Cat Mating Behavior Explained: What You Should Know

If you've ever had a dog that loved to hump anything that was put in front of it, you know that the mating behaviors of our furry friends can be disruptive. With cats, it's a step above. Cat mating behavior can cause a whole lot of behaviors to change in ways that are, to put it mildly, annoying. More importantly, if you don't know what's going on, you might be concerned that your fur baby is sick or in distress, which can lead to stress, anxiety, and vet bills you don't need.

So, what are cat mating behaviors, how can you recognize and deal with them, and can you do anything to stop them before they get out of hand?

Cat Mating Behaviors: When Do They Start?

First of all, let's talk about kittens. Cats are small, relatively short-lived animals that are both predators and prey. That means, in order for the species to survive in a harsh world where a larger animal could eat them, they need to be able to reproduce quickly. It's why cats have litters of kittens instead of just one or two, and it's why the gestation period is relatively short (just 65 days).

Cats reach sexual maturity at a surprisingly young age. Female cats reach a point where they can conceive and bear kittens at just four months of age, though her first estrus cycle might not kick in until as much as 12 months.

Male cats are slightly more delayed, usually reaching sexual maturity from 7-12 months of age. This delay helps them grow and be larger and more capable of fighting off other males without the disadvantage of being, well, a kitten.

Either way, your kittens can have kittens before a year old, if you aren't careful.

What is Estrus?

Estrus is the biological cycle of reproductive readiness that some animals experience. Humans don't operate on a cycle like that, at least not in the same way, but animals like cats, dogs, horses, goats, and cattle all do.

When a female cat goes into heat, her body signals that she's ready to mate and produce a litter of kittens. She'll spin up some behaviors that help her seek a mate, and male cats will become very interested in her for the 1-2 weeks on average that she's in this state. Then, she'll either conceive kittens or she won't, and the process will start all over again.

I'm not going to go deep into it here, but I did write a whole guide on estrus in cats with more of a scientific look at the process, which you can read over here.

Cat Mating Behaviors: How Male Cats Behave

Male cats don't go into heat the way female cats do, but they are very susceptible to the signals the females let out. Their keen sense of smell, in particular, helps them identify the presence of a ready female nearby, and they'll take action to either attract her, ward off other males, or go to her. Those behaviors tend to fall into a few categories.

Spraying is the first of those categories. Male cats, when they believe an eligible female is around, will be more prone to spraying urine around. This urine is foul to us because it's packed with all of the scent signals that the male cat uses to say, "hey, this is my territory; other males stay out!" It's strong so it carries, and it's strong so it lingers. Female cats in heat who smell this may try to find the male for mating.

Fighting is the second kind of behavior, and it's pretty obvious. The boldest, strongest, most effective cat wants to be the one to win the reward of procreating. Other males, also attracted to the area, are going to come into conflict. They'll yowl, they'll growl, they'll fight and bite and claw until one of them gives up and leaves. Injuries are common, and in extreme cases, can lead to infection and death.

Wandering is the third behavior, and it's a major cause of why cats try to escape their homes. A male cat, smelling the presence of a female outside somewhere, will try to get out through a door, window, crawlspace, or any way they can. They'll travel surprisingly long distances to try to catch that female and produce some kittens. Unfortunately, this means a lost cat can be very difficult to find; they can get trapped or injured, hit by cars, or caught by other predators.

All of this is driven primarily by testosterone responses, which is why neutering your male cats pretty much entirely ceases these behaviors. A male cat smelling a female, but not triggering the biological responses, won't really care all that much.

Cat Mating Behaviors: How Female Cats Behave

Female cats go into heat, and their entire personality changes. They are driven by their biology to find a mate and produce kittens.

Physically, they'll advertise and present themselves. They'll roll on the floor and expose their belly. They'll arch their backs and raise their hindquarters. They might be extra clingy and constantly seeking affection, or they might hide and run away from you if they perceive you as a threat to their potential mating. Which they choose might depend on whether or not they were stray or feral, or in human care since they were born.

Female cats also spray, and it's also really gross and not something you want to deal with, especially inside. Like males, they're marking with their scent, so the scent needs to be strong. Unlike males, they aren't trying to ward off other cats, but attract them, so the urine is full of pheromones and estrus markers that are irresistible to male cats.

She'll also probably be very whiny, meowing long and loud in an attempt to call attention to herself. If you've never heard it before, these whines and moans can sound like she's hurt or in distress, and it can honestly be pretty scary to hear. Many first-time cat parents take their kitty to the vet because "she's whining in pain and having accidents," which, let's be real, is a perfectly reasonable response if you don't know what's going on.

Like male cats, females may also wander if they don't manage to attract a mate right away. If no one is coming to her, dang it, she's going to be a go-getter! And, just like males, that can lead to escapes, losses, injuries, and fatalities in the great outdoors.

Cat Mating Behaviors: Why You Want to Stop the Cycle

Do you want kittens? Most of the time, the answer is probably not. Even if you do, I highly recommend adopting kittens from your local pet rescue, since there are guaranteed to be plenty around.

More importantly, you probably identified several reasons why you really don't want intact cats in your home.

• Spraying is nasty. It's pungent and foul, and it lingers, sometimes even after you hit it with an enzymatic cleaner. Seriously, it can be bad enough that you'll think something is horribly wrong because the litter box never gets that bad. And you can bet your cat won't be spraying the litter box. They want to mark their territory and attract a mate, and that means spraying everywhere they can.

• Females in heat and intact males can be surprisingly aggressive. Males in particular may literally fight you to get outside, and that can hurt. Females, if they aren't hyper-affectionate, may be very skittish and defensive when you try to interact with them. It sucks, and it will keep happening every three-ish weeks, lasting for a week or longer, continually.

• Related to that, male cats frequently get in fights, and even the mating itself is traumatic, and there's conflict when it finishes. Cats can and do routinely walk away with injuries, ranging from scratches and torn ears to gouged eyes and cuts that can get infected. It's all terrible and potentially dangerous.

• The wandering is super dangerous. Even otherwise-savvy outdoor ferals can get themselves in trouble fighting other males or chasing a mate across a busy road. Your indoor cat slipping out the door when you bring in the groceries isn't going to stand a chance. Many pets are lost every year, and many of them don't survive because of this drive to mate.

If you spay or neuter your kittens when they're young enough, they'll never reach the level of biological maturity that starts these behaviors. For older cats that are fixed later in life, some of the behaviors can linger as habits, but they won't be as driven to do them. Still, it can form a core part of their personality.

Cat Mating Behaviors: Spay and Neuter for a Healthier Feline

One other reason to spay or neuter your cats is for health reasons.

Neutering a male cat removes the testicles entirely. When those testicles are gone, the cat has effectively zero chance of developing testicular cancer. Likewise, spaying a female cat removes the ovaries and uterus, which means that the kitty has no chance of developing uterine or ovarian cancer or other problems.

Secondary health problems are also reduced. Female cats have less of a chance of mammary gland tumors when they're spayed. Males have much lower rates of prostate cancer. Both have lower rates of uterine tract infections.

One operation now can save many vet visits (and bills) throughout their life. They'll live longer, they'll be healthier, and they'll be calmer, more personable, and easier to train. It's an unmitigated good in every single situation except the one where you want to breed kittens.

Common Questions About Cat Mating Behaviors

Let's wrap things up with a few questions you might have after reading all of the above.

Is there a "kitten season" or a particular time of year for cat mating?

You may have heard of kitten season, and while it's not entirely real, cats tend to line up their cycles with the weather.

As you might imagine, it's spring to fall, when the weather is less likely to be dangerous to a mother and her kittens. But females can still go into heat in the winter, and winter kittens are not uncommon, especially amongst indoor cats.

What are the signs that something is wrong?

One of the problems of keeping a cat intact, especially a female, is that the behaviors central to estrus can also mask other problems. It's hard to tell if she's shying away from you out of estrus or out of illness, spraying out of estrus or illness, and so on.

Here are some things to look for.

• The timing. Estrus is a cycle with relatively consistent timing, so if she's behaving oddly out of cycle or longer than normal, it might be a problem.

• The presence of blood. Estrus is similar to a menstrual cycle, but cats don't get periods; if there's blood involved anywhere, it's time for the vet.

• Her appetite. Cats in heat generally ignore food and drink more than normal, but they will still eat and drink. If she's ignoring it entirely, it's time for the vet.

When in doubt, give your vet a call and ask if the behaviors you're seeing are worth bringing her in for a checkup.

I want to get my cat fixed, but I can't afford it. What can I do?

This is a tricky situation to be in, but fortunately, most places have some kind of organization or charity that can help. Many animal rescues will sponsor spay/neuter operations for animals, or might have low-cost events to help pet parents in need. You should check with your local vets, animal rescues, and even your municipality to see if they have any charities or funds that can help. And, if all else fails, you can always try a crowdfund!

Trust me, though; it's better to scrape together the cash for the operation than to deal with the behaviors of an intact cat.

Are there any downsides to fixing a cat?

Technically, yes, but they're small. Older cats being fixed later in life can retain some behavioral issues. Elderly cats can develop hormone imbalances later in life, though these are common enough that we know how to treat them effectively. And there's a very, very low rate of complications during the surgery; I can't tell you it's 100% safe, but it's 99.9999% safe.

In my view, you should get your cats spayed or neutered as soon as you can. With all of the possible issues, hassles, and bills associated with mating behaviors, it's a no-brainer decision. If you want kittens, trust me, there are many, many other ways to get them.