Mating Scottish Fold cats, duration of estrus

The period when cats begin to estrus indicates the maturation of the animal, its readiness to copulate and bear cubs. Mating of these animals occurs at the time when the female begins to estrus. In a maturing individual with good health, leading a calm and measured lifestyle, estrus begins no earlier than 10-12 months of life. The first heat in cats that lead a more active lifestyle and have a peculiarity in the form of hormonal imbalances may occur earlier than the specified dates.

The period when cats begin to heat indicates the maturation of the animal, its readiness to copulate and bear cubs

There are also exceptional cases when estrus occurs in four-month-old babies. Despite her young age, the female becomes pregnant. It happens that quite old cats, even at the age of 1.5-2 years, have never had estrus. The early onset of estrus in a kitten and its absence in a mature animal are deviations in the physiological development of the animal.

Mating of these animals occurs at the time when the female begins to estrus

Copulation period in cats

When a cat's first heat begins early and lasts up to 9-11 months, it is advisable not to use such an animal for breeding. There is a theory that such deviations can be transmitted at the genetic level. If a cat's first heat begins earlier than the established normal period, this is a significant deviation in the development of the animal. A long duration of estrus in a pet with abnormalities at a young age is called “empty.” Such estruses have a detrimental effect on the health of the animal’s genital organs and can lead to purulent diseases of the uterus. Such diseases can result in death for a cat in a short period of time if you do not consult a specialist in time and do not perform surgical procedures.

To avoid such problems, kittens with hormonal abnormalities undergo early sterilization. All this is also done for the peace of mind of the owners - not every person is able to be indifferent to the behavior of the animal during this period. In this state, the cat behaves restlessly, screams, and makes special urges. Such urges are intended for a cat; these are sounds that are unpleasant to human hearing and do not allow others to relax. The period of such manifestations takes several days.

The mating process and possible problems

In order to correctly cross animals of this breed, you need to know how the mating process is carried out. When meeting, the cat is placed close to the cat - approximately at a distance of 1 m. Periodically, he makes attempts to get closer. However, he receives a growl and hiss in response. At the same time, the male pretends that he is not interested in the guest.

The cat, in turn, begins to meow invitingly and also rolls on the floor. But if the cat tries to get closer, the female shows aggression. This continues several times until the cat stops hissing. Then the male, approaching the female, grabs her by the withers with his teeth and climbs on top. If the cat agrees, it raises its butt and moves its tail to the side. If the guest changes her mind, she lowers her tail.

Similar article: Main differences between British and Scottish cats

Sexual intercourse in cats lasts about 5–10 seconds and ends with ejaculation. At the same time, the cat may squeal. The male jumps away from her and begins to lick her. The female falls on her back and rolls around.

Mating occurs until one animal gets tired of this action. This usually happens within 2–3 days. Sometimes, in order for a cat to become pregnant, mating is carried out several times.

During mating, the following problems may arise:

the guest simply does not let the cat near. Additional stroking of the abdomen, back and areas near the external genitalia can help. Rarely, a probe is inserted into the vagina;
the cat shows no interest in the guest. In this case, another partner is selected;
throwing a cat on its side during mating. The solution to the problem is to hold the animal during mating;
prolonged cat aggression. In this case, the female needs to be given more time to get to know her partner.

As you can see, crossing fold-eared cats has its own nuances, which you should definitely remember if you want to get healthy and purebred offspring.

Duration of estrus

How long does estrus last in a cat? The duration of estrus in a healthy animal is approximately a week. Not all days (and there are 6-8 of them) it will flaunt it. Most often, one day the cat is overly affectionate and talkative in its own way. For about 4 days, the female makes loud call sounds at night, thereby causing an anxious and uncomfortable state in herself and the people around her. To avoid such situations, it is recommended that cats that are not intended for breeding be sterilized before their first heat.

When a cat's first heat begins early and lasts up to 9-11 months, it is advisable not to use such an animal for breeding

In cats with full fertility functionality, this period is from 5-9 months. If the pet has a pedigree, takes part in exhibitions, and is used for breeding, then estrus in due time is a normal period of life. In order to get healthy breeding offspring of a valuable individual (if the entire pedigree of the animal is confirmed), it is necessary to select a mate for her to give birth to babies long before signs of estrus appear.

Which partner to choose

To get good offspring from a cat of this breed, you need to know the mating rules for this breed. The main thing you need to know here is who you can breed a Scottish Fold cat with.

It should be noted that in this breed there are animals of two varieties:

lop-eared, which have curled ears. During their lifetime, such pets may experience slight straightening of their ears;
straight-eared, which have erect ears. Throughout life, the ears of such animals may bend slightly.

Despite the fact that the appearance of cats of two varieties may undergo some changes, which will make them look very similar to each other, this point must be taken into account when mating. Changing the shape of the ears does not change the animal’s belonging to one or another subspecies, but can have a negative impact on the offspring.

Only straight-eared and lop-eared dogs can be brought together. Such crossing will produce genetically healthy offspring. In this case, some of the kittens will have straight ears, and the other half will have fold ears. However, it is difficult to accurately predict how many kittens and what type will be born.

It is not recommended to mix Scottish Folds with outbred animals or representatives of other breeds. Otherwise, the offspring may appear sick or with pathology.

It is strictly forbidden to breed Scots with the following breeds:

fold-eared with fold-eared, since the offspring will have a defect in cartilage tissue. The pathology is especially noticeable on the extremities;
with exotics or British. There may be problems with the spine (vertebral fusion).

How to find a suitable cat to mate with a Scottish Fold cat in order to get healthy offspring? You need to contact the breeder from whom the cat was purchased. You can also go to a specialist at a specialized nursery.

You can find a mating partner yourself using an advertisement. However, here you should be careful and choose only those animals whose breed is documented. It is better to give preference to an experienced cat.

Similar article: What color can Scottish Fold cats be?

First time in heat

According to the established rules for breeding purebred cats, the first possibility of pregnancy and the birth of kittens is permissible at the age of 1 year. By this time, the animal’s body is fully formed and ready to perform reproductive functions of bearing, giving birth and feeding offspring. It follows from this that copulation should take place for the first time when the animal reaches the age of 10 months. In reality, this will depend on the cat individually: on its lifestyle and physiological characteristics. Estrus should sometimes begin at 7-8 months. But at this age, the cat is not able to fully bear and produce offspring.

What is estrus?

The word "estrus" is the scientific name for estrus. During estrus, psychophysiological changes occur in the body. Follicles mature in the animal’s ovaries, ovulation occurs, and conception becomes possible. During estrus, your pet's behavior changes noticeably.

The following signs indicate that a cat is walking:

The pet becomes overly affectionate, or, conversely, shows inexplicable aggression.
Meows loudly and invitingly. During estrus, a cat can call for a male for days. Read the article “Why does a cat constantly meow and yell throughout the day?”
Frequent urination due to physiological changes in the body.
The presence of clear discharge on the genitals. Therefore, your pet will lick itself more often.
There is also a decrease in appetite. For some, interest in food may disappear altogether. This condition can occur in the first few days of estrus. Although some people may experience worsening appetite throughout the entire estrus phase.
The genitals may be slightly swollen. But often only an experienced veterinarian can recognize this.
Changes in gait. The cat bends its front legs halfway, raises the back of its body, lifts its tail or moves it to the side.
The cat may begin to mark its territory.

These signs can be observed alternately or in combination.

The duration of estrus is longer than normal and its absence

Within the established norm, estrus should last from 5 to 7 days. If the duration increases to 9-13 days, then the cat has entered a state of heat that cannot stop. This is a difficult situation - the drug Ovariovit is ineffective in such a situation.

Some breeders are looking for a solution to what to do when a cat goes into heat unnaturally often. Others, on the contrary, use various methods to induce estrus in the animal. What to do to achieve what you want? There are cases when a cat's first heat occurs at 8 months and does not recur at an age suitable for pregnancy and gestation. If we talk specifically about valuable pets, for example, Scottish cats purchased by a breeder specifically to produce cubs, then the question of how to induce heat becomes important. There are many techniques and medications that help in most cases.

How often do Scottish cats go into heat?

As Scottish cats age, their heat cycles become less frequent. At the very beginning, on the contrary, they can be too private, up to 1-2 times a month. During puberty, hormones can affect your pet 1-4 times a year, but it happens more often.

How long Scottish Fold and Straight-eared cats walk, as well as the frequency of estrus, depends on genetics, the presence of hormonal diseases, lifestyle and nutrition. Therefore, answering the question of how often a Scottish cat walks, it is correct to say this: once every 3 months, if not mated, once every 5-6 months, if mated. But sometimes a young lady who has given birth again exhibits sexual behavior within 1-2 months after giving birth. And it happens that unmated females begin to sing again within two weeks after estrus. Everything is individual.

It happens that unsatisfied females ask for a cat very often. The hormonal background accumulates - as a result, one continuous protracted estrus may begin. It is advisable to neuter such a pet if you do not have a nursery.

Symptoms of estrus

Breeders keeping a young cat of a valuable breed, whose first heat is yet to come, must be mentally prepared for this. It is also necessary to study the signs of an upcoming event. The pre-estrus condition can begin within a few days.

At the same time, you can notice a sharp change in the pet’s mood: the animal may ask for affection and immediately become capricious, travel around the home as if in search of something, meow. When heat begins, it will occur in a special way. Discharge from a cat during heat is one of the most obvious signs. Another accompanying symptom is that the female lies down on the floor, purrs and closes her eyes.

If your cat is a valuable breed, but a purebred male has not been found during this period, it is necessary to protect your pet from pregnancy. This display of the need for mating will continue for a couple of days, after which the cat will begin to make unpleasant sounds. Unwanted neighbors or simply outbred males may come to such a call. You should not let your pet go for walks during this period. A pet during estrus will try by any means to find a male to mate with. Keep an eye on your pet. How many days does a certain breed of cat go into heat? Pets of the Scottish or British breed have less frequent occurrences of estrus than Siamese and Persian cats. The pregnancy period in these breeds also occurs with some peculiarities.

How to prepare your pet

Finding a cat suitable for mating with a Scottish pet is not the only thing her owner should worry about. It is recommended to treat both animals for fleas and worms shortly before the mating procedure. Don't forget to also have all the necessary vaccinations. Decide in advance where the pets will be mated. The place you choose should be clean, dry, spacious and warm.

Please also take into account the fact that mating Scottish cats is a lengthy process and can take about two days. That is why, when going on a trip with your pet or pet, take the following things with you:

toilet tray with filler;
bowls for food and water;
usual food.

Don't forget to trim your cat's claws shortly before mating. The thing is that during the mating process she can show aggression and scratch the cat. As a rule, it is the owner of the cat who must come with her to someone else’s territory, since she will not allow a male to approach her on her own. Remember that a new place is stressful for a cat, so upon arrival, do not rush to take it out of the carrier bag. If some time has passed and the animals are still aggressive towards each other, place them in different enclosures so that they can get to know each other better without harming each other.

Breeding straight-eared and fold-eared cats of the Scottish breed is a process that requires a number of preparatory measures. Follow the basic recommendations to make the procedure as easy as possible.