Feline Frisky? 10 Signs Your Cat Wants To Mate
Spring is in the air, and intact cats are starting to act strangely. That’s because it’s mating season, and felines are feeling frisky! A queen (an unspayed female) and a tom (an unneutered male) have different signs to show they are on the hunt for a mate. Read on to discover the telltale signs and what you should do.
Fertile Reign of the Queen
Female cats can reach sexual maturity as early as four months and their fertility is referred to as “in heat.” Seasonal breeders, the season and hours of daylight affect cat heat cycles with multiple fertility periods a year. The female heat cycle varies in length, on average 14-21 days, and is made up of four phases: proestrus (getting ready), estrus (fertility), interestrus (no mating) or metestrus (conception), and anestrus (reproductively dormant).
Although there are reports of spontaneous ovulation, queens are primarily induced ovulators, with the stimulation from mating triggering ovulation. Since eggs are only released when mating occurs, if a female cat doesn’t mate, she won’t ovulate. She will return to heat within a couple of weeks, repeating the cycle until she mates or the breeding season ends. Ovulation isn’t immediate. Multiple mating sessions may be needed and can result in multiple fathers (superfecundation) for one litter. When mating occurs, it almost always results in pregnancy.
5 Signs of a Feline Femme Fatale
Cat Calls - When in heat, even normally quiet cats will sound like they are auditioning for Cats: The Musical. Their loud and persistent meowing and yowling attracts males.
Love Overload Mode - Even aloof and independent cats will become clingy and affectionate when “in season.” She will rub against you, walls, and furniture, leaving behind pheromones to advertise her availability to mate.
Booty Boost - When you touch your cat anywhere, and her butt goes in the air, she is probably in heat. The arching and lifting of her hindquarters is the mating position.
The Great Escape - A homebody cat with a sudden desire to get outside is another clear sign of a cat in heat. Keep windows (and window screens) secure and close doors quickly.
Catnip Craze - Is your female rolling around and wiggling on the floor in a catnip craze - only there’s no catnip? This is another common sign of a cat getting frisky and wanting to mate.
The Tom’s Call of the Wild
Similar to humans, male cats mature at a different rate than females. Typically, toms reach sexual maturity between five to seven months. Signs of sexual maturity may include urine marking, increased aggression, and more visible testicles. Male cats don’t go into heat. Instead, males roam the neighborhood, ever-vigilant, ever-eager, and forever ready to mate. They leave territorial markings on their travels that alert females to their presence. A male can smell a fertile female from almost a mile away and could become hurt or lost in his desire to escape and mate.
5 Signs He’s on the Prowl
Say it with a Spray - Unneutered males mark anything they consider their territory with strong-smelling urine. Spraying is the male’s way to attract a mate and advertise their availability.
Roaming Romeo - Males are escape artists, willing to wander miles to find their queen. Many males can get lost in their attempt to find love.
Feline Fight Club - Intact males will fight other cats for mating rights. If your chill chat starts acting aggressive and territorial, their hormones are on the hunt for the queen.
Cat Calls - Both males and females yowl to announce their presence and attract potential mates.
Hunger Games - Sudden changes in appetite may indicate that a fertile female feline is nearby. Hormones may cause some cats to eat less and others to eat more.
Unrequited Love
Unless you are ready and willing to deal with the repercussions (aka kittens), it is recommended to keep intact cats indoors. Try to distract them from their natural instincts with extra playtime or calming pheromone diffusers. If you plan on breeding your queen, keep her indoors during her first heat cycle to prevent complications for both the mother and kittens.
At FurryTail, we strongly advocate for spaying and neutering as the best choice for a cat’s long-term health and well-being. Responsible pet care starts with this important decision, and we encourage all cat owners to take this step for their furry companions. The best long-term solution is to Fix by Five. Kittens can be safely spayed or neutered when they are two pounds, or roughly two months old. Fixing kittens before they are five months old will drastically reduce the number of unwanted litters and improve your cat’s overall health and happiness. Check the SpayUSA database for a low-cost spay/neuter service near you.
