When 9, you’ll need to take account a few things, and it isn’t just the food and love!
Just like humans, cats and other animals mate, and it’s great of those who want to breed their cats, but for those who want to watch out for their cat and populating your home, there are ways on how you can stop it from happening.
You’ll need to know when your cat is ready for mating to take preventive measures.
So, when do cats start mating? Read on to find out about how cats (and even kittens!) can begin mating and how to prepare for it, whether you want more cats, or to stop them from mating.
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When Do Cats Start Mating?
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You’ll be surprised to know that it ISN’T just grown cats that could begin mating, but kittens as well! Cats can breed at different ages, depending on when they reach puberty or when the female cat is in heat.
Kittens can begin to show signs of sexual interest at a young age, usually a few months old. But not to worry, even though they do mate, they are less likely to father kittens, since they cannot fertilize their eggs yet.
But after about six to eight months of age, male cats can start mating and become more attracted to females in heat.
Female cats can go into heat at around six months of age, similar to when a male cat can father kittens. For both genders, it will also have to depend on the breed and environmental factors. Siamese cats can go into heat as early as four months, while others are late and go into heat at ten months.
Signs Your Cat is Ready To Mate
Now that you know when your cat can start mating, the next question is: How will you tell if he’s ready? Since you can’t only base it on time, you will need to know the different ways your cat shows it’s ready to mate or when it’s in heat.
Here are the different ways to know your cat is ready to mate:
- When female cats go into heat, its meow will sound like a howl. She will also begin becoming more affectionate towards you and other animals and materials, rubbing against them while purring loudly.
- Another sign of heat would be if your cat holds her tail up and raises her ears when to provocation. She’ll spray urine and run outdoors to find a mate as well.
- When male cats are ready to mate, they will cry when they see a female in heat. They might also mount on other cats, as a way to show their affection.
- Male cats who want to mate, or hit puberty and are ready to mate, begin becoming territorial and aggressive. They may also spray urine as a sign to show their territory.
How to Prepare Your Cats When Mating?
When you’re ready for your cat to mate with another, you’ll need to make sure you’re ready to begin breeding. Planning ahead is a must, and you can follow these tips:
- If you want a purebred cat, choose the breed and cats carefully. Assure that the male (or female) cat you want your cat to mate with is in good health and has breeding rights. It’s also best to search about its family history.
- Check the character and looks of the cat. They should be friendly and very sociable, as these are inherited traits.
- Check with the vet before mating your cats to assure they are both in good health and ready to mate, which includes a checkup and updating their vaccinations.
- Taking care of the pregnant cat and raising kittens is a bit expensive, so you’ll need to consider how much it takes for checkups, food, and registration fees.
- Prepare your home, making it comfortable during and after pregnancy. If you have dogs, keep them away, as cats can become territorial, especially when their kittens are born.
- If you do not want your cat to breed and they are showing signs of being in heat, spray or neuter them immediately.
In Conclusion
If you own a cat, you’ll need to make sure you’re ready for them to start mating. Whatever your plans are for your cat, it’s recommended to know how they mate and the signs that they’re ready to mate.
Hopefully, this article helped answer the question: “When do cats start mating?” Now, you’ll know what to do and how to get ready for your cat. So what are you waiting for? Check the signs to see if your cat wants to start mating, and take the preventive measures or allow it to mate with other cats today!
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We hope you enjoyed the article. If you have any questions or want to share about your cat and mating, then comment down below. We’d love to hear what you have to think.
