ANS 200: Companion Animals

Cat Reproduction

III.    Cats

        A.    General

                1.     Male–Tom
                2.     Female–Queen
                3. Young–Kitten
                4. Group–Pride

        B.     Breeding Age

                1.     Puberty

                        a.     Male
                                i.     9-12 months
                                ii.     3.5 kg
                        b.     Female
                                i.     5-7 months
                                ii.     2.5 kg

                2.     Reproductive Lifespan

                        a.     Male
                                i.     5-7 years

                        b.     Female
                                i.     8-14 years

        C.     Cyclicity

                1.     Type and Season of Cycle
                        a.     Polyestrous
                        b.     Seasonal in Spring and Fall

                2.    Length of Sexual Cycle
                        a.     14 days
                        b.     Pseudopregnancy–36 days

                3.     Duration of Heat (Estrus)
                        a.     3-6 days

                4.     Time of Ovulation
                        a.     Induced ovulator
                        b.     24-36 hours post-copulation

                5.     Viability of Ova
                        a. Unknown

        D.     Mating

                1.     Precopulatory Behavior

                        a.     Search

                                i.     Queen–Vocalization (calling)
                                ii.     Tom–Prowling

                        b.     Courtship

                                i.     Queen
                                        A.     Croaching
                                        B.     Affectionate head rubbing
                                        C.     Rolling
                                ii.     Tom–Bitting queen on dorsal neck

                        c.     Consummation

                                i.     Queen
                                        A.     Elevation of rear quarters and hyperextension of neck (Lordosis)
                                        B.     Presentation of vulva
                                        C.     Tail deviation
                                 ii.     Tom
                                        A.     Mounting

                2.     Copulatory Behavior

                        a.     Mounting (1-3 min.)

                                i.     Queen
                                        A.     Lordosis
                                        B.     Treads hindlegs
                                ii.     Tom
                                        A.     Neckbitting
                                        B.     Mounts with forelegs
                                        C.     Mounts with hindlegs
                                        D.     Rakes with forelegs
                                        E.     Treads with hindlegs
                                        F.     Arching of back

                        b.     Coitus (5-10 sec.)

                                i.     Queen
                                        A.     Copulation scream
                                        B.     Turns on tomcat upon withdrawl
                                ii.     Tom
                                        A.     Pelvic thrust
                                        B.     Erection
                                        C.     Intromission
                                        D.     Ejaculation
                                        E.     Withdrawl

                        c.     Post-Coitus “After reaction”

                                 i.     Queen 
                                        A.     Hisses and Strikes at Tom for 1-10 minutes
                                        B.     Rolls
                                        C.     Licks forepaws
                                        D.     Views Tom
                                        E.     Re-encourages Tom

                                ii.     Tom
                                        A.     Licks penis
                                        B.     Licks forepaws
                                        C.     Waits for Queens call

                        d.     Repeat Breedings

                                  i.     Up to 30 times in 24 hours
                                  ii. After-reaction increases each coital contact

        E.     Pregnancy

                  1.     Gestation–56-65 days

        F.     Parturition/Lactation

                1.     Parturition
                        a.     Queening
                        b.     Queen searches for secluded location–nesting
                                i.     12-48 hours before queening
                        c.     Last 2-6 hours after first kitten
                        d.     Placentophagy

                2.     Littersize
                        a.     2-8 kittens

                3.     Mammary Glands
                        a.     8
                        b.     Abdominal

                4.     Weaning age
                        a.     7-8 weeks
                        b.     800 grams

                5.     First estrus after parturition
                        a.     4-6 weeks after lactation