Cats mate through a distinctive and somewhat complex process involving specific behaviors and physical interactions. Female Cat Behavior (Queen) in Heat:
- When a female cat is in heat, she signals her readiness to mate by adopting a posture called lordosis: chest down, forelegs bent, rear quarters raised, and tail to the side exposing the vulva.
- She may also become more vocal, restless, and display behaviors such as rolling on the floor or rubbing against objects to attract males
Male Cat Behavior (Tom):
- The male cat approaches the female and mounts her from behind.
- He typically bites the female on the back of her neck to hold her in place during mating
- Male cats have barbed penises, which stimulate ovulation in the female when withdrawn. This barbed structure causes the female to often scream or hiss and try to move away immediately after mating
The Mating Act:
- The male mounts the female, positions himself on top, and penetrates her. This usually lasts only a few seconds (about 4 seconds).
- After mating, the female exhibits an "after-reaction," which includes rolling, thrashing, and grooming herself, lasting several minutes.
- Mating sessions can be repeated multiple times in a short period (every 5 to 30 minutes), and a female may mate with several males during her fertile period. This can result in a litter with multiple fathers
Ovulation and Conception:
- The physical stimulation from the male’s barbed penis induces ovulation, which typically occurs 20 to 50 hours after mating.
- Fertilization happens in the oviduct, and embryos implant in the uterus about 12 to 13 days later
In summary, cat mating involves a female in heat signaling readiness, a male mounting and biting the female’s neck, penetration with a barbed penis that induces ovulation, and often multiple matings with one or more males to ensure pregnancy
