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.
Can a neutered cat mate with a female cat?
Some owners are surprised to discover that their pet, even after castration, shows interest in the opposite sex, and sometimes even tries to mate with a cat. How can this be if the operation was carried out specifically to make the male indifferent to the females? In fact, it is not uncommon for a neutered cat to mate with a female cat, but only if he already has such experience. That is, if the pet has already known the “taste of love” before the operation, and now does it, rather, out of habit. But, of course, he will have no more offspring.
If the male was castrated before his first mating, then mating with the female is impossible. If only because the cat simply does not know what it is and why it is needed. It also happens that a beloved pet continues to stubbornly ask for a cat after surgery. Don’t be surprised or panic, the cat’s testosterone levels have not dropped yet. Just be a little patient and it will pass soon. This condition will not last long; it is a kind of side effect of the operation.
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.
Will a neutered cat beg for a male cat?
After sterilization, the female retains her gonads, but she loses her reproductive function, that is, she becomes infertile. The cat will no longer be able to have kittens, but she will have periods of estrus, and accordingly, the desire for close communication with the cat will remain. Such an operation is ideal for females who love to walk outside - they will “meet” males, but will not become pregnant. If the cat is an indoor cat and does not go outside at all, then it is better for her to undergo castration - an operation to remove the ovaries. After it, the female disappears from estrus and the desire to “date” with cats. A castrated cat will not ask for a cat, even if she has already given birth. Whereas a sterilized cat will sometimes show interest in the opposite sex and mate with cats, but without any consequences. In both cases, a female who has undergone an operation, be it castration or sterilization, will no longer be able to bear offspring.
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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.
Reproduction of cats: age of the producer
In seals, puberty usually occurs a little earlier than in cats. A furry pet can begin to pay attention to ladies who come into its field of vision as early as 4 months of age. But, of course, it is also not recommended to mate cats too early. Males are usually used as breeders when they are over a year old.
In most cases, cats are capable of mating almost until they are very old. However, like females, they are allowed to be used as breeders for a maximum of 6-8 years.
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.
After sexual intercourse, the cat’s behavior changes dramatically – it behaves specifically and aggressively. Aggression is explained by the fact that the cat’s penis is rough, and the female experiences unpleasant, painful sensations during intercourse due to the fact that the vaginal mucosa is highly irritated.
Severe pain during sexual intercourse in a cat is also caused by the fact that the scales on the penis dig into the uterus, which is why the cat screams heart-rendingly after the act. But this irritation is necessary in order to stimulate ovulation in the cat, which begins within 24 hours after mating.
If a cat mates for the first time, there is a high chance that ovulation will not occur immediately. After the first sexual intercourse, several more intercourses must occur for the cat to become pregnant, so the animal must be left with the male for several days. Animals can experience up to 10 acts per day.
The owner should not be far from his pets during the mating period. As a result of the rather aggressive and specific behavior of the female, unforeseen situations may arise, so the presence of a person is necessary to come to the rescue in time.
Mating territory
Mating is usually carried out in a familiar environment for the cat, so the cat is transported to the house of the cat’s owners. As a rule, animals stay together for two to three days, so it is advisable to take with you a tray with filler, bowls for water and food, as well as your favorite food.
Mating can take place either in a small enclosure or in a room, depending on the living conditions of the cat’s owner. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with them at the stage of choosing a future partner in order to avoid unexpected and unpleasant surprises.
It is important that there are no breakable objects in the room such as pots, vases and framed photographs. Sometimes cats can be quite active. It is also advisable to protect the spaces behind the sofa, under the bed, behind cabinets - all hard-to-reach places.
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.
What to do if a neutered cat asks for a cat?
The cat’s further behavior after surgery depends on his age and the number of matings before castration. If your pet had “dates” regularly, then he remembers how it was and can try to mate again. Sometimes neutered cats succeed in this, and they even experience pleasure. But over time, such desires pass, since the body no longer requires it. If a pet has undergone surgery at a young age, without having had time to experience the “taste of love,” but for some reason asks for a female, it means that the hormone responsible for sexual desire still remains in its body. Whether a neutered cat can mate with a cat depends on his past “experience.” If he has something to remember, then the “date” may well take place, and in no case should you worry about this. Because the pet does this “out of old memory”, and not out of desire. Some catteries even specifically keep such “loving” cats - for cats whose owners do not want to mate, but bring them to a neutered cat for “calm down”.
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.
Meeting partners
As a rule, a cat gets lost on foreign territory and is initially afraid to leave the carrier. You shouldn’t pull her out by force, let her get used to it and come out of the shelter on her own. After some time, when the female sniffs the territory, you can let the cat into the room.
Cats may not meet in the most peaceful mood: partners may hiss at each other, bite and fight. There is no need to worry, this is normal. The cat chooses behavior depending on the cat's character and ultimately finds an approach to it.
Advantages and disadvantages of breeding cats
The idea of organizing a cat breeding business is very popular in our country. And it has certain advantages:
- Quite a small initial investment.
- Fast business payback, good profitability.
- Any person has the opportunity to start breeding cats; according to the laws of the Russian Federation, licenses and special conditions for business are not required.
- You can operate as an individual entrepreneur or a self-supporting person, which greatly simplifies organizational arrangements. In addition, in this case, taxation is much simpler and more profitable.
- Breeding cats can be combined with your main job.
The disadvantages of this idea include:
- High competition.
- The need to learn. For business success, you need at least minimal initial knowledge, which should be constantly updated.
- Additional labor costs. Breeding cats will require not only financial investments from the nursery owner - all free time will have to be given to pets, especially when kittens are born.
- High risks. If one of the animals gets sick or dies, this will involve additional costs or a complete loss of income for the nursery.