How Do House Cats Mate?

Breeding and raising kittens can be a rewarding experience for the breeder with a plan and a good understanding of the process. Cats display a specific series of behaviors when they are ready to mate. Knowing how to recognize these signs, as well as learning what the mating process is like, can be a big help to any new breeder.

  1. Estrus

    • While male cats are always receptive to a female, female cats are receptive only in estrus. An unspayed female cat, or queen, will come into estrus many times per year, for two to three weeks at a time. If not bred, she will enter estrus, or heat, again in another one to two weeks. The cycle continues until the cat has a chance to mate, but may be affected by season and environment. A cat in heat may be affectionate, vocal and very active. She will also attract unneutered males to the immediate area.

    Effectiveness

    • According to Cat Channel, a queen that copulates only once becomes pregnant only about half the time. In nature, female cats mate with many males, or with the same partner multiple times. This increases the chance of pregnancy. In cases of intentional breeding, the female is brought to the male, since familiar surroundings increase his effectiveness. Timing is not particularly important, though--the act of mating induces ovulation. Allowing the cats to mate several times raises the chance of a successful breeding.

    Mating Process

    • The mating itself is very brief. It may last for only a few minutes. The male bites the back of the female's neck, then mounts her. Penetration occurs for just a few seconds. The female cat may scream and attempt to strike the male or run away. This is normal, and does not indicate a problem. After the mating, the female may roll around and clean herself for several minutes. Another mating may occur between five and 30 minutes later.

    Misconceptions

    • House cat mating may look violent, and many people mistake the male for the aggressor. However, male cats are often very cautious when approaching a female in heat, and will mount only after the female has approached. Courtship may take hours, and while the female usually reacts violently to her brief copulation, she is often eager to mate again after only a little while.

    Warning

    • Breed only with care. Allowing indiscriminate breeding is irresponsible and increases the number of unwanted kittens. It also damages the quality of purebred cat breeds. If there is any doubt whether a cat should be allowed to breed, have it neutered. An unneutered animal is subject to more stress and will often have a shorter lifespan than a neutered one. The benefits of breeding should always outweigh the downsides.