Cats have a reputation for being able to reproduce quickly and this fact tends to be a headache for their keepers. Knowing the sexual cycle of this species will help us take the necessary measures to avoid unwanted litters.
In this article on our site we will focus on explaining at what age cats can have kittens. The beginning of the fertile stage marks the beginning of precautions, so we must learn to identify the signs of heat.
When can cats have kittens?
To know at what age cats can have children, we must look at their period of heat. Female cats are seasonal polyestrous, which means that, in the months with the highest incidence of sunlight, they can be in heat almost permanently. Male cats do not have a marked period of heat and, once they reach sexual maturity, they are capable of impregnating any female cat they detect in heat.
This maturity is not always reached at the same age, as there are factors that influence its appearance, such as the amount of sunlight present. The average would be around six months for females, although there may be oscillations, and about nine for males, but there are females that come into heat at only four months and males that start at eight. At these ages the symptoms of heat can begin, although male cats usually take a little longer to become sexually active. Cats can only have kittens when they are in heat.
Cats' heat
As we say, heat determines at what age our cat can have litters. The cats will not have vaginal bleeding and, in fact, this would be a reason for veterinary consultation, but they will show signs that indicate their fertile period, such as some very sharp and persistent meows, a change in behavior, nervousness, elevation of the pelvis, withdrawing the tail and showing the vulva at the slightest contact with the area, increased urination, etc. For their part, the males will also be upset, they will try to escape and, if they succeed, they can be injured in fights with other cats because of the female in heat.
For more details, see the following article: "Oestrus in Male and Female Cats".
At what age do female cats mate?
From the moment the cat enters heat she can reproduce This means that at an age as young as six months, a cat could already mate and have her first litter, without even having completed her physical development. Therefore, at what age cats can have kittens is the same as when they can mate. That is why it is essential to establish precautions from the first moment.
In addition, these measures must be prolonged because up to what age a cat is fertile covers practically her entire life. That is why it is not only important to avoid unwanted pregnancies, but also to choose the best contraceptive method so that the cat's he alth is not affected. Likewise, male cats can mate from the moment they become sexually mature, even though they still look like kittens to us.
At what age can female cats have kittens?
We have explained at what age cats can have kittens, placing this at about six months. But to date we must add the approximate two months that gestation lasts in this species. Therefore, the first litter will be born when the cat is about eight months old. Many more can follow that first birth, since, if we ask ourselves how old a cat can give birth, the truth is that there is no deadline. Although fertility decreases with age, it is not uncommon to see a cat give birth when she is over ten years old.
Now then, if we ask ourselves at what age can cats have offspring without taking into account the beginning of their sexual maturity, the best thing to do would be to wait until their physical development is complete. Therefore, it is not advisable that they breed before two years of age
Symptoms of a pregnant cat
A cat's pregnancy can go unnoticed until it is very advanced, since, during the first weeks, there are no major visible changes. The first changes that we will detect will be the increase in the size of the abdomen and the mammary glands and the cessation of the signs of heat. The fattest or hairiest cats can even give birth without their caregivers having noticed the gestation. We can also appreciate changes in appetite, although if there are more cats it will be more difficult to notice.
If we suspect that we live with a pregnant cat, we must seek confirmation from the veterinarian to establish the monitoring and essential care. At the end of pregnancy, gently resting your hand on the abdomen, it is possible to feel the movements of the kittens Shortly before giving birth, the cat may be restless, hide and stop eating. Now that we know at what age cats can have puppies, let's take a look at how often.
How many times a year can cats have kittens?
That cats are seasonally polyestrous implies that during the months of more sunlight, jealousy is continuous. If one of them becomes pregnant, the cat will go through the gestation and lactation phases, which will last about 3-4 months. After this period, if the weather conditions are favourable, the cat can gestate again.
So, this puts how often cats can have litters in the 3-4 months mentioned. With adequate sunlight, two and even three litters per year would be viable Looking at what age cats can have litters, taking into account the number of litters and the number of kittens born, which stands at 4-5 for each one, we only have to multiply to be aware of the serious problem of overpopulation of kittens that we cause by allowing them to reproduce without control. Abandonment and abuse stem from it.
Until what age is a cat fertile?
Depending on her breed, size and lifestyle, a female cat can be fertile up to 10-12 yearsSome stop being so a few years earlier while others can have offspring up to 17 years old. Therefore, a cat can give birth until her reproductive cycle stops. Again, we must be aware of the effects that continued pregnancies can have on pregnant cats, since they will reduce their life expectancy and lead to the development of certain he alth problems.
Neuter cats
As part of responsible ownership, the method that is recommended to avoid both the problems of coexistence and the stress of heat as well as the complications of pregnancy and rearing, as well as pathologies associated with the reproductive cycle such as pyometra or uterine infection or breast tumors, is sterilization.
Neutering cats is the recommended procedure and consists of removal of the testicles in males andof the uterus and ovaries in females. On the contrary, giving pills to the cat to prevent heat has been linked to the appearance of mammary tumors and is therefore not recommended in the long term. Knowing at what age cats can have litters allows us to schedule castration for an earlier date, since the intervention can be carried out before the first heat, at 5-6 months.
