Cats acquire sexual maturity and are consequently able to procreate around the age of four months. As a result, the current recommendation is to have your cat neutered around the age of four months to avoid unexpected pregnancies.
However, you may be wondering “how many times does a cat have to mate in order to get pregnant”?
So, for a cat to get pregnant, the female cat may mate 10 to 20 times and with multiple males over the course of four to six days.
This article will talk about everything you need to know about your cat getting pregnant and how to tell if your cat’s mating was successful.
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Do Cats Get Pregnant Every Time They Mate?
No. Cats don’t get pregnant every time they mate. It’s practically not possible for the cat to get pregnant every time after each mating.
Cats are induced ovulators, which means that the act of breeding stimulates the release of eggs from the ovaries.
Most females require three to four matings within a 24-hour period for ovulation to occur. It only takes a minute or two for cats to mate, and cats may mate multiple times in a short period of time.
What Are The Fundamentals Of Cat Reproduction?
The fundamentals of cat reproduction are that cats acquire sexual maturity and consequently the ability to procreate around the age of four months. As a result, it is recommended that your cat be neutered around the age of four months to avoid unwanted pregnancies.
Cat pregnancies and deliveries rise in the northern hemisphere in March, April, and May and fall in the southern hemisphere from October to January, but the opposite is true in the southern hemisphere.
Cats living near the equator are unlikely to have many variations in their reproductivity throughout the year.
Female cats, on the other hand, experience oestrus as a series of small intervals rather than a single long period.
Each cycle lasts roughly 14 days.
During these times, the cat will display ‘flirtatious’ behavior, including rubbing and rolling on the floor, marking, and producing a mournful yet demanding rising and falling pitch known as ‘calling.’
Owners who have never owned an unneutered female cat may believe that their pet is in agony and that these behaviors are symptoms of sickness, while in fact, they are perfectly typical for a female cat looking for a mate.
Male cats who have not been castrated, also known as toms, are continuously on the lookout for females also known as queens who could be receptive to their charms!
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They will catch up on the scent, sound, and body language signals that the female is emitting and will notice what is going on considerably sooner than human owners.
If the cats have access to each other, they will have mated by the time we humans notice.
While a male in his territory may be more confident of winning any conflict that may break out and therefore a chance to mate with the female, she may have her preferences.
She will not accept the male’s advances until she is ready. She then adopts the lordosis stance, in which she raises her rear in the air while keeping her front end on the ground and waves her tail to one side.
They mate momentarily after the male snatches her by the loose skin at the back of her neck. The female cat almost appears to attack the male cat towards the end of this.
We don’t know why, but it could have something to do with the barbs on the male’s penis that face backward; whether they produce discomfort as the male withdraws is unknown, but the action has a significant impact.
Cats do not ovulate or release eggs into the fallopian tubes and uterine horns so that they can be fertilized until they have mated, unlike other animals who have the egg in place before mating.
So, in order to be fertilized, the egg must be released, and the stimulation is mating; in fact, ovulation can be stimulated by numerous matings.
On the first day, the female may mate 10 to 20 times, and over the next four to six days, she may mate with multiple males.
This extended time of receptivity allows the cat to ovulate and select the best male available: one who is healthy and in his prime.
Because the eggs take two days to travel down the fallopian tubes and into the uterus, and sperm can survive for several days, the resulting litter may have multiple fathers. The eggs implanted in the uterus, and the babies that arise line up in two rows in the uterus’s two horns.
If there is no mating, the eggs are not released, and the cycle begins again two weeks later.
You might also like to read about can cats get pregnant when not in heat
How Often Does A Female Cat Mate?
A female cat mates 10 to 20 times in just one day in order to get pregnant.
A female cat will mate far more frequently than you may think. Over the course of a single day, the cat may mate 10 to 20 times.
She may mate with several male cats at the same time over the course of a few days.
When female cats go into heat, they don’t just do it one time or a few times in a year.
Cats are what’s known as ‘seasonally polyestrous,’ which means they experience many brief heat cycles during the breeding season.
It is, however, very reliant on the temperature.
For example, cats in tropical locations, or even cats who spend most of their time indoors, can breed all year until they meet a tomcat and become pregnant.
When you allow your female cat out when she’s in heat, there are three things that can happen:
- They’re going to get pregnant. Around their eighth week after giving birth, they’ll go into heat again.
- They will undergo a fake pregnancy in which they will show signs of pregnancy but will not give birth to kittens. After 4-6 weeks, they’ll be in heat again.
- They don’t mate and will come into heat again in 1 to 2 weeks unless the breeding season is over.
Also, check out Do Cats Stay In Heat After Mating?
How To Determine Whether A Cat’s Mating Was Successful?
The most effective way to determine whether a cat’s mating was successful is to look out for these signs: –
- They’ll stop going into heat. If your cat hasn’t gone into heat in two weeks, she’s most likely pregnant.
- Their nipples become larger and pinker.
- They’ll be tempted to eat more.
- They may experience morning sickness on occasion.
- Their bellies will begin to enlarge during the fifth week.
Interesting Read: My Cat Doesn’t Want To Mate: Reasons & Solutions
Signs That Your Cat Is Pregnant
Signs that your cat is pregnant are: –
1. Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is an obvious indicator that your cat is pregnant.
It’s totally usual for pregnant queens to vomit during pregnancy, just like it is for pregnant humans – so be prepared to do some extra cleaning.
While a brief bout of vomiting doesn’t cause concern, if it occurs frequently or you’re concerned about your cat’s health, you should seek medical assistance.
2. Appetite Increases
You may expect your cat’s hunger to rise as the pregnancy progresses, as she will be feeding not just herself but also a litter of kittens.
However, because many cats have a reduced appetite for a brief period following conception, you may be able to detect a pregnancy early.
3. Body Changes
During pregnancy, a pregnant cat’s body undergoes some modifications, as you might imagine. Within 3 weeks, the nipples will grow larger and pinker, while the abdomen will become visibly larger in 5-6 weeks.
If you disturb these places, your cat may become upset, and the health of the unborn babies may be jeopardized.
4. Change In Behaviour
Instead of tomcats, a pregnant cat will choose to stay indoors and seek the attention of its owner.
Pregnant cats are likely to be less playful and sleep more than normal. While you’ll notice your cat is calmer, you might have to put up with the odd mood change!
5. Heat Cycles Cease
You’re probably familiar with how a cat in heat acts: the loud yowls, the unusually high levels of affection, the licking of the genitals, and – if you’re unfortunate – the marking of territory with urine if you have an unspayed cat.
If your queen’s heat cycles abruptly halt, it could be an indication of pregnancy, but because cats are prone to fake pregnancy, it’s not a sure thing — a doctor can help you figure it out.
6. Nesting
If your cat starts vanishing and reappearing exclusively in the quietest, most private areas of the house, you may have a pregnant cat.
Your cat is attempting to select the optimum area to give birth to her kittens, which is known as nesting.
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How Long Does A Cats Pregnancy Last?
A cat’s pregnancy lasts for about 63 to 67 days or nine weeks.
Your cat may eat less during the first two weeks of her pregnancy due to nausea, but by the third week, she will resume eating and begin to gain weight.
You might be able to feel the bumps of her growing kittens by the third week.
When your cat goes into labor, it will be clear. She’ll begin licking her genitals and maybe make distressing noises. She may pace and act nervous if this is her first litter.
Her first kitten should arrive around an hour after labor begins. The kittens should thereafter appear every 15 to 20 minutes until the last one is born.
As soon as the young have been weaned, have your queen spayed. She can easily go into heat once she is no longer responsible for her offspring.
Also, check out when can i get my cat spayed after having kittens
What Happens When A Cat Gives Birth Normally?
Just before a cat gives birth, she may become restless or meow, purr, or pant.
She’ll clean the area around the birth route as well as the teats. It’s thought that once the kittens are born, she leaves a trail of saliva for them to follow in order to find a teat.
She’ll go through a number of stages of labor. Each kitten is born in an amniotic sac, which the mother licks and nibbles open to release the kitten.
She swallows the kitten’s placenta after biting through the umbilical cord, and she cleans the kitten and stimulates it to breathe with her rough tongue. Most cats will give birth without issue and without the need for human assistance.
Does Birth Control For Cat Exists?
Yes, birth control for cats exists in two forms, tablets and injections.
In cats, medication contraception comes in two forms: tablets and injections.
Both are prescription medications, and their use should be discussed with your veterinarian during a consultation that takes place before your pet turns six months old.
No cat contraception is 100 percent successful, so it’s best to think of it as a quick fix rather than a long-term treatment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible for two male cats to have a litter of kittens?
You can tell when kittens are born that they may have had various fathers based on their coat patterns. It’s entirely feasible. When eggs from the same heat cycle are fertilized by sperm from different cats, the term superfecundation is used. It should be remembered, however, that each kitten has just one father.
What are some of the issues that can arise during a cat’s pregnancy?
Any unexpected symptoms during pregnancy should be followed up with a phone call or a visit to your veterinarian in general. This is a crucial aspect of a pregnant cat’s care. Although many pregnant cats have trouble-free pregnancies, there are certain issues that can arise. It is better to be forewarned than to be forearmed.
Final Words
Your cat will become pregnant after mating 10-20 times with several cats. If you find out that your cat is pregnant, make sure they’re getting enough to eat and drinking enough water. The female cat should start eating kitten food, which contains far more nutrients than regular cat food.
When your cat is about to give birth, give them a towel-lined box to nest in, but don’t be surprised if they don’t use it. You’ll be able to notice when they have contractions on the day they give birth.
Give your entire attention to your cat once you see this sign; they will require a lot of moral and occasionally physical support.
For any other unanswered questions, ask us in the comments section.
Interesting Read: How To Tell If Cat Mating Was Successful?
