it and switch the cat to the same diet.
There is a big difference in live weight and age. The biggest problem occurs when the female is larger than the male. But the opposite situation can also prevent mating.
Inexperienced cat: It is not advisable to bring virgins together. The giving birth cat is tasked with untying the male. The partner for a pet that is being bred for the first time must have sexual experience and be older than her, but not much.
The pet got sick. A slight malaise, which is difficult to notice, may serve as a reason to refuse mating.

The biggest problems arise during the first mating. If something goes wrong, the cat will have a nervous breakdown, which will worsen during subsequent matings.

"Impossible to subdue." 16 questions and answers about cats

Cats rank first in popularity among pets. The President of the International Felinological Association “Rus” (FARUS), Tamara Emelyanova, answered our readers’ questions She has been involved with cats since the 1980s, participates as a judge at exhibitions in Russia and abroad, writes fantastic books about her favorite animals and keeps five charming cats (Persian and Toy Bob) at home.

Natalia Gerasimova, AiF.ru: Where did cats come from?

Tamara Emelyanova: The ancestor of modern tailed cats is the Libyan wild cat. It was domesticated 4 thousand years BC. e. in the Nile Valley. In ancient Egypt, cats were considered sacred animals. During excavations, scientists found many mummies of these animals. According to Plutarch, domestic cats appeared in the Roman Empire in the 1st century. n. e. In the 11th century they began to spread throughout Europe. In the Middle Ages in England they were revered, and stealing or killing a cat was punishable by death, but in France, on the contrary, they were considered minions of the devil and were persecuted. In Russia, mentions of Siberian cats have been known since the end of the 16th century. Initially, weasels and martens were used to kill rodents. But gradually they were replaced by cats. In the 19th century, domestic tailed cats began to be crossed with European wild cats, and various varieties of domestic animals appeared.

Mummy of a cat (Louvre Museum). Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org

— How and where to pet cats correctly? Is it possible to pick them up by the withers?

— Cats are very individual. In dogs, for example, estrus occurs consistently twice a year, while in cats it can be once a month, every few months, a year or several years. Inevitably, the suspicion arises that cats regulate their estrus themselves. It's the same with tastes. It's different for every cat. Most love scratching in the head and neck area and have a negative attitude towards touching the back of the body. Scottish Fold cats often do not like to be petted in the tail area. They have many nerve endings there, and if there are problems with the spine, touching can cause pain. You should not pull the tail and whiskers - there are also nerve endings at their base. Cats do not like to be picked up by the withers. This movement does not hurt, but it immobilizes them, so it causes them to panic a little. But some cats respond well to stroking their back and belly.

— How to learn to understand cats? What do their body movements mean?

“If a cat has its tail up, it means it’s in a good mood, confident and friendly; when it’s tucked up, it’s depressed and afraid of something; when it’s wagging, it’s irritated and aggressive.” In dogs, on the contrary, a wagging tail is a sign of the animal’s disposition. The cat's flattened ears, arched back and raised fur indicate readiness to attack. Closed and half-closed eyes - calm and trust. Wide eyes - curiosity, aggression or fear.

— How to stop a cat from going to the toilet anywhere and climbing on tables?

- Just scold and not allow it. The cat does not need to be punished painfully. It won't help. You can hiss or hit him with a newspaper and explain why. Cats understand words well, focusing on tone, facial expressions and gestures. According to Japanese and American studies, cats can distinguish up to 500 words. But with the tray everything is more complicated. Cats may not go to the litter box because they don’t like it, for example, color, shape, size, material, filling. The toilet must always be clean and accessible. For kittens, you can put trays in all corners and, after observing, choose where they go most and remove the rest. If they still go the wrong way, then soak a piece of paper in cat urine and put it in the tray. Poking your nose in urine won't help. An adult cat may sometimes go to the bed. This occurs due to hormone disruption during estrus. Sometimes it helps to anoint the area with some smelly mixture. But some cats, on the contrary, will try to drown out someone else’s smell with their own and make a puddle there.

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— Are cats really vindictive?

— Cats have long-term memory, literally for their entire lives. If you quarrel with her, then you need to look for an approach, so to speak, to ask for forgiveness - to stroke her and talk to her. If you don’t do this, she will remember the insult and, if the opportunity arises, she will do a mischief.

— Maybe there are some particularly harmful breeds? Which ones are considered the kindest?

— Many people say that Siamese cats are evil, but this is not so. One litter can contain both bad and good kittens. The British and Scottish Folds are considered less sociable. They are as serious as bears. The most sociable and friendly breeds are considered to be hairless, especially Don and Canadian Sphynxes, and toy beans. In addition, they willingly communicate with children. Do not forget that litters of other breeds may have kittens of different characters that will fit perfectly into your family.

— What is best to feed cats and what is not recommended?

— It’s better to select food individually, depending on what the cat likes, how it looks after eating and how it goes to the toilet. While the cat is growing, up to a year, you should be especially careful about nutrition. It is better not to give kittens dry food until they start drinking water. From 3 weeks, kittens can be fed meat baby food. Kittens digest cow's milk normally, but adults do not. It gives them an upset stomach. It is preferable to give cats wet food that contains poultry meat, especially turkey, beef, lean lamb, and rabbit. It is better to feed eggs and liver no more than twice a week. Rolled oats, buckwheat, rice porridge and fermented milk products are allowed. Sausages, smoked meats, pickles, sweets, and ice cream are not advisable. Raw meat should be frozen first and, after defrosting, doused with boiling water to prevent the cat from getting parasites. Fish is contraindicated for cats with urolithiasis, as it contains minerals that promote stone formation. Castrati who are prone to obesity must be handled carefully. It is better to buy specialized food for them. If your domestic cat does not eat in moderation, then control it. For one meal, for example, do not give more than 100 grams of meat.

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— Can pets' nails be trimmed and should they brush their teeth?

— It is advisable to trim your claws with special nail clippers if you don’t want your furniture or children to be scratched. But brushing your teeth is more of a pampering activity. In nature, no one cleans them for cats. For oral care, you can give soft cartilage, chicken necks or solid food.

— Why do cats hate water?

— There is no point in bathing cats unless necessary. They don't like to go into water because their fur gets wet and they feel uncomfortable. In the cold they can freeze, and in extreme heat they can overheat. Water removes the natural lubricant from the coat, which protects the hair from breakage and makes it shiny. Wet wool smells stronger and attracts dirt. But not all types of cats have a negative attitude towards water. Many sleek cats calmly take baths, and Manx cats can even swim and fish.

— Can cats be taught any commands and tricks?

— Dogs are happy to obey a person and follow his commands. Cats will only do things that make sense to them and that they themselves will enjoy. They do not accept force. At best, they can treat a person as their equal, at worst - condescendingly or with fear. To teach your cat some tricks, you need to observe what she likes to do. These skills can be developed through praise and play. For example, many cats love to jump. They can easily be taught to jump over hoops or benches placed in a row.

— Why does the mother cat lick the kittens every time they are petted?

— Many mammals are wary of other people’s smells and always lick themselves after being petted. This helps cats and kittens retain their own scent and distribute it throughout their body. The rough tongue of cats contains many capillary papillae, shaped like hooks. With their help, the mother cat removes dirt, dead hair, foreign odors and dust from the fur to keep the skin clean and healthy. Also, licking stimulates the blood circulation and digestion of kittens, massages their tummies and helps in the act of defecation until they leave the “birth nest.” In addition, in the process of licking, cats distribute sebum, a fatty lubricant, throughout the fur, which makes the fur water-repellent.

— Why does a cat sometimes hide her kittens?

- There may be several reasons for this. Mother cats love secluded and quiet corners. If children are constantly peeking in, the cat may be annoyed. She will not like a draft, from which it is easy to catch a cold, and too bright light. It is contraindicated for babies whose eyes have not yet fully opened. Peristalsis in kittens begins to work independently after two weeks. The mother cat may not have time to clean up the nest after the cubs and, in order not to be detected by the strong smell, hide the newborns in a cleaner (in her opinion) place.

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— How to get rid of fleas forever?

— It is impossible to get rid of fleas forever. The folk remedy tansy will not help. The most effective ones include putting collars on the cat, spraying it on the fur, or injecting special preparations under the withers. If the fleas continue to suck blood, they will soon die and fall off. But this can help temporarily, for a season. There are no ways to get rid of fleas for small kittens. You must wait at least three months before you can use any funds.

— Is it necessary to get vaccinated?

— Vaccinations are given no earlier than three months. Definitely for rabies, especially if the cat is to be transported somewhere. For other vaccinations, a doctor's recommendation is required. After arriving from the dacha, it is worth giving anthelmintic drugs.

— At what age is it best to spay and neuter cats?

— Males should be neutered no earlier than 7-8 months, and cats should be sterilized after a year so that they grow and are fully formed. It is not advisable to give injections or pills for estrus. They can lead to inflammation of the uterus, have a negative effect on the liver and kidneys, and do not help all animals. A recommendation from a specialist is advisable here.

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— How to choose the right kitten?

— It is better not to take kittens from photographs, without prior acquaintance. Cats often choose their owners themselves. Once my sister adopted a one-year-old Persian cat. She started shitting and was returned. So the sister gave the cat away three times with the same result. The fourth time, when a new person arrived, the cat itself went to her and hugged her neck. There were no further complaints. Some say that active kittens are healthier. It is not true. There are also calm kids with good health. They just have a quiet character. Healthy kittens do not have watery eyes, clean ears and no snot flowing from their noses. Animals need to be housetrained with food and affection. Cats are telepaths. You need to communicate with them - talk and play. If you don’t buy a cat, but adopt one from a shelter, then it will pay off for you a hundredfold. Cats understand everything and will be very grateful to you.

How to create all the conditions for mating

Before a date, you need to make sure that your pets do not catch sexually transmitted infections from each other. Therefore they need to be examined.

Cats can transmit the following infections to each other:

Mycoplasmosis;
Viral leukemia;
Chlamydia;
Viral immunodeficiency;
Calcivirosis.

The second point is to get rid of fleas and worms. The third condition is to get vaccinated. The last rule is important for females so that their antibodies are passed on to the kittens through colostrum. And lastly: before mating, the pet should not be bathed. The cat's sensitive nose will sense an unfamiliar smell and will discourage the desire.

Animals need time to get to know each other. Fruitful mating is not carried out in a couple of hours. Usually animals are left for 2-3 days. They are being watched to make sure. That mating took place. Animals will mate until they get tired of it. After pregnancy occurs, estrus stops and the cat stops letting the male cat near her.

The communication room should not be too large. The couple is left alone. All fragile objects are removed first, not because of a danger to the cats' health, but to prevent material damage. Close all bottlenecks into which a frightened animal can hide. So that the guest, if something goes wrong, can be caught without causing physical or psychological harm.

A familiar tray brought from home is placed for the cat. To ensure fruitful intercourse, they ensure silence, turn down the volume of the TV or player, and do not turn on the vacuum cleaner.

What to do if mating fails

Experienced breeders understand what their cats are capable of, know how they behaved in previous matings, and understand how to prepare a cat for mating. If they have several cats and one of them has leaked, it's busy time. Following the example of the neighbor, the rest will begin to heat.

Before the upcoming mating, the cat is stroked on the stomach, which puts her in a complacent state.

Experienced felinologists always have backup options:

They use a couple that has already had successful experience and produced high-quality offspring.
They change the cat.
They leave the cat to live with the future father of her cubs for 3 weeks. If the animals get used to each other, mating will occur without problems in the next heat.
They help an inexperienced cat to mate - they hold the female if she falls over on her side, but only if the cat does not protest against intercourse.

The main thing is not to despair; if the cat is healthy, then sooner or later she will become pregnant.

The cardinal method of solving the problem is sterilization

This method has both supporters and opponents. Only one thing remains certain - this is today the only guaranteed and long-term way to resolve the issue. This is a single irreversible procedure that is performed by a specialist in a veterinary clinic. In a situation where a cat is yelling and wanting to know what to do, it may be completely unclear to the exhausted owners. And the thought of sterilization will be perceived as salvation. But before making this decision, you need to weigh all the pros and cons.

The advantages of this method are:

permanent effect;
a significant reduction in the risk of diseases of the genital organs and mammary glands, including cancer.

Among the disadvantages are:

the danger of surgical intervention as such, the possibility of postoperative complications, the specifics of caring for the cat until it recovers;
risk of urolithiasis and obesity, decreased activity.

Sterilization is usually carried out up to a year. After this procedure, the animal’s lifestyle and habits may change noticeably and this must be taken into account. It is better to use special food with a high content of vitamins and low fat content. This will help maintain your cat's normal weight despite reduced physical activity. If you decide to sterilize your cat, then you need to read the article “Complete care for your cat after sterilization.”