When a female cat mates with a male cat, the sperm gets trapped in the female cat's reproductive tract, allowing the queen to become pregnant. While in heat, a queen can release multiple eggs. Cats don't ovulate the same way as many mammals, including humans. Cats do not release an egg in preparation for fertilization.
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.
No matter how isolated your female cat is, if she has not been spayed, there is always a chance she could get pregnant. Whether she is around an unneutered male in your home or briefly encounters one outside (cats can easily slip outdoors by accident), even a single encounter can result in pregnancy.
The cat mates, but does not become pregnant and has what is called a pseudo or “false” pregnancy. In this situation she can show all the signs of being pregnant (gain weight, increase in appetite and even produce milk) but won't actually have any kittens.
Cat Mating
The female cat will yowl loudly as the barbs on the males penis will cause her pain. She may even turn to attack the male. After mating the female will seem very agitated and will roll and thrash around. This is normal behaviour.
During the estrus cycle, the queen becomes receptive to the male cat. When a feline of the female persuasion is in heat, she can become pregnant quickly. Upon successful mating, gestation begins. The first week of pregnancy is conception.
The time intervals between matings may be as short as 5 minutes or as long as half an hour. A female may allow up to 30 matings, and studies have shown that if only one single mating is allowed only 50 percent of the queens will get pregnant.
No. “Heat” (technical term: estrus) is the period in which the female cat will allow males to mate with her. In the Northern Hemisphere, as the days get longer in late January and early February, female cats begin to cycle and come into heat approximately every two weeks.
Cats do not ovulate or release eggs into the fallopian tubes and into the horns of the uterus so that they can be fertilised until they have mated – unlike other animals which already have the egg in situ when mating occurs.
Some of the most common signs of a pregnant cat include weight gain, distended abdomen, increased appetite and personality changes. It's important to confirm pregnancy as soon as possible, so that you can give your cat the proper care.
Cat pregnancy normally lasts between 63 to 67 days, but it can be tough to know exactly how long a cat is pregnant for. The cat gestation period can vary from as short as 61 days to as long as 72 days.
Some cats need 3-4 mating with a period of 24 hours to get the ovulation to happen. Cats take one to two minutes to mate. Thus they can repeat the process multiple times within a short period.
It's called superfecundation. A female kitty can breed numerous times with different males when she's in heat.
Why do cats scream when they mate? Cats scream when they mate because of painful scratching from a male cat's barbed reproductive organs. Male cats may also yell in response to the female cat's noises. The noise is a natural reaction to stimulation critical for ovulation and getting pregnant.
Usually, she'll do lots of rubbing, rolling and attention-seeking behaviours. You will probably see her arch her back downwards with her hindquarters raised, which is 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.
Cats prefer to mate at night, and the entire process is very quick, averaging only a few minutes long. She will call to the male with a special vocal sound only produced during the active part of her cycle, and the male will caterwaul back to her.
Unlike us, cats are unable to take pregnancy tests, so cats know that they are pregnant as their belly starts to grow, and their brain receives chemical stimuli. This is usually at the 2/3 weeks pregnant mark. At this point, your cat is likely to become less active and more protective.
Restlessness – Around 24-48 hours before the birth, your pregnant cat may appear restless or anxious, pacing around her nesting area. Vocalisation – She might begin to meow and cry out more than usual. Don't worry. She's just letting you know the kittens are coming.
Caring for your pregnant cat
This area will be very sensitive, and any touching there could cause her discomfort or hurt her unborn kittens. If you do have to pick your cat up, make sure to “scoop” her up from her bottom, rather than touch her stomach.
Between weeks 4 and 6 of a cat's pregnancy, the foetuses of the future kittens will start to grow rapidly. This brings about significant physical changes for the mother to be: her back hollows out, her pelvis becomes wider and her abdomen swells.
As the big day nears, your cat will become more affectionate and clingy. Young cats are often specifically anxious, especially during their first pregnancy. Don't leave them alone too much.