Do Cats Still Mate when Neutered? As a cat lover, you have probably seen some of your moggies going through heat or mating. If you have never witnessed this before, it can be quite a sight to see. But how do cats mate and is there anything you should know?
Cats are polyestrous, which means they have many periods of fertility throughout the year; female cats can become pregnant any time if they’re exposed to male cats.
The average length of a cat’s gestation period (the time between fertilization and birth) is around two months long with smaller breeds having slightly shorter pregnancies than larger ones.
When the time comes that the kittens are ready to arrive, mum-to-be will start birthing them in their search for a safe and secluded place to give birth. She may return to her bed or choose a new nest such as an empty wardrobe, box, or basket for the kittens.
Once she’s given birth, mum-to-be will stay in her secluded spot and take care of her newborns by cleaning them and feeding them every two hours; she’ll stay with them even during the night when they’re at their most vulnerable and need her most.
A cat birthing six kittens will only spend around 10 – 15 minutes with each one to make sure all are fed before returning to clean any that have been dirty from birth fluids.
As time goes on, the kittens grow stronger but don’t expect it to be plain sailing because mums get very little sleep as they have to keep their newborns warm and fed at all hours of the day. She will, however, allow you into the room to take a look at her new family but if she appears agitated, resist the urge to go over and peek at them as it could cause her distress.
Nevertheless, this is a critical time for kittens as they can become ill or die from many things such as being too cold or having milk that’s either too hot or not nutritious enough. This is why it’s so important that mum-to-be takes care of everything; after all, she knows what her babies need better than anyone else.
When the kittens are about six weeks old mum will start weaning them off milk by introducing soft, wet foods; they will get gradually more independent until they can do without her. They’ll also become affectionate towards their owner (and possibly other family members) at this time which is when you need to start socializing them to ensure that they grow into confident and friendly cats that are great with children.
Doing this right away means that any issues of shyness or fear can be nipped in the bud early on before it becomes embedded within them for life – but don’t expect too much too soon as some require less socializing than others!
At around 10 weeks old, kittens are completely weaned off milk so you should only have to provide dry food for them from this point on.
When it comes to mating, there are different ways of how it can be done. Cats usually have a strict routine to follow with the female doing the chasing and the tom usually runs for his life until she catches him! Observing this, it’s easy to understand why some cats can become stressed if they aren’t given enough space especially if there is more than one in an enclosure.
Although their instincts tell them otherwise, having multiple cats doesn’t mean that all of them will mate with every tomcat so don’t panic if your feline friends seem less interested in finding a partner as time goes on – they’re not ‘frigid’ or anti-social but may just be pickier about who they choose to mate with.
Still, mating is part of nature so don’t discourage it completely as cats can become distressed if they are prevented from doing so.
If you have more than one feline friend, try to keep them separated when the time is right but introduce them gradually using a large carrier or cage that’s divided into two halves with some protection over the top just in case! This will also give your pets a chance to get used to each other’s scent without being able to see each other before they’re introduced properly.
Although female cats are usually ready for mating around 5 – 6 months old, males sexually mature at ten months which means you could be hearing even more caterwauling than normal once spring arrives.
And Although most tomcats do leave home after mating, neutering (a process of removing the male’s testicles) is a more permanent way of preventing him from coming back and mating with other females.
Although it might not be necessary to neuter your cat, especially if there are plenty of strays in the area so he can help keep the numbers down, it does have its benefits for indoor cats who will never mate with another female or need to compete for food or territory.
The operation prevents fighting between males as well as preventing unwanted pregnancies which means you could save money on cat food not have to buy extra just for kittens!
If you’re thinking about neutering your tomcat but don’t fancy doing it yourself, consider talking over your options with his vet instead. There may be different procedures depending on whether he’s an adult or a kitten and how much he weighs; some only require the injection while others might need to be sedated before being put under general anesthetic.
Speaking with your vet is also a good idea so you can chat to him about any concerns you have over the procedure – after all, it’s not something you want to rush into!
As for mating, don’t expect to see it too often unless you have more than one feline friend. Although females are usually receptive when they’re in season (about every three weeks between January and October), tomcats aren’t known for being patient so he’ll probably just jump on her back if she isn’t ready which could result in injury! If this does happen, try distracting them by introducing another cat or a new toy.
The mating process is something that most cat owners don’t want to think about which means it doesn’t get talked about nearly as much as other things like vaccinations and worming!
However, you might be surprised at how soon your kitten matures so you should make sure you talk to his vet about neutering if he’s not going to live outside. This will prevent any fighting between males which can result in injury while preventing breeding seasons from coming around more often than necessary!
Can a neutered cat still be sexually active?
Cats are usually ready for mating around 5 – 6 months old
Although females are usually receptive between January and October, tomcats aren’t known for being patient
The mating process is something that most cat owners don’t want to think about which means it doesn’t get talked about nearly as much as other things like vaccinations and worming!
Are male cats still fertile after neutering?
Although most tomcats do leave home after mating, neutering is a more permanent way of preventing them from coming back and mating with other females
There may be different procedures depending on whether he’s an adult or a kitten and how much he weighs; some only require the injection while others might need to be sedated before being put under general anesthetic
If you’re thinking about neutering your tomcat but don’t fancy doing it yourself, consider talking over your options with his vet instead