At what age does the first heat occur?
The speed of puberty depends on many factors. The onset of a cat's first heat is influenced by:
- Heredity. The tendency to experience early puberty is passed on to offspring from parents.
- Season of birth. A kitten that was born in the summer matures faster than its “winter” counterparts. In such a female, estrus can begin for the first time at 5-7 months.
- Animal breed. In large individuals, estrus occurs later than in miniature ones. Short-haired animals mature earlier than long-haired ones. Thus, estrus in British cats and representatives of the Scottish Fold breed begins at 8-12 months. But Orientals and Abyssinians mature by 5 months. In Ragdolls, Maine Coons, Siberian and Norwegian Forest cats, estrus may first begin at the age of 9-15 months.
- Lifestyle. Pedigree domestic cats mature longer than their homeless street counterparts.
- Having problems with weight. Individuals that are too fat or emaciated mature later than females with normal body weight.
- Light level. In a pet living in a darkened room, the activity of sex hormones is suppressed and the rut occurs later.
- The presence of other cats in the house. Living in the same territory with other individuals stimulates the early manifestation of sexual instincts.
Which partner to choose
To get good offspring from a cat of this breed, you need to know the mating rules for this breed. The main thing you need to know here is who you can breed a Scottish Fold cat with.
It should be noted that in this breed there are animals of two varieties:
- lop-eared, which have curled ears. During their lifetime, such pets may experience slight straightening of their ears;
- straight-eared, which have erect ears. Throughout life, the ears of such animals may bend slightly.
Despite the fact that the appearance of cats of two varieties may undergo some changes, which will make them look very similar to each other, this point must be taken into account when mating. Changing the shape of the ears does not change the animal’s belonging to one or another subspecies, but can have a negative impact on the offspring.
Only straight-eared and lop-eared dogs can be brought together. Such crossing will produce genetically healthy offspring. In this case, some of the kittens will have straight ears, and the other half will have fold ears. However, it is difficult to accurately predict how many kittens and what type will be born.
It is not recommended to mix Scottish Folds with outbred animals or representatives of other breeds. Otherwise, the offspring may appear sick or with pathology.
It is strictly forbidden to breed Scots with the following breeds:
- fold-eared with fold-eared, since the offspring will have a defect in cartilage tissue. The pathology is especially noticeable on the extremities;
- with exotics or British. There may be problems with the spine (vertebral fusion).
How to find a suitable cat to mate with a Scottish Fold cat in order to get healthy offspring? You need to contact the breeder from whom the cat was purchased. You can also go to a specialist at a specialized nursery.
You can find a mating partner yourself using an advertisement. However, here you should be careful and choose only those animals whose breed is documented. It is better to give preference to an experienced cat.
How to understand that a cat has gone on a spree
You can tell that a cat is in heat by a number of characteristic signs:
- The cat begins to insistently demand attention. She becomes very affectionate and even intrusive. But sometimes attacks of tenderness give way to aggression, and then even the calmest cat turns into a hissing and biting fury.
- When stroking the pelvic area, the cat takes a characteristic pose. She arches her back and lifts her hindquarters up, her tail retracted and her front legs extended. This position is a sure sign that the cat is in heat and is ready to mate with a male cat.
- The cat's behavior changes a lot. She begins to actively rub against any objects, including walls, furniture and even her owner’s feet. In this way, she spreads her own scent to attract males.
- The most unpleasant of all the signs of heat in cats is the leaving of marks. The female turns her back to a vertical surface and, raising her tail, secretes a few drops of urine.
- To attract males, a cat begins to scream loudly during estrus. Moreover, it does not calm down even at night, and this causes inconvenience not only to the owners, but also to the residents of neighboring apartments.
- When a domestic cat goes into heat, her urge to escape increases, even if the animal has never been outside.
- You can find out that the female has begun to estrus by a decreased or missing appetite. These days she eats less than usual or refuses food altogether.
What is estrus
The period during which the behavior of an animal changes dramatically is called estrus, or estrus. At this moment, the process of ovulation begins in the eggs, and conception becomes real.
The following signs signal the beginning of the cat's walking period:
- There are sudden changes in mood. The cat can be overly affectionate, and a few minutes later aggressive;
- The pet meows loudly, calling for a male;
- Transparent discharge appears, the cat licks itself more often;
- Goes to the toilet more;
- Appetite decreases, some cats may refuse food altogether;
- Due to the reproductive instinct, many cats strive to get out of the room, so during the period of heat it is important to close all doors and windows;
- Gait changes appear. The cat bends its front paws and lifts its tail high.
The listed signs during estrus can be observed individually or in combination.
Duration and frequency of sexual heat
On average, sexual heat occurs once a quarter. But in some animals it can be repeated every 3 weeks, in others - only a couple of times a year. As often happens, estrus in cats depends on many factors:
- Variety. In Persian, Siamese and Oriental cats, estrus occurs more often than in representatives of the Scottish and British breeds. In the latter, the frequency of estrus can be 5-8 months.
- Age. In young animals, symptoms of estrus recur more often than in older animals.
- Presence of pregnancy. Cat "periods" return to their original schedule 1.5-3 months after birth.
- Season. This dependence is clearly expressed in street individuals. From the beginning of spring to mid-autumn, the intervals are reduced due to the fact that during the warm period it is easier to bear and give birth to a healthy offspring. In winter there is a long break between heats.
- Number of matings. Infrequent matings help reduce the intervals between heats to 14 days. On the contrary, if matings are too frequent, the rut repeats up to 2 times a year.
On average, estrus in cats lasts 5-7 days, but sometimes its duration increases to 14-20 days.
Important! If heat lasts less than 5 days or lasts longer than 3 weeks, the animal must be shown to a veterinarian. Too short a heat may indicate the presence of ovarian hypoplasia or thyroid disease. Long-lasting sexual heat can be a symptom of inflammation of the ovaries or the development of neoplasms.
Proestrus
Preparatory phase, which lasts 1-4 days. It is accompanied by the first scanty discharge and changes in the cat’s behavior. The animal becomes more affectionate and often rolls on the floor. During this period, the cat is not yet ready to mate and will not let her partner in.
Estrus
The second stage, which lasts 5-10 days and is accompanied by the appearance of noticeable transparent discharge. During this period, the cat is not able to control its behavior. She constantly screams and takes a characteristic pose. It is during this period that mating occurs.
Metestrus
How this period goes depends on how the previous one ended. If it ended with mating, during which fertilization occurred, then after 60-70 days the offspring will be born. If there was mating, but fertilization did not take place, then a false pregnancy develops, which does not lead to childbirth and goes away after 30-45 days. If mating does not occur, then over the next 2-15 days the cat’s sexual activity fades away, and interest in the opposite sex is replaced by aggression.
Anestrus
The final stage that ends estrus in cats. It is called the rest period and lasts from 3 weeks to several months. At this time, the cat again appears balanced and behaves as usual.
When do cats go into heat?
Typically, puberty occurs between 7 and 10 months of age..
But the complete physiological formation of the body for procreation ends at approximately 12-14 months.
It should be noted that the time of the onset of the first heat, as well as its regularity, depend on many factors, including the breed of the cat.
For example, in such oriental breeds as Siamese, Persian and Oriental, estrus can be observed much more often than in cats of other breeds (for example, Scottish, British).
Is it possible to calm a walking cat?
It is not enough to determine that a cat is in heat; you also need to understand what to do to calm the animal. To temporarily eliminate unwanted behavior, we recommend:
- Increase activity. The cat’s aggression and unspent activity should be redirected in another direction. The animal can be distracted by long, exhausting games, which consume energy and help normalize night sleep.
- Change feeding schedule. Because fertile cats lose their appetite, they should be fed little but often. But the evening portion needs to be increased so that the satiated animal sleeps at night.
- Give sedatives. To prevent the cat from experiencing stress, it is recommended to give it sedatives based on herbal preparations (Stop-stress or Cat Bayun).
How to prepare your pet
Finding a cat suitable for mating with a Scottish pet is not the only thing her owner should worry about. It is recommended to treat both animals for fleas and worms shortly before the mating procedure. Don't forget to also have all the necessary vaccinations. Decide in advance where the pets will be mated. The place you choose should be clean, dry, spacious and warm.
Please also take into account the fact that mating Scottish cats is a lengthy process and can take about two days. That is why, when going on a trip with your pet or pet, take the following things with you:
- toilet tray with filler;
- bowls for food and water;
- usual food.
Don't forget to trim your cat's claws shortly before mating. The thing is that during the mating process she can show aggression and scratch the cat. As a rule, it is the owner of the cat who must come with her to someone else’s territory, since she will not allow a male to approach her on her own. Remember that a new place is stressful for a cat, so upon arrival, do not rush to take it out of the carrier bag. If some time has passed and the animals are still aggressive towards each other, place them in different enclosures so that they can get to know each other better without harming each other.
Breeding straight-eared and fold-eared cats of the Scottish breed is a process that requires a number of preparatory measures. Follow the basic recommendations to make the procedure as easy as possible.
Hormonal drugs to interrupt sexual desire
Certain hormonal agents will help suppress or interrupt a cat's estrus. They act directly on the pituitary gland and lead to serious consequences. Such drugs do not stop the cycle, but temporarily delay it. They are not designed for frequent use and should be given no more than 1-2 times a year.
Constant use of such drugs leads to hormonal imbalances and the development of serious health problems. And the most dangerous thing is that negative changes appear after a long time and sometimes even one dose is enough to cause pathologies of the reproductive organs.
Childbirth among Scots
Let's look at when and how labor begins in a Scottish Fold cat. The first signs of labor in a cat are brownish vaginal discharge.
The behavior of a cat often changes before giving birth: the animal is looking for a place (nest) to give birth, screaming and making attempts, especially if the Scottish female gives birth to kittens for the first time. In such a situation, it is worth staying close to the cat, calming it down and caressing it, and if necessary, helping, delivering the cat’s birth. Kittens are born head first.
Newborn kittens weigh about 100 grams and are a bubble filled with light yellow liquid. After the kittens are born, the mother chews this bladder, releases the cub and licks it to cleanse the lungs. You can help her with this by suctioning the fluid from her nose with an enema while the female gives birth to other kittens.
Kittens come out at intervals that last about 20 minutes, however, the cat can independently increase the duration of labor and delay the appearance of the babies and carry them for another day if something does not suit her or frightens her. After the young mother has been able to give birth to a kitten, the afterbirth comes out.
A Scottish cat will give birth to approximately 2 to 4 kittens the first time, but in general they will give birth to 1 to 8 kittens.
Kittens open their eyes a week after birth. All Scottish kittens are born with straight ears, and only at 3 weeks of age should you pay attention to the ears; in folds, they begin to droop.
