When cats begin puberty

The sexual maturity of young pets refers to the body's readiness to conceive. A cat is considered mature when it is able to impregnate a female cat. A female is considered mature at the time when she can not only become pregnant, but also bear and give birth to healthy cubs.

Growth, development and nutrition

A kitten grows vigorously in the first 6 months of its life, reaching the size of an adult by one year of age. Only large breeds form more slowly, being considered an adult only by the age of 3 years. It is notable that some growing kittens grow evenly and proportionally, being a miniature copy of their parents, but others resemble the "ugly duckling": their ears are too big, the tail is ratty and thin, and their legs are awfully long. Do not despair! With proper care your pet will form and become a real beauty.

Intensive growth involves the formation of their own body structures, which requires a special diet focused on the menu of an obligate carnivore. Practice shows that kittens, who don't get enough animal protein, vitamins and minerals with food, lose weight, look thin and skinny, have a poor coat and low immunity.

So, if you feed your tailed teenager natural food, the basis of it should be lean raw meat (beef, ideka, rabbit, chicken), which is alternated with by-products and lean sea fish. Do not forget about the usefulness of eggs and dairy products, and porridges (rice, oatmeal) and vegetables (pumpkin, zucchini, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots) feed a little as a carbohydrate supplement to the meat component. Give vitamin and mineral premixes for kittens as directed.

From commercial diets, choose dry food and canned food from reputable premium and super-premium manufacturers.

Changing Teeth

From 3 to 7 months of age, the kitten's teeth change, when 26 baby teeth are replaced with 30 permanent ones.

The first to change are the upper and lower incisors, followed by the lateral teeth (polars and premolars), and finally the canines. Most often it is asymptomatic: the baby teeth, which do not have roots, are pulled out while chewing and swallowed by the baby himself. And only elongated canines can be found by the owners within the apartment.

Sometimes babies' gums become inflamed, there is a "wound smell" from the mouth, and their appetite decreases. Treat the oral mucosa with chlorhexidine and replace solid dry food pellets with canned food.

Also make sure that your kitten's diet is balanced at this time because the permanent teeth that are forming will "pull" calcium from the body. Mineral deficiencies affect the color and strength of the tooth enamel.

Growing kittens may have a puppy-like need to chew on everything around them, including wiring, furniture, wallpaper and houseplants. Provide him with special toys and treats from the pet store that will provide him with long-lasting, safe chewing fun.

Puberty: when cats start their first heat

The end of puberty in your pet is indicated by his restless behavior, which indicates that the cat's first heat has started.

Leeching is the stage of a cat's sexual cycle that manifests itself by the animal's positive reaction to cats.

Almost every owner is concerned about the question of when his cat's first heat will begin. The time of the first heat is different for each cat. It depends on how the cat eats and where it is kept; hereditary factors and breed play a role.

Usually young cats show signs of their first heat at the age of 6 to 10 months. Large breeds such as Persian or Maine Coon cats mature later than their smaller counterparts.

Puberty does not mean that you can take your cat to mating. The cat's body at 6-10 months of age is not physiologically ready to carry and bear kittens. A cat becomes fully ready for pregnancy and childbirth at 16-20 months of age.

How long is the sex drive period in a cat and what are its signs?

The duration of the period when a cat seeks to continue its lineage is 5-7 days. If the cat does not become pregnant, the next heat comes a week to a month after the previous one. During the heat, you will notice the following changes in the cat's behavior:

• A loud, urgent meow. A cat calling for a cat may continue her not-so-pleasant to the human ear "songs" throughout the entire period of heat. She will make purring uterine sounds during the day and night;
• Huddling on her forelegs. When the cat is ready to procreate, she will begin to assume a mating pose: lowering the front of her body to the floor and raising the back, while pulling her tail to the side;

• Swatting territory. This behavior serves as another way to attract the male for mating. Cats are good at smelling the pheromones secreted by the cat's urine;
• Overly affectionate behavior. In an attempt to attract attention, during heat, the pet follows its owner on his heels and rubs his feet. There may also be displays of aggression;
• The urge to run out into the street. The cat, obeying its reproductive instinct, will not miss an opportunity to run out into the open door or window to the street during heat. This behavior does not depend on whether the cat walks on the street or is kept at home. Therefore, the pet needs to be closely monitored.

What can delay puberty?

In cats, puberty is determined primarily by the time of the first heat. An attentive owner will not miss the external manifestations of the approaching heat: increased desire to caress, rub her feet, on interior objects, minor mucus secretions from the genitals. The manifestation of heat becomes more obvious: urgent meowing combined with rolling on the floor, the cat moves its tail to the side, thus manifesting the sexual hunt. Sometimes she refuses to eat.

Of course, the first heat may not be so bright manifestations, but any significant change in behavior should alert the owner.

In cats, the moment of puberty is characterized, first of all, by the beginning of the sexual hunt. Cat meows in an attempt to attract females, marks territory, urine gets a pungent, unpleasant smell. Can tear into furniture and wallpaper. Their behavior alters, they lose their playfulness and their behavior becomes more like a hunting game.

What to do?

First of all you should understand that this will happen to your kitten sooner or later. Then decide if you are planning to breed. To do this, if possible, assess the breeding value of your cat. This is best done in a cat club If offspring is undesirable, the right decision is neutering (spaying). This method is much safer than medically regulating a cat's libido.

If you decide to procreate, remember that physical and puberty are not the same thing. Regardless of the timing of puberty, the physical maturity of a kitten does not come before age. This is when the first mating should be planned.

Peculiarities of cat puberty

Puberty in cats occurs at the age of 8-10 months and may differ substantially in different breeds or even individuals. It is believed that cats belonging to Oriental breeds mature earlier than cats of other breeds, but there are no convincing studies on this.

The onset of puberty in the cat is expressed by the following signs:

1. Vocalization. This sign is difficult to miss, as cats usually vocalize in the wee hours of the morning.
2. Inappropriate behavior. The previously affectionate and gentle cat can abruptly change its behavior towards the household or other animals.
3. Increased urine odor and cat tags. One of the most unpleasant manifestations of sexual behavior. Even if the cat is not tagging, his urine has a pungent odor, so you have to change the litter box more often.
4. Showing interest in members of the opposite sex. If a cat is kept together with cats, he begins to take care of them with the onset of puberty. Sometimes the cat will make "nests" on the younger kittens.

It should be noted that due to the inexperience of the young cat mating is not always successful and only from the second or third time a positive result is possible.

There is one interesting peculiarity between cats and male cats: cats mark the territory almost always, with very rare exceptions. What cannot be said about cats. They, on the contrary, tag rarely, but this unpleasantness also takes place in them. In addition, cats born of a cat who has left tags will also have the same ability.

Young cats should be kept separate from adult cats and cats, starting from the first signs of sexual libido. This will prevent unwanted mating and intragroup conflicts. The same applies to adult, non-castrated cats and cats.

Kitten at eight weeks of age

When kittens reach the age of two months, they usually stop receiving their mother's milk and switch to self-feeding. You can transfer the kittens to a high-calorie food which provides them with all the nutrients they need and suits their size and texture of the croquette. This should be done gradually so as not to overload their digestion. During this period, it is also advisable to discuss vaccinating kittens with your veterinarian.

At this age, kittens grow very quickly. Even though their energy needs have decreased, kittens need three times as much energy as an adult cat. The kittens need to get ready for their most intensive weight-gaining period which takes place at four to five months of age, when kittens will be putting on 100 grams per week. Kittens' sleep regime becomes close to that of an adult cat (from 13 to 16 hours a day). Socialization processes are completed. Now they can play with other kittens and with you.

At the age of 12-15 months, the kitten becomes an adult cat. His growth stops. Knowing your kitten's early life and needs allows you to create the necessary conditions for your pet to reach adulthood healthy and happy.

At what age does a cat or cat reach puberty?

How long does puberty last in cats? Puberty in females occurs at about 7-9 months from birth. During this period, the first heat occurs. In the wild, during the first heat, a cat may become pregnant, but it is not recommended to unsex a domestic cat at this time: early pregnancy often runs hard, the delivery is complicated, and as a result, the animal permanently loses the ability to reproduce.

A cat is ready to breed by about the third heat. The intervals between heifers are 2-3 months. If the first estrus has passed at 7 months, the female may be allowed to mate by 1 year and 2 months.

Males mature earlier, and may persistently ask for a female at 6-7 months. Adult animals can mate all year round.

How does puberty manifest itself in cats?

The main sign of a female entering mating age is estrus. A cat becomes extremely affectionate, rubs its owner's legs, rolls on the floor, walks with its tail turned aside, lifts its croup up – all these are symptoms of the sexual drive. The desire of the female to meet with the cat is also manifested:

Read also: When a cat asks for a cat for the first time and starts walking, how many days does it last and how often?

• A calling cry. The female cat may call to the cat during the day and at night.
• Licking the genitals. This is how the cat removes from them the secretions that appear during the heat. Her vulva itself becomes swollen and red.
• Attempts to escape. During heat, cats often hang around the door trying to seize the moment and escape outside to find a mate.

In cats, puberty manifests itself in a similar way. Signs of puberty in males:

• The animal begins to scream loudly. In the evening, the love call can intensify and turn into wild howls.
• The male becomes aggressive and actively marks his territory. He does this instinctively so that his scent will attract the female. Not being able to make a cage on the representative of the opposite sex, the cat bites and scratches the furniture in the house.
• The pet tries to escape.. Some animals leave the apartment through the window. It can be difficult to find them later.

Conclusion

Friends, the period of puberty is inevitable, and I have learned to treat it philosophically: at this time my beloved animals become quite mature. Over time, we came to the decision that spaying keeps our pets safe from many problems, so the issue of heat no longer exists for us. However, I am acquainted with breeders of kittens who are engaged in breeding and carefully monitor the health of their pets.

In this article I have tried to reflect the basic information about maturation of animals and shared my observations. I would be grateful for clarifications and additions in the comments. Good health to your pets!

How to calm a cat

Having figured out how to understand that a cat has started her heat, it remains to figure out what to do if the owner does not want to endure constant nighttime arias. There are only two cardinal solutions: pregnancy and spaying. Surgery not only suppresses the sex drive, but also prevents the development of cancer.

If you choose regular mating, the undesirable behavior goes away only temporarily, so you will have to resort to medications, changes in activity and diet to calm the pet.

Changing activity and food

Aggression and increased activity can be directed to toys. Long games use up increased energy reserves and normalize nighttime sleep. Try to distract your pet during daytime naps to exhaust her by nighttime. Also, don't forget to pay extra attention. Talk and pet your pet more often. Your love will help reduce stress levels.

Another trick to ensure a long night's sleep is plenty of feeding later in the day. Temporarily limit constant access to the feeder and give out food strictly on a schedule. After a nightly feast, all the energy will go to digestion, not concerts.

Remember that if the evening portion is increased, the amount of the daily ration remains the same. Otherwise there is a possibility of obesity. Meals should be fractional and easily digestible, so as not to overload the gastrointestinal tract.

Sedatives

Veterinarians recommend soothing medications made from herbal gatherings (Cot Bayun, Stop-Stress). They are not addictive and have no severe side effects. Their only contraindication is the presence of an allergy to one of the components.

How and when to mate

The first mating is performed on the third menstrual period, when the pet has reached physiological maturity. This reduces the risk of miscarriage, infertility and other complications.

Before meeting her partner, the "bride" is vaccinated and wormed. Her claws are trimmed and she is given a kit of personal items that she will need while away from home. The mating is performed on the male's territory, in order to reduce his anxiety.

The animals are left alone for several days to repeatedly mate. This solidifies the result, increasing the chances of successful fertilization. The help of the owners is required only in case of aggressive behavior, mismatch in the size of the partners and the pussycat rolling over on her side.

Empty heat in a cat and the constant use of hormones have a negative effect on health. If there is no labor activity, make an appointment to have your cat spayed.

When does puberty occur in cats

The age of puberty is different for cats and cats. It depends on the following factors:

1. Growing up together. Mixed-sex kittens living together begin to show interest in mating as early as 4-5 months.
2. Place of residence. Homeless animals mature faster than domestic animals. This is due to the short life span and the innate instinct to leave behind offspring quickly.
3. Breed. It affects not only the onset of sexual maturity, but also the peculiarities of estrus. The most rapid maturing are Siamo-Oriental breeds, and the longest – large Maine Coons and Siberians.
4. Genetics. Kittens often "copy" their parents, so it makes sense to focus on the older generation.
5. Time of birth. Those born in early spring and late winter mature earlier than those born in summer.
6. Body size and weight. The larger the size, the longer it takes to mature, and extremely low or extremely high weight may delay development.
7. Length of daylight hours. This factor mainly affects outdoor animals. For domestic animals, internal light is much more important, which, like the sun, stimulates the activity of sex hormones.

On average, puberty occurs at 7-9 months. This age is just the beginning of the period of maturation. Neither males nor females are able to give viable offspring so early, because their bodies are still forming.

Peculiarities of puberty in cats

Male mammals always mature longer than females. The onset of puberty can be determined by a number of physiological manifestations and behavioral signs.

Physiological manifestations

Most of the important processes are hidden from human eyes. Male sex hormones mature in the testes, or testicles. A small part of the intermediate brain, the hypothalamus, is responsible for their production.

The comfortable temperature for sperm should be slightly below body temperature. That is why until 6 months of age both testicles sink into the scrotum. This can be checked by palpation.

Another important physiological sign is a change in the smell of urine. It becomes more pungent and unpleasant, forcing you to change the litter tray more often than usual.

Behavioral signs

1. Loud vocalization. With its help, the cat attracts potential mates.
2. Leaving scent tags. Performs two tasks at once: attracts the opposite sex and scares away same-sex competitors.
3. Frequent attempts to escape. Committed with the aim of finding a mate. The cat may try to sneak out the front door or through a window.
4. Destructive activity. In the absence of discharge, the pet directs its energy to damage furniture and wallpaper.
5. Deterioration of appetite. The cat either eats less than usual or refuses to eat at all.

Changes in behavior are well noticeable in affectionate and compliant animals. Because of sudden mood swings, it may seem that they are literally switched.

At what age to breed

Sexual and physiological maturity in cats are different things. The first is characterized by the active production of hormones and the ability to reproduce, while the second is the body's immediate readiness for fertilization.