Veterinarians note readiness for mating already at the age of 6-8 months, both for males and females. However, sexual maturity does not always depend on age; it is important to monitor the animal. Sometimes puberty can occur earlier or later by 1-3 months.
Feline fertility is known - 3-4 pregnancies per year. The term for one is only 60-65 days. Each individual can bring 3-8 kittens.
The first time a cat is in heat: is it possible to breed
A cat's first heat can occur without obvious symptoms, that is, it can be invisible to the owner. The cat, although physiologically ready to become pregnant, has not yet fully reached the physical state of an adult.
The first heat is not an indicator of the possibility of mating. Pregnancy at a very young age (up to 1 year) can be harmful to the health of the animal. Also, due to incomplete development, stillborn kittens may be born, and complications of pregnancy and childbirth are possible.
It is important to prepare the first mating, the cat’s “marriage,” in advance.
How to stop a cat from yelling?
Herbal decoctions will help relieve anxiety and calm down. Brew lemon balm, chamomile, cumin or motherwort. If you manage to give the animal a miracle remedy, you will rest for several hours in silence, perhaps even get one night's sleep. You can also give
cat, catnip or valerian.
Interesting materials:
How to return money from a mobile phone account to a card? How to return money from Tele 2 account to card? How can I get my subscription money back? How to return money in Juma? How to get money back from a travel agency? How to get a refund for a fitness club membership? How to get money back for air tickets? How to get a refund for Victory air tickets? How to get money back for a car loan? How to get a refund for a Lufthansa ticket?
Puberty
The onset of sexual readiness and the time of the first mating do not necessarily coincide. Final sexual maturity in cats occurs at the age of one to one and a half years.
Males, unlike cats, are capable of mating throughout the year; in the spring, the desire intensifies.
For an untied cat, it is worth choosing a more experienced partner, just as for an ununtied cat. It should also be taken into account that a cat sometimes does not allow a cat she does not like to approach her.
Also read the article on how to start breeding cats.
How to relieve symptoms of estrus
No cat owner, even the most patient, can like the fact that both day and night his pet, who has entered the breeding age, howls, bites and is overly active and aggressive. At such moments, the question arises of what to do with a cat whose antics can no longer be tolerated.
The easiest way to resolve the issue is to arrange a “date” for the tailed brawler with a suitable cat.
It should be taken into account that you need to choose the most suitable time for mating. The peak of sexual activity in animals whose age allows them to reproduce occurs between February and March. It is at this time that it is more advisable to have offspring, guided by the simplest logic. In the coming summer months there will be no problems with obtaining food for the babies, the cubs do not need to be protected from the cold, and by the first serious frost they will already have reached adulthood.
This path is suitable for owners of purebred animals and those whose cats, having entered adulthood, walk on their own and live in the courtyard of a private house. In a city apartment, a low-bred wild animal can hardly become a prominent and sought-after gentleman . In this case, it is necessary to consider other ways to resolve the issue.
Estrus: signs that a cat is ready for mating
Based on the characteristics of feline physiology, when sexual desire occurs in cats, there is no longer any bleeding. But before this, the heat can be noticed. Depending on climatic conditions, the psychology of the animal, interaction with relatives, the intervals between estrus can range from two weeks to several months (3-6 months, no more).
Estrus takes 5-10 days. In the first days, the animal becomes affectionate, often rubbing against its legs. Although there are reverse reactions, the cat becomes aggressive and somewhat agitated. External manifestations are slightly swollen genitals, curvature in the lumbar region, bending of the front legs and a raised tail.
After 2-5 days from the start of estrus, the cat is ready for mating. These days, she shows her desire with all her appearance, calls for the cat, and when stroking it takes a “comfortable” pose - she falls on her front paws, raises her croup and moves her tail to the side. This is an indicator of the animal’s readiness for “marriage.”
At this time, the cat may refuse to eat, but the number of trips to the toilet increases.
Cats can, when they desire, not only make sounds that are unpleasant to the human ear, but also “mark” their territory and use various things for “pleasure.”
It is better to breed no more than three times within two years.
Other signs of cat favor
Cats often hide from strangers or even hiss at them, but they treat their own people more kindly. The cat's slowly closing eyes, the desire to play with the owner, and the location next to him on the sofa speak about a cat's trust and love. They understand very well who is their friend.
Mating rules
Those who want to breed animals or simply make easy money from purebred kittens should understand that the process of mating a cat and a cat is far from simple. To carry out mating correctly, you must have sufficient knowledge and skills in the field of genetics, zoology, as well as legal subtleties for registering offspring or possible problems with pregnancy and childbirth.
There are basic mistakes that non-professional breeders can make:
- Choosing the right partner. It is better to select a manufacturing partner in advance, or preferably several possible partners, because One cat may not like the cat. Then all efforts will come to naught, and time will be lost. All conditions and nuances are discussed with the owners of potential partners. For pedigree breeding, it is better to contact a professional club, and not select from advertisements. Since random incidents may arise with some clogging of the rock. The main indicators here are:
- absence of close relatives at least up to the third generation;
- Assessment of appearance should be carried out, in addition to health, by color. It is important to understand what color fur to expect in kittens. This is where knowledge of feline genetics comes in handy;
- It is important to choose a partner with a suitable blood type. Cats have only three of them: A, B and A/B. You cannot breed cats of groups A and B. This will entail the possibility of the birth of unhealthy offspring.
- Some cat breeds are incompatible with each other, but breeders often experiment.
- Care before mating. The main thing is the health of the animal. It is necessary to organize proper nutrition and maintenance of both the cat and the cat. Vaccination against various infections (rabies, feline distemper, rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis), fungal and “venereal” diseases (chlamydia, lichen), deworming (getting rid of worms) is mandatory. Vaccination is carried out once a year, and deworming is carried out once every three months. The latter must be done 10 days before the scheduled mating day. Afterwards, it is not recommended to carry out any medical measures.
- Diet of cats and cats. An overfed or underfed animal is alarming if you want to have kittens; complications during pregnancy and childbirth are possible. When preparing in advance, you need to add vitamins to your usual diet.
- Keeping the animal. It is necessary to ensure peace, absence of drafts and temperature changes.
Preparation for mating includes bringing the animals into a satisfactory state:
- Trim claws;
- Wash with zoo shampoo, but no less than 3-5 days before mating. Otherwise, the smell of shampoo may scare away your partner.
Preparing for mating has not only physiological, but also psychological meaning, both for the pet and for its owners. The agreed cost of mating can be equal to one kitten, or paid financially, possibly in installments (before mating and after the birth of kittens).
Does a male need to recover after mating?
Certainly! A cat is not a horse, and even a horse deserves a rest. And such a tremulous and fluffy creature, of course, needs a break. During this period, you should enrich your pet with high-quality and balanced food. You can consult a specialist about this. Also, the animal needs to be provided with good rest and not to be tugged at in small ways.
In such a responsible matter, the health of the male also plays an important role. Therefore, monitor his condition. Give him all his vaccinations and preventatives against worms, ticks and fleas on time. If your pet often meets females, then it is necessary to regularly monitor it with a doctor. Firstly, this will protect him from diseases that he can pick up from the young lady, and secondly, you can present a doctor’s certificate - this will guarantee your bride and you will have a good reputation.
Important to remember! Regular mating with a cat affects the quality of the animal’s coat and, in general, its health, so if there is an exhibition ahead of you, then it is better to hold off on mating.
Also, if your male is going on a date for the first time, then choose a cat that has already had experience in sexual relations. This will help the entire mating process.
Mating a cat with a cat: how animals behave and what the owner should do
It is best to carry out mating in the cat's territory. This will not give him the opportunity to subsequently resort to his “wife” unplanned. This is also due to the psychological reasons for the “male” insolvency and nervousness of a cat who finds himself in an unfamiliar place.
For transportation, it is better to use a bag familiar to the animal, take with you a tray with filler, a bowl of food, which should be enough for 3-5 days. “Marriage” in cats, unlike dogs, can take not several hours, but several days until the animals get used to each other. This is also necessary for a greater likelihood of pregnancy. Therefore, the time must be determined in advance, preferably 3-4 days from the onset of estrus.
Flirting between a cat and a cat can be unusual for first-time owners. Outwardly, it looks like this: the cat runs away from its partner, attracts him by meowing, but at the same time hisses when he tries to approach him. An experienced cat is already familiar with this behavior. He presses his partner to the floor, grabs the scruff of the neck with his teeth and does his job (“mounting”).
Mating lasts several seconds, at the end the cat makes a uterine sound and tries to throw off the partner. Then it is advisable for the cat to quickly retreat, otherwise he may “get caught.”
An indicator of a successful mating is that the cat begins to roll around on the floor, showing by its appearance that it is receiving pleasure. After the “marriage” comes the idyll of family life – the cat licks his partner, they lie down “in an embrace”. It is worth giving them a day or two for family life.
Despite the fact that pregnancy can occur the first time, it is worth giving the opportunity to repeat mating.
Do cats understand human speech?
Cats have lived next to humans for several thousand years, but we still have not fully learned to understand them.
- Most cat owners are interested in the question of whether cats understand human speech.
- Numerous studies show that pets can understand human speech (up to approximately 100 words), but we are not talking about complete understanding.
- Cats only remember individual words, but what they perceive best is the intonation with which these words were spoken. Cats are also good at remembering their name.
Animals clearly sense by their voice when the owner is angry or joyful, sad or angry. Cats behave in accordance with the intonations they hear.
If the owner is angry with the cat, then he stops the unwanted act, and if he affectionately calls him to him, then he goes into his arms.
How to determine pregnancy
Note that if a cat, after being at home, continues to behave as if in estrus, this does not mean that pregnancy has not occurred.
The first signs of pregnancy are visible after about 3 weeks:
- redness and swelling of the nipples;
- rounding of the sides.
Depending on the number of kittens, the time until birth can be from 55 to 68 days. The more kittens, the sooner the cat can be freed from the burden.
Note that indicators of pregnancy can also appear in the presence of a false version. In this case, it is better to show the animal to a veterinarian.
Also read the article on how to find out if your cat is pregnant and how long pregnancy lasts in cats.
Medicines for cats
Owners can defeat the natural instincts of their pets and give them medications to drink. There are a great many of them on sale. It is advisable to consult a veterinarian before use. The easiest way to give a cat is drops that suppress sexual desire. The tablets can be crushed and added to food. There is no clear answer to the question: do medications affect the health of pets? All of them are aimed at regulating hormones in animals. It is not recommended to give drugs frequently, it is better as needed. Many tablets are made on the basis of natural ingredients, mint is added, which makes the process of feeding the cat these tablets easier.
Castration should be carried out if there are no plans to have offspring in the future.
