When does puberty begin in cats?
The onset of puberty usually occurs at 6-8 months. At this point, the first heat is often observed. At the same time, there can be no question of any mating. Although, if you don’t have a good cat in mind yet, then it’s worth starting an active search. In order to bear and give birth to healthy offspring, the cat must become stronger and “formed”. This is possible no earlier than the animal is one to one and a half years old . Some owners rush, but in vain, because then dead kittens are born, and the cat begins to get very sick.
It is better to skip the first 4-5 heats in British cats and only after that think about offspring.
As for cats, their puberty period is 7-8 months. Although the male feline will also not be ready for fatherhood at this age. It is recommended to wait at least up to a year.
When is it legal to mate a British woman?
Puberty in cats of this breed occurs at the age of 6-9 months. Already at six months, a cat can ask for a cat, but there is no need to rush to crossbreed pets that have not reached physical development. The first mating of cats of the British breed is permissible no earlier than 10 months, but some females need to grow to the age of one and a half years or more in order to get stronger.
Usually the first two heats are missed. As soon as the third comes, you can take the cat on a date with the groom. If the lady shows sexual activity, perhaps the first mating will be successful. You shouldn’t delay mating for too long, since two-year-old British females often show aggression towards the cat and mating may ultimately not take place at all.
When to think about mating
Most owners of four-legged cats do not know when to breed a British cat. People are afraid of making mistakes, so they delay the process.
Characteristic signs of a cat are:
- Loud and constant shouting. This is how the pet tries to call the cat to her.
- Constantly rolling on the floor and licking your genitals.
- A sharp change in mood - the animal can either be too affectionate, or, on the contrary, show unreasonable aggression.
- While stroking, the pet arches and raises its tail. In this way she shows that she is ready to meet the cat.
For a cat, things are a little different:
- Animals begin to actively mark all corners in the house. Attempts to scold the cat do not lead to anything good; he tries even more actively to show what he needs.
- The cat rubs against sharp objects or those that interest him. Often people observe some kind of friction, body movements are directed towards the thing that the pet is interested in.
- Pets change dramatically. Some people do not recognize cats as their four-legged companions.
Important! There is no need to try to calm or scold the animals at this moment. Instincts that are higher than everything “awaken” in them.
If the pet is already ready, then it can happen to someone; if offspring are not included in the plans of the owners, then it is more humane to perform sterilization so as not to torture either yourself or the pet.
What the owner should not do during mating
Experienced felinologists warn owners against mistakes that could interfere with the normal course of mating and the production of offspring.
Be sure to read:
Estrus in cats: how long does it last and how often does it happen, at what age, how to recognize it, how the process proceeds
On the eve of mating it is prohibited:
- Bathe the cat. Water, shampoos, and powders can destroy the natural aroma of a “walking” young lady, which is attractive to the male. The cat will not show interest.
- Get vaccinated, give anthelmintic drugs on the eve of the “wedding night”.
- Give your pet hormonal medications.
- Bringing a cat to a lady’s territory carries a high risk that the mating will not take place.
- Leaving the pussy claws long (risks injury to the “groom”).
- Try to speed up the dating process.
- Forcing a cat onto a cat.
- Intervene in the active process of mating, separate animals.
Usually mating occurs smoothly and does not require active human participation. The further mating behavior of the animal depends on how correctly the first mating is organized, and what difficulties did your pets encounter?
Mating cats basic rules for owners
Mating of British cats should be carried out based on several rules.
They are as follows:
- Mating usually takes place in the male's territory. The reason is that cats take much longer to get used to a new place. In addition, they first mark the territory, and only then begin to settle into the apartment. In practice, there were enough cases when a cat recorded the entire house and things didn’t go further than that.
- By sending your cat to a cat, you should make her stay much more comfortable. Having your own house, you must take it without fail. The same applies to the food bowl, water plate, as well as the food to which the pet is accustomed. If the cat is very picky, then you will also need to take a tray. With these items the animal will feel calm and protected, which will help it adapt better and faster.
- Before the trip, you need to cut your cat's nails so that it does not scratch the cat, and also vaccinate your pet. It wouldn’t hurt to “drive away” fleas and worms. When fulfilling all these points, it is recommended to hint about them to those owners to whom the cat will go. Otherwise, instead of the expected result, you may catch some disease or return home scratched.
Features and recommendations for mating British dogs
The introduction of animals and their mating takes place on the cat’s territory. The owner of the male must provide all the necessary conditions for the female so that she feels comfortable in her new home, as this is very important for successful intercourse. If the cat doesn’t like something, or if she gets scared or gets stressed, she simply won’t let the male near her.
The cat should be brought to a new home in a carrier, in which you need to open the doors and wait until she comes out of it. It is strictly forbidden to make any attempts to force her out of the carrier. This will only aggravate the situation, scare the female, and she will refuse mating.
Preparing for mating
In order for the friendship between a cat and a cat to successfully begin with all the ensuing consequences, and for the resulting litter of British kittens to be of high quality, the animals must be properly prepared for mating:
- Carefully select partners for mating, studying their pedigree.
- If the cat has already had a litter before, you need to get as much information as possible about it: whether the kittens were healthy or had any diseases or genetic abnormalities. The presence of such abnormalities in one litter indicates that, with a high degree of probability, the same pathologies will arise in subsequent matings.
- It is necessary to send the cat for examination to a veterinarian and, if necessary, correct defects that have a genetic predisposition, for example, malocclusion, condition of the coat. All defects that cannot be corrected, for example, coat color uncharacteristic for the breed, must be recorded.
- The owners of the cat should bring it to the veterinarian for an examination in order to determine whether the pet is prepotent, that is, whether he is able to pass on the best genetic makeup to his pet.
If any abnormalities are identified in individuals of both sexes, it is recommended that they be included in the mating agreement, so that later when offspring with an unusual color or malocclusion appear, mutual claims do not arise. Since the introduction of pets takes place on the territory of the male, the owner of the cat is obliged to bring cat supplies:
- toilet tray;
- food and drinking water, they should be enough for 3 days;
- feeding bowls;
- a carrier in which the cat has already spent some time;
- a copy of the cat's pedigree.
It is imperative to tidy up the claws so that the female does not scratch the cat. It is prohibited to bring a sick cat for mating. In addition, animals suitable for conception must have a beautiful, well-groomed coat, good physique (not be excessively thin), and be free of fleas and intestinal parasites.
The process of sexual intercourse
As soon as the cat begins to show the first symptoms of the oncoming heat, you need to immediately look for a male for mating.
The optimal time is the period from 3 to 5 days of estrus; it is during this period of time that there is a maximum probability that the mating will be successful and the cat will become pregnant.
After choosing a suitable candidate, the female goes to a new home.
Once the cat gets out of her carrier and settles into her new room, you can let the cat in. Based on the first meeting and how the cat behaved with the male, pet owners can immediately conclude whether something will come out of this friendship. If the cat approves of the cat, she will treat him kindly and tenderly, and will begin to flirt, walking around him, raising her tail invitingly. The cat will let the cat come closer, and he, in turn, will lie down next to her and begin to lick her fur.
If the first acquaintance was successful, the animals should be left overnight, since it is night time that British cats prefer for the act of love. In the morning, based on the behavior and habits of the cat, the owners will immediately notice that intercourse has occurred. The female will no longer perceive the cat as a stranger, they will feel free in each other’s company, lie down and relax together.
The female is not always ready to make contact with the cat the first time. British women can be calm and compliant, and sometimes there are those who can demonstrate their obstinate character on the very first date. A cat can also behave quite impudently: not only not allow the male to approach her, but also act as if it was not her who was visiting, but a strange cat had been brought into her house.
British cats have an interesting and entertaining sexual foreplay. The cat tries in every possible way to please the female, to come very close to her, but in most cases the cat swings her paw at him. Then the cat begins to actively persuade the female, walking around her and emitting an inviting purr.
A cat will ignore the cat's advances exactly as much as it deems necessary for its dignity. As soon as the female is ready for intercourse, she will show this by adopting a position characteristic of estrus. The cat climbs onto the female from behind, hugs her on the sides with his front paws and sinks his teeth into the withers.
The entire sexual intercourse lasts no more than 1 minute and ends quickly, barely having time to begin, with ejaculation. Immediately after the completion of intercourse, the cat sharply jumps away from the cat, who hits her with her paw after her. This is why it is so important to trim your cat's nails. There were often cases when the cat did not have time to quickly jump away from the female, and she damaged his eye with her claws.
A day after the mating has taken place, the female becomes absolutely indifferent to the cat, so the pets can be separated. Of course, for another 1-2 days the cat can call on the cat for another mating, but this does not mean that she was not mated. This behavior of the female is explained by reflexes; she behaves accordingly at the motor level.
How often do British cats come into heat?
A British cat's heat begins no earlier than 6 months. Breeders note that this can happen at 5 months, but only if there is also a male living in the house with the pet. Then the pets grow up much faster. This process is also influenced by the season of birth of the animal. Veterinarians say that those born in the spring begin to walk several months later than those born in the summer or autumn.
In addition, the animal's temperament can also affect estrus. It is not uncommon for the first rumblings to begin only at the age of one. And this is the norm. As for the frequency, this is all individual. About 20 years ago, spring was considered an active period, when nature woke up and animals “woke up” with it. Today, heat can occur at different times in different ways. In spring, the frequency is observed every 3 weeks, in summer – once every 2 months. A cat may ask to go for walks at least six times a year.
How long does a British cat go into heat?
A British cat can only be mated when she is in heat. However, the problem is that not everyone understands when the process began and how long it will last. It can be assumed that the first day is considered to be the one when the pet’s behavior changes dramatically. Most people wait for the cats to scream, not suspecting that the countdown must begin from the moment when the behavior of the four-legged animal changes.
She begins to fawn over her owner (which is usually uncharacteristic of British women), licking herself longer than usual. This does not last long - one, and sometimes two days. The next stage can make the owner nervous, because it lasts about a week and is characterized by the cat’s yelling, as well as all the other nuances that were described above. Afterwards everything ends. That is, in general, cats walk for about 7-10 days. The first time, this period is much shorter and amounts to no more than three to four days.
Selection of a partner
Not every cat will have a cat for a walk. Therefore, choosing a partner is an important point that should be given maximum attention. In addition, you need to pay attention to the color of the animal. If the owners are going to breed babies for sale, then they should look for a cat based on the shade so that they get what they want.
So, white British people cannot be mixed together, because the offspring may turn out to be deaf. When you want to breed a tabby, it is better that the partner is blue or black. At the same time, brown or chocolate shade is not an option at all. If the cat is light cream or black, then you can choose a cat of the same color.
When choosing a male, you should also pay attention to his health and appearance. Strong cats are the guarantee that babies will be born healthy and strong. When mating with a British cat for the first time, you need to choose an experienced animal. Otherwise, both she and he will start hissing at each other and fighting. If the cat is more courageous, then she may not even drive the male into a corner and not let him out until she is taken away. Therefore, special attention is paid to this nuance.
Mating a British cat with a cat: how animals behave and what the owner should do
The owner at the club will help you find a worthy candidate for father with a pedigree; you can turn to the owners of the cat’s mother for help. Advertisements offering mating services are contained on the pages of specialized periodicals and city breed forums. The issue price is usually equal to the price of the kitten. Sometimes the amount is divided into equal shares, paying 50% before mating, 50% upon pregnancy.
It is considered the norm to bring the female into the cat's territory. Let the lady calm down, get used to it, and sniff the room. After this, the acquaintance with the groom occurs. Owners can lock a couple in an enclosure, a spacious cage, or allocate a separate room; it is important that the animals feel safe.
An experienced partner is chosen for a cat mating for the first time. In the estrus phase, which is favorable for conception, the cat itself is in the mood for carnal pleasures and quickly gets used to it, allowing the cat to do what is necessary. The owner, if necessary, should calm her down and reassure her, but more often it is better not to interfere. Nature has given cats a powerful instinct for procreation; it is enough not to scare them away.
Mating cats: basic rules for owners
During mating, a number of simple rules should be followed. This is the only way to get the result you expected.
These rules are:
- If the cat is already more than one and a half years old, the first signs of estrus have become noticeable, there is no need to wait any longer. It’s bad to bring animals in early, but you shouldn’t overexpose them either. A nulliparous pet may experience problems in the reproductive system. Some beauties cannot bear offspring, others' babies are stillborn, some have to undergo surgery to get kittens. In a word, it’s bad to start mating early, but there’s nothing good about mating too late.
- After bringing the cat to the cat, you need to observe the animals for some time. Sometimes there is such strong aggression on the part of one that the four-legged animal is ready to kill if only it would be spared from the company of a stranger.
- During mating, it is better not to be near the cats, because people can distract them from the process.
- You should leave the cat with the cat for no more than 2-3 days. Firstly, after this time, males lose interest in females, and secondly, a large amount of “ovary” will lead to the fact that some kittens will be born premature and weak.
Preparation rules
As soon as British cats begin to show sexual desire, you should prepare your pet before visiting your partner. 3-4 days before mating, you need to treat the animal for helminths, lice, fleas and ticks. The day before, if necessary, trim your nails and clean your ears of wax. The animal must be vaccinated against all viral infectious diseases. It is forbidden to bathe a straight-eared bride, because the cat may not smell the attractive smell.
Since mating between a cat and a cat may not happen immediately, the pet can be left as a guest. Therefore, she will need to prepare the following things:
While the pet is visiting the gentleman, a carrier can be a place for her to rest.
- tray with preserved odor and filler;
- dishes for water and food;
- food that the animal always eats;
- a carrier where the cat can rest;
- a copy of the pedigree.
In addition, for mating it is important to choose a cat based on color. The classic British breed is blue. But besides blue, the following colors are considered popular:
- white;
- black;
- lilac;
- chocolate;
- ginger;
- tortoiseshell;
- chinchilla.
To make the color uniform, you should not knit a white British dog with a blue British dog or a black dog with lilac.
How does mating work?
Having noticed that the cat has changed in behavior, you need to observe it for a couple more days, and then you can take it to the cat. This is usually done 3-4 days after the start of the party. It is better for the cat owner to prepare in advance the room where the animals will live for these couple of days. First, a cat is brought into the room, which must get used to it a little, and only after that can a male be introduced. If the male representative does not show interest in the lady, you should wait a little.
Some breeders recommend raising the cat's tail and holding the cat up to it so that he can smell the scent. If the cat is indifferent to its partner, there is no need to rush; perhaps it has not yet gotten used to it. There are times when animals begin to fight and hiss at each other. Having noticed active aggression, it is necessary to stop everything.
Inexperienced pets may not understand what to do and may grab incorrectly. If this is the case, then you can give the cat a little encouragement and help him (but inactively) in carrying out this process. The fact that everything went well is evidenced by the cat’s screaming, its rolling on the floor, as well as its active licking of its genitals. When a cat hides or hides in a corner, this is a sign that the male did not please her in some way. In this case, it is also not recommended to “insist” and it is better to take the pet home.
Predisposition to diseases
The British Shorthair has a long history, and one of the results of meticulous selection is that these animals have excellent health and excellent disposition. This is a long-lived breed. However, due to crossbreeding with Persian cats, some members of the chinchilla variety sometimes have kidney disease, although this is not common.
Polycystic kidney disease and blood type B
In the 20th century, British Shorthair breeders used Persian cats to create a chinchilla line. Persians are prone to an inherited kidney disease called polycystic kidney disease. Since then, outbreaks of this disease have been periodically reported in the UK.
A more common problem for British cats is the rare blood type that some of these cats have. British Shorthairs can be Type A or Type B. Most have Type A blood. Some have Type B. It is not a blood disorder, and Type B cats are just as healthy as Type A cats. But for breeding purposes or if blood transfusions are needed this must be taken into account. Type A blood will kill a cat with type B blood and vice versa.
British shorthair breeders are worried about blood type due to "fading kitten" syndrome. When the mother cat has type B blood and the father of the kittens has type A blood, their kittens can have both type A and type B blood. Mother's milk contains antibodies to type A, which will kill type A kittens within 72 hours. Fortunately, there is now a DNA test to check the blood type before breeding a cat.
Non-standard situations that may occur when mating cats: rules of conduct for owners
Sometimes not everything works out the way you want. Therefore, you need to be prepared for this, and also know what to do in such situations.
The rules are simple:
- If the cat is smaller in size than the cat, which happens in some cases, then he will not be able to grab the female’s withers and then perform a love act. That is, there will seem to be an act, but there will be no contact of the genitals. In this case, a person can take the pet by the withers so that the cat grabs the skin below. This way the organs will be at the same level and the problem will go away.
- When a cat does not let the cat near her either for the first time or during the next heat, this is a reason to contact the veterinarian. The doctor will insert a four-legged special probe into the vagina, which will solve the problem. Sometimes a special drug should be administered to “awaken” the cat’s instincts. However, this is up to the veterinarian to decide.
- Some cats fall on their side during mating and it is difficult for the cat to start the process. There are people who try to force a cat onto a female and do everything themselves, but this is stressful for both animals. Breeders note that the partner will be able to penetrate the cat in this position, so it is better not to interfere.
- When pets enter a new home, they often forget about the purpose of their visit, their character changes, and they become indifferent. In this case, it is better to wait a little. If the four-legged pet does not get used to it, then there is only one thing left to do - postpone mating until another time.
Important! Animals, like people, also have their own preferences. Therefore, if a cat is indifferent towards each other, there is no need to try to force them to “marry”. This could end badly.
Signs of the onset of puberty in cats
A charming, affectionate, playful cat becomes nervous, restless, and shows aggression? It’s okay, it’s time to turn from a child into a sexually mature male. Animals experience the same hormonal surge during puberty as humans do, hence the unbalanced behavior.
The cat begins the hunting season. A special meow attracts females who are ready to mate, the production of a specific secretion begins, which marks the territory, the smell of urine changes to a pungent, pungent one. The game takes on a tougher, more aggressive character, reminiscent of fighting prey.
Signs of pregnancy
Signs of pregnancy can be observed by the cat's behavior. Two weeks after mating, the animal becomes calmer and sleeps a lot. In addition, you may notice that the pet loses its appetite, sometimes it feels nauseous and vomits. From the third week, the nipples turn pink and enlarge. And after another week, the fluffy begins to eat a lot. An enlarged belly is observed in the fifth week. Considering that a cat is pregnant for about 65-67 days, you can monitor the animal’s behavior from the first day of mating. If after three weeks no changes have occurred, then you need to wait for another heat.
If everything worked out, kittens appear after two months. The next mating after birth can be planned no earlier than 7-8 months later.