Puberty in cats: when does it occur?

Having got yourself a funny and amusing kitten, in the near future you will inevitably have to face the difficulties of puberty of this cute animal. During this special period for the pet, its behavior changes noticeably, as all its attention switches to searching for fellow tribesmen of the opposite sex. Every owner needs to know when cats begin to mature, what external signs an animal may exhibit at the onset of this period, and how to prepare for this.

Features of puberty

In cats, puberty occurs 7-8 months after birth. Due to the individual characteristics of each animal, the weather can change in one direction or another, so puberty in cats may occur a little later or a little earlier than expected.

In cats

During sexual activity, cats' bodies do not produce blood, so determining the beginning of this period is not always easy.

It is necessary to carefully monitor the behavior of the animal, and also from time to time check the mucous membrane of the genital organs, which will swell as soon as the hunt begins. In domestic cats, activity lasts about 5 days. The intervals between estrus can last from 15 days to a month.

Note! Descendants of cats that used to leave marks during sexual hunts will also do the same.

If fertilization occurs at the end of estrus, all its manifestations will disappear in the next 2 days. The cat's next heat will only be after 3 months, except in situations where the cat loses kittens during childbirth.

Childbirth: what is important to know

Considering that the duration of pregnancy, as mentioned above, varies, it is important to learn to recognize the signs of labor beginning in advance. So, the first signs of labor include:

In about a week, the expectant mother begins to lick herself more actively than before in the genital area and abdomen. Within a few days, the cat is actively searching for a place to give birth. At such times, she tends to actively travel through closets and build a nest in blankets. Character can also change. This is not a necessary condition, but sometimes it happens that a previously calm pet begins to show irritation

This is completely normal - you just need to keep in mind that the cat family may soon be replenished. But even if the pet showed irritation, about a day before the important event it will begin to follow the owner. This is how the search for support manifests itself.

Speaking about support, I would like to smoothly move on to the topic of proper behavior of the owner:

• It is worth providing the cat with a nest in advance. A spacious box with a removable lid and a side slot for entry and exit is ideal for this purpose. Or you can go to a store with goods for animals and ask to see special houses for childbirth. The inside of the nest must be covered with something warm and disposable diapers. You need to place the nest in some very quiet and peaceful place, away from drafts.
• Just like for humans, childbirth is stressful for animals. Especially the first ones, when many cats don’t even understand what’s happening to them. In such cases, the owner needs to talk to the cat and stroke it.
• Be sure to stock up on a good veterinarian coordinator in advance. No one has canceled the complications, and you can’t do it on your own.
• Usually the cat itself cleans the newborn’s nose and mouth, but sometimes it forgets to do this or is distracted by other kittens. In this case, the owner must clean everything himself using microenemas and napkins. Sometimes it becomes necessary to break the water bubble - this is where scissors come in handy. It is advisable to manage it within 30 seconds after the baby is born.

What does it depend on

There are a number of factors that can speed up or slow down the process of a kitten becoming a sexually mature individual.

Cats and cats mature faster for the following reasons:

• Race. It has long been noted that kittens of oriental breeds (Siamese, Thai, Sphynx) enter puberty earlier.
• Body type. Fragile animals always grow up earlier.
• Season. If a cat is from 4 to 6 months old in the spring-summer period, it becomes quite mature sexually.
• Conditions of detention. Pets that receive proper nutrition and care tend to mature earlier than their cousins.
• Wednesday. Cats and cats kept in special nurseries, surrounded by individuals of both sexes, mature earlier than solitary animals living in city apartments.
• Genetic predisposition. If the mother's pregnancy occurs early, there is a high probability that this feature is inherited.

There are other factors that slow down age-related changes:

• Nutrition. If an animal constantly overeats, it will stay longer during childhood and adolescence.
• Race. Long-haired cats and cats (Persian, British, Maine Coon) mature later than short-haired brothers and sisters.

Don't rule out inheritance here.

Cat behavior

A fluffy and fluffy creature, the cat is a true symbol of homeliness.

We choose a kitten to suit your taste: large or miniature, smooth or fluffy - there are dozens of cat breeds.

They all look different. What unites them is that, having matured, cats invariably fight for freedom in search of love. This is especially noticeable in the spring. During heat, cats become different from themselves: they make guttural calls, call loudly to the cat, adopt typical mating positions, and roll around on the ground.

It is necessary to understand that this behavior is natural for pets during sexual activity and indicates the completion of the process of puberty in a young cat.

Below you will learn about puberty in cats, when a cat goes into heat for the first time, and how to make this period more comfortable for you and your pet.

Factors influencing puberty

Cats and cats reach sexual maturity at different ages. Sexual maturity in cats occurs later than in male cats, maturing with the first estrus, which begins at 5-6 months. But the timing of puberty can vary.

This depends on certain factors:

1. Belonging to the breed. Representatives of the eastern races: Siamese, Thai, Oriental, Burmese and St. Petersburg sphinxes are classified as precocious.
2. Skeletal structure. Slender, gracefully built cats and female cats enter sexual maturity earlier than their powerful counterparts.
3. Seasons. Kittens born in winter or spring enter sexual maturity in spring or summer, while later litters delay their maturation.
4. Conditions of detention. Compliance with the regime and quality of feeding, as well as comfort and convenience, accelerates the growth of the pet.
5. Habitat characteristics. Surrounded by adults (in a nursery or pack), young cats mature earlier than their comrades in city apartments.
6. Genetic predisposition.

If overfed and overweight, puberty in cats is delayed and can occur in one and a half to two years.

Should cats be deprived of procreation?

If the plans of cat owners do not include breeding offspring, then the animal can be sterilized. The optimal time period for surgery would be six months to one year of age.

Sterilization of an animal

Some breeders believe that such procedures are best carried out after puberty. However, this is not true. If you remove the gonads at an early age, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of hormonal disorders. Surgery performed after the first heat can have a negative impact on the animal's health.

The state of puberty in cats continues almost throughout life, so owners of four-legged pets need to be ready at any time to lend a shoulder to their friend and alleviate his temporary ailments. To do this, it will be enough to pay a little attention to the animal and foresee the potentially undesirable consequences of its sexual hunting.

Signs

Males and female cats react differently to puberty. The females go into heat and become very tender and affectionate. He creeps up to you, looks into your eyes, meows loudly, raising his tail. It rubs against various objects and rolls on the ground.

Swollen gonads and discharge from them cause pain. He may scream loudly when he approaches the tray and even refuse to eat.

The cat constantly licks itself, mainly at night, and screams pitifully to its partner. The mating season lasts from 5 to 8 days.

If fertilization does not occur in all breeds, including British cats, symptoms and all signs may reappear every month.

During the mating season, animals often participate in all garden fights.

When cats begin to walk, as hunters should, they become aggressive and arrogant.

Instinctively feeling control over the situation, they invite the female to mate. You can tell about a belligerent mood by damaged furniture, torn wallpaper, and the stinking smell that a cat uses to mark its territory. Some men become lethargic, apathetic, without appetite and frequent visits to the toilet.

When does puberty occur and when can a cat become pregnant?

The onset of maturation in cats and cats is determined by the animal's changed behavior. In females, this process is called estrus and is cyclical. After the onset of heat, the pet can become pregnant and subsequently give birth to kittens.

How does a cat's behavior change with the onset of puberty?

• There are outbreaks of unreasonable aggression towards people or other animals;
• Cats mark their territory with urine marking and increased scratching on furniture and walls;
• Urine acquires a pronounced odor, which is difficult to eliminate completely;
• The animal strives to leave the house to find a female and expand its territory;
• Cat competitors are, first of all, uncastrated cats. In some cases, a cat's aggression is directed toward neutered males and females;

At what age does puberty occur?

People who have had pets for a long time can pinpoint when a cat starts walking. The age at which puberty begins is different for each animal.

This depends on the following factors:

• race;
• inheritance;
• healthy conditions;
• feed quality;
• conditions of detention.

On average, this period is 7-10 months. At what age do Scottish cats begin to walk?

Scots, Burmese, Sphinxes and some other races mature very early. Consequently, they may begin to show interest in the opposite sex at 4-5 months.

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Cats, for the most part and regardless of age, are very playful and active animals. That is why many owners are perplexed and often ask the question: “until what age is a kitten considered a kitten?” It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. Largely because this issue is individual for each cat.

In this article we will talk about the main stages of a kitten’s development, and we will also try to come to a conclusion when a kitten finally becomes an adult cat.

Frequency of the first heat

How often do cats want to mate with the opposite sex? If the cat was not allowed to visit the cat during the period of the first desire, then the next heat may occur immediately after the end of the previous one.

After all, the essence of estrus is the possibility of mating, the result of which should be the fertilization of the animal. This is the law of nature. If the body does not receive a result, it will persistently seek it.

For a cat, the waiting process is certainly very tiring. If the owner wants to have offspring, the animal must have the opportunity to fulfill its intended purpose.

If you refuse to give birth to kittens, it is better to contact a veterinarian, get advice and have your pet sterilized.

Why does the cat meow loudly?

When inviting a partner, the kitty constantly emits a loud, obsessive meow.
Each member of the cat family has a different voice from one another. For example, a Briton is easily recognizable by his scream. The timbre and loudness may depend on the breed or the character of the pet. Cats generally meow when they want to attract attention. If cats scream near the bowl or are greeted at the door, it means they are demanding food or are glad that their owner is coming. But the loudest meow, repeated with enviable consistency, is associated with mating, especially if they are of reproductive age. On an instinctive level, a cat during estrus looks for a partner in this way. At the same time, a sexually mature cat meows, thus trying to attract a female. By observing your pet, you can understand the reasons for the cry. If loud meowing is observed after going to the litter box and there are no signs of mating, you need to contact a veterinarian.

First heat (estrus)

Factors influencing the onset of the first heat	Rationale
Breed affiliation	Large long-haired breeds (Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Siberian cat, Neva Masquerade, Norwegian Forest) mature much later than other breeds. Their first heat can begin at 9-16 months. If the pet belongs to light-boned breeds (Siamese, Oriental), then the first heat may occur at 4-5 months. Popular Scottish and British cat breeds mature in 8-12 months
Genetics	If the females mature early in the sex of the pet, then the likelihood of an early start to the first heat increases
Pet birth season	If a cat was born in the spring months, then her first heat will come earlier than an animal born in the fall
Animal sizes	Individuals with excess weight and strong bones tend to mature later than animals with optimal weight. Puberty in emaciated and physically underdeveloped females occurs much later than in cats of normal weight
Lighting	When cats begin to walk, they are affected by the light conditions in the room. Living in a dark place reduces and suppresses the activity of sex hormones, and sexual heat begins much later
Food and living conditions	A nutritious diet, balanced in essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals, contributes to the normal development of the reproductive system. Domestic cats mature later than street cats

Due to the fact that estrus is a very individual process, it is impossible to determine exactly what time a cat's first estrus begins.

But knowing what breed the pet belongs to, genetic predisposition, time of year of birth and other factors, you can approximately determine the age of the first heat. The average cat matures in 7 to 9 months.

Medication methods

The effects of spaying and neutering are irreversible, so these operations are only performed if the animals are not intended for breeding. In other cases, it is recommended to use drugs to control sexual activity.

To regulate the sexual behavior of cats, use:

• means of correcting behavior during the hunt for sex;
• means preventing sexual intercourse.

All these drugs are divided into 2 groups: natural and chemical hormonal agents. The dosage of the drug should be strictly observed; it is better to give the drug 2 minutes before feeding or an hour after, unless otherwise indicated in the instructions.

Before giving your pet this or that drug, be sure to show the cat to a veterinarian to find out its health status and predict possible side effects.

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Duration of estrus and its course

The duration of estrus (estrus) in cats is highly individual, on average it lasts from 5 to 7 days.

The process is natural, physiological and does not require human intervention; the only thing you can do is observe the nature and duration of sexual intercourse.

A cycle disruption may indicate a serious illness and require urgent examination and consultation with a veterinarian.

Long periods are typical for multi-family cats, as well as for animals with thyroid problems or underdeveloped ovaries. Prolonged estrus (estrus) may indicate ovarian pathology (inflammation, cysts, tumors).

What to do and when to knit?

While the kitten is small, the owner does not think about sterilization or castration. But there comes a time when it is necessary to determine whether offspring are needed. If you have doubts about the thoroughbred of an animal, it is better to consult with specialists. When the offspring is undesirable, you need to contact a veterinary clinic for castration or sterilization. These methods are safer, eliminating the sexual needs of animals with medicine. If you plan to have offspring, the owner should know that physiological and puberty are two different concepts. Cats mature early, but mating can be planned when she reaches 12 months of age. The fertile age of cats lasts up to 8-9 years, then during the transition period, estrus may be present, but she simply will not be able to bear and give birth to healthy offspring.

Signs that a cat is asking for a cat

The owner of a mustachioed pet can distinguish the onset of puberty by the behavior of the animal. Cats completely change their behavior.

Key Features:

• Territorial markings: Mature males begin to leave specific markings on their homes. These could be walls, doors, portals, furniture.
• With the help of marks, the cat makes it clear to rivals that this is its territory, and also attracts other females to mate.

• Changes in behavior: cats during puberty begin to show obvious aggression towards their owners, as well as towards other animals. Aggression during the hunting season is a serious threat for owners, as the cat can scratch and even bite the bra. It should be remembered that the animal becomes practically uncontrollable and it is impossible to change its behavior when using educational measures.

• Screaming - with its voice the cat tries to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Telephone calls can be heard both day and night, for several hours at a time. You also cannot correct a cat's behavior with punishment.

• The desire to leave the house and run outside. Under the influence of hormones and the instinct of procreation, the cat will try to run out of the house by any available means: a window or a door.

The manifestation of sexual desire is also determined by the frequent urge to urinate, enlargement of the genital organs and specific discharge from the penis. When hunting, a cat, like a cat, loses the desire to eat. Also, when searching for a female, cats’ instinct of self-preservation is dulled.

Note! One sign that a cat wants a cat is a fake bed. At this time, the male begins to imitate sexual movements performed during intercourse. For these purposes, you can use the teacher's hands or soft toys.

How to relieve symptoms of estrus

Not a single cat owner, even the most patient one, can like the fact that both day and night his pet, who has entered reproductive age, howls, bites, is too active and aggressive. At such moments, the question arises of what to do with a cat whose antics they can no longer tolerate.

The easiest way to solve the problem is to arrange a “date” for Tail with a suitable kitten.

It should be borne in mind that in order to knit, you need to choose the most suitable time. Peak sexual activity in animals that are old enough to reproduce occurs between February and March.

It is at this time that it is most convenient to have offspring, guided by the simplest logic. In the coming summer months there will be no problems with feeding the babies, the puppies do not need to be protected from the cold, and by the first severe frost they will have already entered adulthood.

This trail is suitable for owners of purebred animals and those whose cats, having entered adulthood, walk alone and live in the yard of a private house. In a city apartment, an animal without a pedigree on a spree is unlikely to become a noticeable and desirable gentleman. In this case, you need to consider other ways to solve the problem.

At what months does a cat become sexually mature?

British cat at 11 months is completely ready to reproduce

If the cat is healthy, vaccinated calmly, the first estrus will occur no earlier than after 11 months. If your cat is active, she may come into heat a little earlier.

There are cases when at 4 months a cat is already ready to mate, but this is not normal, but the appearance of the first heat at the age of a year or more is also unacceptable. For a purebred cat, you need to decide in advance who will be his partner. A show cat is prohibited from raising a child with a fever to satisfy her pet.

What to do if you plan to get offspring from a female?

Owners of purebred cats often keep females for the purpose of producing offspring, both for sale and for their own pleasure. Therefore, they need to know exactly when it is time to inseminate the female. To do this, you need to be able to accurately determine the time of the onset of estrus in a female.

Animal breeders who do not have sufficient experience in identifying signs of estrus in cats are advised to search on specialized sites dedicated to cat care for photos and videos demonstrating the behavior of the female during the heat period.

Attention! If you want to have offspring from a female, you must remember that the optimal time for insemination is the first and second days after the start of the heat period.

To obtain offspring, it is necessary to be able to accurately determine the time of the onset of estrus in a female.

The female and male should meet 2–3 times, with the interval between matings being 12–14 hours. If all these requirements are met, the chance of having offspring increases several times.

Owners of purebred cats should remember that cats reach sexual maturity at the age of 4 to 6 months, however, early pregnancy is undesirable for the animal, since the animal has not yet reached full physiological maturity during this period and your body is still developing. Full physiological maturity of the female occurs a year after birth.

Complications

In a pet’s body, sexual activity is manifested by changes in behavior and hormonal levels. The animal matures and focuses on its physical needs. Early maturation provokes emotional outbursts that can lead to serious illnesses. Whether the cat gives birth or not, after 7 years she may still be at risk of a mammary tumor. This disease does not occur in females that are spayed before their first heat. All other cats that managed to go for a walk before castration are at risk. The risk of tumor development in unsterilized females is several times higher.

Medicines that are on sale have a negative effect on the health of the pet, as well as on its endocrine system. Various complications arise from the genitourinary system, breast tumors, inflammation of the uterus or cystic changes in the ovary. Cats are also at risk. While walking on the street, he can fight with other mature cats. Wounds and viruses transmitted by droplets can be dangerous.

Frequency of estrus

As a rule, an animal's estrus ends with the onset of pregnancy. The gestation period lasts from 2 to 2.5 months. At this time the animal does not leak. They begin after the birth of kittens, 3-3.5 months. If the cubs are stillborn, estrus begins earlier.

If the cat does not become pregnant, the intervals between estrus range from 1 to 3 weeks. In some animals they begin earlier, in others later.

When cats go into heat and how long it will last depends on several factors:

• physiological characteristics;
• seasons (sexual activity in cats increases with the onset of spring);
• features of living conditions;
• breed (it occurs more often in Siamese and Persian individuals than in Scottish pets or representatives of the British breed).

When is spaying or neutering necessary?

There are no completely safe contraceptives or sedatives for cats.

If the animal is not bred for exhibition or breeding, you need to think about surgical intervention. During sterilization, the cat's fallopian tubes are ligated, and the male's spermatic ducts are ligated. Their sexual desire remains, without the possibility of having offspring. Castration is the complete removal of the genitals. Therefore, the hormonal storm ends, and the cat gets a calmer life. The choice must be made by the owner when the pet reaches 7-8 months of age. This is the best time to perform the operation. The Scots require special attention. The animal can be operated on later. There are cases when Scottish males develop prostatitis and castration is even recommended.

Stages of the reproductive cycle

Before asking the question: how long does a cat’s heat last, you need to understand the process itself.

Conventionally, the sexual cycle can be divided into four phases, each of which has its own duration:

• proestrus - a preparatory stage, lasts from 1 to 3 days, is manifested by swelling of the external genitalia and slight transparent discharge from the vaginal loop, sexual arousal at this stage is practically absent;
• estrus - direct heat (sexual desire), maximum sexual arousal, lasts from five to six days and, in the absence of mating, can last up to ten days;
• metaestrus: signs of arousal are reduced to zero, the cat is aggressive towards the male, duration is from 1 to 3 days;
• anestrus is a resting stage, its duration directly depends on whether ovulation has occurred or not: in the first case, the duration will be 6 weeks, in the second - one week.

Important: do not confuse ovulation and fertilization. Ovulation is the maturation of an egg, fertilization is the union of male and female reproductive cells with the subsequent formation of an embryo.

Thus, it turns out that on average a cat’s sexual cycle can last from two weeks to one and a half months.

The frequency of heat development in cats depends only on the individual characteristics and specific conditions of its occurrence, so it is problematic to predict this moment in advance.

By the way, ovulation in these animals is a reflex process. This happens only a day and a half after intercourse. If there was no sexual intercourse, then the maturation of the egg in the follicles will not occur.

During pregnancy and feeding the young, the animal is frigid. After giving birth, the cat begins to bask about a month after the end of lactation.

Mating rules and process

To increase the likelihood of fertilization and make mating safe and comfortable for animals, the following rules must be followed:

• mating should take place in the cat’s territory;
• It is recommended to deliver the female 1-2 days before mating and gradually introduce the pets to each other;
• a separate room should be allocated for mating, where only the owner of the male can have access;
• Animals should have free access to food for 1-2 days, a clean tray and drinking water;
• if the cat is nervous, has difficulty covering the female, or has no mating experience, then its owner can hold the cat or help with penetration of the genital organ;
• A few days before mating, vitamins should be added to the diet of both pets: this will improve the quality of sperm and avoid exhaustion of the cat.

Both animals must be vaccinated, examined for various infections and treated for worms and fleas. Deworming is recommended 10-12 days before the start of estrus. 3-4 days before mating, you need to treat the male and female cat with shampoo or flea drops. If you do this immediately before mating, it can drown out the natural smell and scare away the second partner.

How the knitting process occurs:

1. A sexual partner for a pet is selected in advance, several weeks or months before the estrus. When choosing, the appearance, pedigree and health indicators of the cat (the shine of the coat, the health of the ears and eyes, behavior, etc.) are taken into account.
2. 2-3 days after the start of proestrus, the cat is delivered to the cat's territory. You should not immediately take her out of the carrier: the female must get used to the smell of her partner and feel safe. When she is ready to be introduced, she will get out of the cage on her own. This takes from several hours to a day.
3. The courtship ritual is accompanied by purring and calls from the cat, but before estrus begins, the female can drive the cat away with her paw. If the cat has entered the active stage of estrus and takes a characteristic pose, the cat grabs her by the withers and mounts her. The owner's assistance may be required at this stage.
4. Sexual intercourse lasts 10-20 seconds. At the end, the cat makes a sharp guttural sound and hits the cat with its paw. For several minutes, the female rolls around on the floor, and the male licks the genitals. After this, the process of courtship and covering can be repeated.
5. Between mating cycles, rest periods occur during which the pets eat, sleep next to each other, or lick each other. The cat remains on the partner's territory for 2-3 days.