It would be nice to think about issues related to breeding a pet at the time of purchase of a squeaking fluffy lump. Then it will not come as a surprise to anyone that the baby has already grown up, and the instinct for procreation takes its toll. If you do not want the animal to participate in the breeding, it is better to sterilize it. In a different situation, in order for the mating, pregnancy, childbirth and feeding of kittens to be successful, the owner needs certain knowledge.
So, first of all, when is the first estrus in cats? Their
puberty occurs quite early, at the age of about six months. However, the growth and formation of the body is not yet finished, you can not bind the animal. Felinologists recommend conducting the first mating no earlier than in the third period of the hunt. This means that your furry darling will be about a year and a half. The owner should remember that the first estrus must be endured. Drugs that suppress the manifestations of hunting should not be given to the animal, they will change the hormonal status and may cause the development of tumor diseases in the future.
A little about the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system
Female cats and dogs have paired sex glands - the ovaries. Their uterus is unpaired, has a small body and two elongated horns. Developing fruits are located in them. The sexual cycle in cats, as in humans, is regular, however, menstruation in a woman and estrus in an animal have radically opposite meanings. The fundamental difference between them is this. In pets, it is a sign of impending ovulation and mating readiness and is necessary to attract a cat. Whereas in women the presence of spotting is the period when the possibility of fertilization is minimal.
Let us consider in more detail how the cat estrus occurs. The entire sexual cycle proceeds in stages, four periods are distinguished:
- Proestrus - time of preparation of the animal. His behavior changes, the cat becomes more affectionate, however, the cat does not admit. She is restless, her appetite is usually increased. The external genitalia are slightly swollen.
- Estrus - this is the period that we call “estrus in a cat”. She has light, meager discharge. It should be remembered that cats do not leave bloody traces like dogs. In addition, since the animal carefully observes the hygiene of the genitals, the owner may not notice any discharge at all. You need to focus on the behavior of the pet: it meows invitingly, rolls on the floor, bends, retracting the tail and stepping over its hind legs. In general, it becomes more affectionate and seeks communication. Urination becomes more frequent, appetite is usually reduced. How long does a cat's estrus last? The estrus period lasts from 3 to 10 days. Of course, like the frequency of cycles, its duration is individual and depends on many factors: breed, season, age, conditions of the animal, reproduction frequency. The third to fifth days are considered ideal for covering, although for each “lady” this is also very individual.
Metaestrus - the duration of this stage is an average of 8 days. The cat drives the cat away. If conception has occurred, the sexual instinct goes out, after 58-74 days kittens will be born. Sometimes estrus in a cat resumes during pregnancy or while babies are feeding some time after giving birth. In the absence of fertilization, the animal enters a new reproduction cycle, again there will be proestrus and so on.- Anestrus - this period is characterized by absolute sexual rest and happens most often in winter, when daylight is short.
The incidence of sexual hunting in cats can be from once every three weeks to two episodes per year.
It is known that a cat’s estrus is sometimes muffled, “hidden”, in such cases the owner may not know that it has passed. If the “lady” is kept in the same house as the “gentleman”, this usually does not happen. If there is a cat in the apartment, signs of estrus are more pronounced. In order to distinguish between "hidden" estrus and its complete absence, you need to visit a veterinarian.