Reproduction (Heats and Pregnancies) in Cats
At what age can a cat have her first litter?
Puberty (the age at which animals can reproduce) in the cat ranges
from 4 to 12 months, with the average being 6 to 9 months. At
puberty, cats are generally about 75% of their mature body weight.
Domestic shorthair cats, as a breed, generally reach puberty earlier
than domestic longhair cats.
Can a cat breed at any time during the year?
Female cats are unusual in that their heats are influenced by
seasonal changes in the amount of daylight. Cats usually "cycle"
and are bred between January and September.
How often does a cat come into heat?
A female cat is also unusual in that she basically will keep coming
back into heat every 14-21 days or so until she is bred or the
amount of daylight decreases (October).
How can I tell if a cat is in heat?
You'll know!!! A cat in heat is very vocal, calling and calling
for a male cat. She will roll and roll on the ground and constantly
rub against furniture or your leg. She will assume a breeding
posture with her head and front legs near the ground and the rump
area held high. She will become very affectionate. You may notice
her urinating frequently. She will be in heat and accept a male
for 3 to 16 days.
How long is pregnancy in the cat?
Cats generally have their kittens 58 to 65 days after they are
bred.
How many kittens are in the average litter?
Generally a cat has 4 to 6 kittens in each litter.
How many litters can a cat have in a year?
The average cat could have 3 litters a year.
The information on this page was obtained from the site www.peteducation.com