Felis catus, cat reproductive cycle

Cats usually have one breeding season annually. The duration is greatly depends on the seasonal daylight variations (i.e. latitude); noticeable variations among individuals are also present.

• Estrous cycle The period of cyclic physiological and behavior changes in non-primate female mammals that exhibit estrus.
  • Proestrus Precedes estrus. During proestrus, the Graafian follicles undergo maturation. First behavioral changes in cats: increased socialization, affection, and playfulness; increased rubbing against the furniture.
  • Estrus The period in the reproductive cycle associated with maximum sexual receptivity and fertility in non-primate female mammals. Cats are polyestrous. During the estrus queen suffers discomfort and exhibit all or most of the signs of sexual receptivity: intense rubbing, spinal flexion (lordosis), treading with hind legs, tail deflection, body and tail tremor and rigidity, loud yowling, vaginal discharge, head shaking, and spraying. Estrus is usually induced by long daylight seasonally or artificially: fourteen hours of light administered during non-breeding season (anestrus) induces estrus in about 2 weeks at any time of the year. Estrus lasts approximately 3 to 10 (5 - 8 on average) days or until the cat is mated. Mating induces ovulation in cats. Repeated mating may be needed for ovulation to occur. Non-ovulated cat (and her owners) will experience about 5 - 9 esrus periods for the duration of the breeding season (~19 days per each estrus or 1.5 - 2.2 cycles/month). Ovulation will delay the next estrus. Successful fertilization will result in anestrus.
  • Metestrus The period following estrus during which the phenomena of estrus subside in those animals in which pregnancy or pseudopregnancy does not occur. Pseudopregnancy occurs after ovulation of mature follicles without subsequent fertilization. Pseudopregnancy delays the next estrus.
  • Interestrus The period between estrus without signs of sexual behavior when queen is non-ovulatory.
    • Diestrus Diestrus is a period of sexual quiescence separating phases of estrus in polyestrous animals.
    • Anestrus A state of sexual inactivity in female animals exhibiting no estrous cycle. Causes of anestrus include pregnancy, presence of offspring, season, stress, and pathology. Usually anestrus separates breeding seasons.

References

• Lawler DF. Neonatal and pediatric care of the puppy and kitten. Theriogenology. 2008 Aug;70(3):384-92.
• Kutzler MA. Estrus induction and synchronization in canids and felids. Theriogenology. 2007 Aug;68(3):354-74.
• da Silva TF et al. Sexual characteristics of domestic queens kept in a natural equatorial photoperiod. Theriogenology. 2006 Oct;66(6-7):1476-81.
• Sparkes AH et al. A questionnaire-based study of gestation, parturition and neonatal mortality in pedigree breeding cats in the UK. J Feline Med Surg. 2006 Jun;8(3):145-57.
• Tsutsui T et al. Breeding season in female cats acclimated under a natural photoperiod and interval until puberty. J Vet Med Sci. 2004 Sep;66(9):1129-32.
• Root MV et al. Estrous length, pregnancy rate, gestation and parturition lengths, litter size, and juvenile mortality in the domestic cat. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1995 Sep-Oct;31(5):429-33.

More about cats at GeoChemBio

• Cat main page (facts, domestication, nutrition, model organism)
• Cat development (from fertilization to adult)
• Cat taxonomy (full taxonomy of Felidae)
• Cat behavior (illustrated)
• Feline diabetes (all you need to know, Pushkin's lab, etc.)