A cat reaches reproductive maturity between five and nine months of age, or when they reach 4.5 to 7.0 pounds in weight. Domestic longhaired and shorthaired cats, as well as feral cats, may reach sexual maturity faster than purebred breeds and indoor cats.
Female cats have heat cycles that last between seven and twenty-one days. If the cat is not impregnated, her heat patterns may become irregular, with non-heat periods becoming shorter, sometimes as brief as two days. When in estrus (heat), a female cat may make loud, howling sounds and rub against the floor with her tail raised. Heat cycles are most common between January and September when the days are longer, but they can occur at any time. Warmer temperatures also encourage seasonal reproduction.
The Birthing Process: Queening and Feline Labor
Once a suitable male encounters the female, copulation quickly follows, usually resulting in pregnancy. The duration of gestation in cats lasts from fifty-six to seventy-one days, with the average being sixty-one days. A female cat can have three to five litters per year, with an average litter containing four to six kittens.
The birthing process, known as “queening,” should be prepared for several weeks in advance. Providing the female with a designated birthing box, lined with blankets or towels, is essential. During queening, the box should be lined with newspapers to help absorb any fluids.
There are three stages of feline labor. In the first stage, the cervix softens and dilates, and the animal may moan or pant. Restlessness and frequent trips to the litter box are common signs. The second stage begins when the female starts to push out her first kitten, which usually takes the longest to deliver. This first birth helps dilate the cervix, preparing for the remaining kittens. Each kitten typically takes between fifteen and thirty minutes to be born. The third stage is the delivery of the placenta.
At birth, each kitten is enclosed in its own amniotic sac. If the sac isn’t broken during the birth process, the mother will break it and sever the umbilical cord. After all the kittens are delivered, the mother will eat the placenta, which stimulates lactation. Soon after birth, she will lick her kittens to clean and dry them, as well as stimulate their circulation.
At birth, kittens are blind, deaf, and helpless. They lack distinctive color patterns, and some won’t acquire their unique markings until several weeks later. The mother will nurse her kittens until they begin the weaning process, usually around four months of age. At this point, additional food should be introduced to the kittens. Hard kitten-formulated chow can be offered, softened with water to make it easier to chew. Cow’s milk should never be given to kittens, as most will develop lactose intolerance as they grow, which can lead to gastric problems.
