Seven Cat Mating Facts:
- Cats can reach sexual maturity and get pregnant at just four months of age (kittens can have kittens!).
- Cats are seasonal breeders and only enter their reproductive cycle at a particular time of year. This generally begins in spring as daylight lengthens and stops in late Autumn when daylight is reduced. This explains why litters of kittens are typically seen between April and September.
- Female cats ‘queens’ will signal that they are ready to mate or ‘in heat’ by becoming more active and quite noisy! Usually, she’ll do lots of rubbing, rolling, and attention-seeking behaviors. You will probably see her arch downwards back with her hindquarters raised, called ‘lordosis’.
- Females can be mated by more than one male within a short period of time, and this includes relatives, even her father, and brother.
- Mating doesn’t take long between cats, so it’s easy to be caught out!
- Cats don’t ‘need’ to have a litter of kittens; there are no proven health or welfare benefits.
- Neutering has many health benefits, including significantly reducing the risk of getting FIV (the cat version of HIV/ AIDS).
Get Your Kitten Neutered at 4 Months
Texas State Law now requires the shelter to spay/neuter all animals before they leave the shelter. State Law also requires that all animals ages four months or older have a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian.
