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.
How does a cat behave during its first sexual experience?
If cats mature for procreation at the age of 8 months, and their sexual maturity is pronounced, then in cats everything is a little different. They mature by 9 months and, unlike cats, do not show aggression, but, on the contrary, become overly gentle towards their owners.
A cat that has started walking is strikingly different in its manners - it will walk in circles around the male, fawn over him, and its poses will be quite specific. A cat may mark its territory in the house with urine.
Sexual activity among representatives of the cat world varies and depends on the breed. Cats living at home have a shorter period of sexual activity than indoor cats. The estrus period also depends on the time of year. In winter it lasts no more than 5 days, in summer – several weeks.
During the first intercourse, the cat will behave passively. Some individuals may not allow the cat to approach them at all for the first time, showing increased aggression. Mostly Sphynx and Scottish cats behave this way. The possibility of childbearing remains in females up to 8 years.
Caring for a young mother and kittens
In the first days, it is not advisable to get too close to the nest, much less pick up the babies. A mother will almost always act aggressively in an attempt to protect her children, even if she previously trusted the person. During this time, you need to provide food, water and a tray nearby, since cats do not go far from the nest.
A cat that has given birth constantly feeds its babies, so it still needs extra nutrition. In the first days, kittens are completely dependent on mother's milk, but after a month it is necessary to introduce complementary foods in the form of a special diet for babies. The need for breast milk decreases, almost disappearing by three months.
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.
Mating cats - features and stages
It is impossible to predict in advance how the first acquaintance between a female and a male will go. Animals may immediately like each other, or they may show unmotivated aggression.
In order for pets to become friends faster, mating should be carried out in a separate, closed room.
Moreover, in a prepared area there is a greater chance that they will find a common language.
First, a container with a cat is brought into the room; she needs to be left alone for some time so that she becomes familiar with the new conditions. Only after the cat has studied everything and calmed down can the male be brought into the room. An indicator that mating will take place with the expected result is normal, typical behavior of animals. If a cat immediately began to show aggression towards each other, it is unlikely that their acquaintance will lead to anything.
If the cat likes the male, a short period of flirting begins. The animals exchange greetings, after which the cat, after petting the cat several times, allows him to come closer to her. If the female does not like the partner chosen by the owners, she will begin to behave aggressively: she will hiss and growl, and may even bite a cat who tries to come closer to her. Owners must monitor how animals behave. If aggressive behavior occurs, pets should be immediately separated and isolated.
Act of intimacy
As soon as the seals have gotten used to each other, got acquainted and exchanged greetings, after a short sexual foreplay, the female allows the male to approach her, making it clear that she is ready for sexual intercourse by standing in a specific position - with an emphasis on her hind legs, raising her pelvis and tail high . The cat approaches the female from behind, digs her teeth into her nape, and hugs her from the sides with her front paws.
The actual process of intercourse lasts very quickly, with instant ejaculation. At the same time, the cat will purr, and the female will scream heart-rendingly (this scream has its own good reasons). After sexual intercourse, the cats separate in a rather specific manner - the cat with a sharp movement jumps away from the female, who in turn hits him with her paw.
What to do if mating is not in your plans
Unsatisfied sexual instinct leads to many negative consequences.
Untied animals have hormonal imbalances, they yell, lose weight, and cats mark their territory. The risk of cancer, pathologies of internal organs and the cardiovascular system increases.
If you do not plan to breed purebred kittens, and a career as a breeder is not part of your plans, it is best to take care of spaying your cat and neutering your cat.
Rules for choosing a partner and preparing animals
The choice of a female for a male must be approached with great responsibility, since the quality and quantity of kittens, genetic features, and the successful outcome of the mating itself will depend on the correct choice of partners. If the cat has already had sexual experience, it is worth looking at what the offspring from his previous matings were like.
The best choice would be a prepotent animal, since such a partner will be able to pass on the best genetic set to the kittens. To achieve the best litter from mating a cat with a cat, it is recommended to consult a specialist when choosing a partner.
Before mating, animals need to trim their claws so that they do not injure each other. It is not recommended to perform hygiene procedures on pets, much less bathe them using scented hygiene products. Individuals should exude a natural scent, this increases the likelihood that they will be able to make friends, and the mating will take place with the desired result.
It is recommended to carry out mating in the territory of the male.
In order for the female to feel comfortable in new conditions, you need to bring her litter tray, bowls for food and water, as well as food if it becomes known that the cat eats a different type of industrial diet.
The container with the cat is placed in the middle of the room and left with the door open. Forcibly pulling a cat out of such a shelter is strictly prohibited. The female must calm down on her own and begin exploring the territory. If you force a cat out, it may become very frightened and then refuse to leave the container at all.
When mating purebred cats, you need to take into account a number of nuances. So, for example, a fold-eared cat can only happen to a cat whose ears are straight, otherwise genetic abnormalities cannot be avoided in the resulting litter.
False pregnancy
In cats it occurs less frequently than in dogs, but it still occurs. False pregnancy occurs due to problems with seminal fluid in males. This can happen for a number of reasons:
- Sperm does not have time to accumulate due to frequent matings.
- Infectious and other diseases that lead to the non-viability of sperm.
- Weak activity of germ cells.
At the same time, the female is actively preparing for gestation. With palpation, you can even feel small lumps on the abdomen. The cat's nipples swell and colostrum forms. In most cases, after the term has expired, the cat imitates childbirth, but no offspring appear.
False pregnancy is a huge stress for a pet. Hormonal levels, like behavior, change dramatically. Health deteriorates until medical intervention. In extreme cases, a cat can avoid mating for a long time, even in severe heat.
How to prevent unpleasant consequences? The only option is a competent approach to choosing a partner. Ask the cat owner about previous pregnancies of his females.
IMPORTANT! When looking for a partner, special attention should be paid to vaccinations. It is not uncommon for a cat to infect a cat with various infectious diseases - herpes, calcivirus, etc.
Breeding cats outdoors
A barn cat, when she begins her period of heat and is ready to mate, secretes a special hormonal secretion, and it is its smell that attracts many males. They find the female, surround her and begin to fight for primacy, engaging in battle with each other. A barn cat has a large choice and chooses the male she likes the most. But, as a rule, the cat that won the fight with other male contenders will participate in mating.
The tactics of a cat are interesting, who at all costs wants to emerge victorious from the battle - by entering into skirmishes with other males, with each victory he becomes closer to his goal. But as soon as the cat glances at him, he feigns complete indifference. When a male conquers a female, he approaches her as close as possible and begins to scream heart-rendingly in her ear. If there was no negative reaction from the cat, she did not run away, but continued to lie in the appropriate position, sexual intercourse begins.
Pairing
During estrus, the female makes special sounds, purrs and crouches to the floor. When she is located towards her partner, she takes a special pose, arches her back and moves her tail. The male holds her by the withers with his teeth and covers her. Sexual intercourse lasts several seconds. If this is your first mating, then it will be important to find out in advance how the cat behaves after mating. She pushes the cat away, makes characteristic high-pitched screams, begins to lick herself furiously and demonstrates her reluctance to continue communication. In some cases, she may show aggression and attack. In others it is simply secluded. Sometimes owners wonder why the cat tumbles after mating.
There is no need to be afraid of such behavior. The cat behaves this way after mating not because she is in pain. It’s just that nature very wisely doses the sexual desire of females. In this case, it has fulfilled its function, and repeated sexual intercourse will become possible only after some time. Usually, in order for pregnancy to occur with a 99% probability, cats are bred three times, on the second or third day of ovulation. Another option is to allow animals to mate during the three most favorable days of estrus.
Recommendations for successful mating
It is best to mate animals in the first 3 days after the start of estrus.
This is the time that is considered the most favorable for mating, which in most cases ends successfully. If you start mating in the last days, the likelihood of successful conception decreases significantly with each subsequent day. In addition, time will be spent ensuring that the pets find a common language.
Since the mating process is best carried out in the male's territory, the female cat may experience severe stress from being brought into a different environment. And due to changes in the psycho-emotional state, estrus may be temporarily interrupted. To return it, the owner must surround the pet with attention and care, stroke and caress it more often, thereby making it clear that it can feel calm in this territory.
You only need to pet the cat in the tail area so that the person does not use his scent to overpower the natural scent of the animal, which is why the cat may not show proper interest in the female. If the beginning of mating did not go as smoothly as desired, the pets are indifferent to each other, or the female behaves too aggressively and does not allow the male to approach, the animals should be left together for a while so that they get used to each other. It is recommended to feed your pets together, this increases the chances that they will quickly find a common language.
But the female should not stay too long visiting the male. If within 24 hours a cat and a cat are unable to find a common language, they no longer have time for mating, since the female will soon be in heat, which significantly reduces the chances of successful fertilization.
Copulation of cats occurs in the dark, and sexual intercourse lasts several minutes. More time is spent on familiarization and searching for a suitable territory. If reproduction occurs not at home, but outdoors, then the female can select a partner within a few hours.
Copulation of domestic animals of different breeds is recommended to be carried out on the territory of the cat. In its home, the animal feels more confident and sexual intercourse occurs faster.
First meeting
Once on someone else's territory, the groom will try to mark it, or he may become embarrassed and not show the proper ardor during mating, which is why the bride is usually brought to the cat.
For the cat, they take with them a “dowry” - its tray, bowl and familiar carrier, where it can hide and rest if necessary.
Of course, the bride should be well-groomed, but there is no need to bathe her before the meeting, this will take away the natural smell that attracts mating. The groom's owners are responsible for the safety of the bride and provide a place for marriage games.
