When do cats reach sexual maturity, how do cats exhibit mating and sexual behaviour and how do cats mate? This guide will help you understand your cat’s behaviour when they want to mate and how neutering and spaying can affect this behaviour.

When Do Cats Become Sexually Active?

Cats can reach sexual maturity at 4 months of age. So young kittens can become pregnant and have kittens when they’re only kittens themselves. Being pregnant and having kittens at this age can be dangerous so it’s best to book your kitten in for a spay or snip before this can happen.

A female cat will come into season three or four times a year with the heat cycle lasting 10-14 days. Litters of kittens typically arrive from April to September as the cat’s reproductive cycle is also seasonal – it starts in the spring and ends in late autumn. They’re also induced ovulators which means when they mate with a male cat, ovulation is induced regardless on the stage of their heat cycle. They don’t need to be in season to become pregnant.

Male kittens generally become sexually mature at 7-12 months. Any intact male, including male littermates and other family members, can mate with an intact female. So, it’s easy to end up with an unplanned pregnancy if your cats aren’t neutered.

Cat Sexual Behaviour

The behaviour of an intact female changes dramatically when they’re in heat. They may appear nervous, hide or run away, or be constantly seeking your attention. They may advertise their ‘availability’ to male cats by spraying and may roll on the floor on her back or arch her back with her hindquarters raised, a behaviour called lordosis.

Their need to mate will be strong and their focus will be on attracting and getting access to an available male. They may become more vocal - howling or whining loudly to signal to male cats they’re in heat. Toms in the neighbourhood will gather around the female in heat leading to noisy cat fights. If mating doesn't take place, the heat cycle will repeat itself in 2-3 weeks.

Male cat sexual behaviour consists of spraying, wandering and fighting. Spraying by male cats can be extremely smelly. This is their way of letting other male cats know this is their territory. Female cats will pick up the message that the male is ready and available. The need to mate can compel toms to wander long distances in search of a cat in heat. Traffic accidents can then happen. Male cats can also become injured while fighting with other cats over a female.

Cat Mating Behaviour

If a female cat in heat has access to an intact male, the chances she’ll become pregnant is high! First, they’ll engage in some flirting behaviour when they get to know each other. After the courtship (which can last several hours), the female will assume a crouched position with her tail to one side. If she’s not quite ready to be mated, she’ll let the male know in no uncertain terms. But if she allows a willing tom, he will put his front feet on either side of her, take a hold of her neck with his teeth, and enter her with his penis and ejaculate.

The penis entering the vagina will induce ovulation. The penis has barbs on it and may cause pain when it’s withdrawn. The female will scream, hiss and move away, swatting aggressively at the male cat. If cat mating is interrupted, cats can get aggressive so once the mating process has started, leave them well alone.

The cats may mate again to ensure that ovulation has been induced. The female may also mate with other males during her fertile period so subsequent kittens may have more than one father.

When Should Cats be Spayed / Neutered?

Traditionally, it was the norm to neuter or spay cats at around 6 months of age. But now vets tend to carry out the operation earlier when the kitten is around 8 weeks. Early neutering removes the risk that any female kitten that has already become sexually mature will become pregnant. Giving birth when the kitten is very young can be dangerous for the mother and her kittens. There’s no upper age limit for having cats neutered.

Neutering male cats can help to eliminate their smelly habit of spraying to mark their territory. It also means they’re less likely to fight with other cats. Fighting can result in cuts, scrapes and cat bite abscesses as well as an increased risk of infection with viruses. The Feline immunodeficiency virus can be spread by cat bites. Tomcats can detect a female cat in heat from miles away and can wander long distances to reach a mate. After neutering, however, they’re less likely to search for a mate. Owners may worry that their cat will put on weight after neutering. They may need smaller meals as they won’t be using so much energy trying to find a mate.

Having kittens takes a lot out of a female cat and can shorten their lifespan. In addition, spaying can help to prevent mammary gland (breast) tumours, other cancers of the reproductive tract and uterine diseases. It’s a myth that female cats need to have a litter of kittens before they’re neutered.

The spay (ovariohysterectomy) and snip (castration) operations both involve a general anaesthetic, but they’re both very common and safe procedures. As with all surgeries, there’s a small risk of complications. Your vet will go through any possible side-effects as well as the health and welfare benefits of neutering.

If cat owners don’t want unwanted cat mating and unplanned pregnancies, then spaying and neutering are a must! These procedures can be carried out when males and females are around 4-6 months old. Eliminating your cat’s sexual behaviour will mean male cats won’t have wanderlust to seek out a mate and get into fights. And your female cat will be less restless. If your cat’s sexual behaviour is a problem, ask your vet for advice.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis

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