Cats Reproduction:

Ahmad Al-Majali, DVM, PhD

Female Anatomy

A: Urinary Bladder
B: Uterine Body
C: Ovary
D: Kidney
E: Ureter
F: Uterine Horn
G: Rectum
H: Cervix
I: Vagina
Male Anatomy

A: Urinary Bladder
B: Kidney
C: Ureter
D: Prostate Gland
E: Vas Deferens
F: Penis
G: Testicle
H: Epididymis
 Stages of Estrous Cycle
 The cat is usually described as being
seasonally polyestrous and a long-
day breeder
 Queens cycle repeatedly during a
breeding season unless interrupted
by pregnancy, pseudopregnancy
(false pregnancy), or illness.
 Cats housed indoors, but largely under the
influence of seasonal light, will cycle
according to the season. Increasing
daylight (i.e.,, January and February in
the northern hemisphere) will increase the
frequency of cycling.
Table: Feline Reproduction Data
average 5.8 +/- 3.3 days, range 2-
Length of estrus
19 days
Length of estrous cycle in
14-21 days, but can vary widely
unbred queens
Length of pseudopregnancy 40-50 days
Pregnancy rate 73.9%
Queening rate 65.2 %
66.9 +/- 2.9 days, range 62 to 74
Length of gestation
days
Length of parturition 16.1 +/- 14.3 hours, median 8 hours
Dystocia rate 5.8% of litters
Litter Size (from various
2-5 kittens, average 3.7
sources)
Litter Size - CFA statistics 3.49; low 2.4 (Manx SH), high 4.5
2001* (LaPerm SH)
Number of litters/year average 2 - 2.5, range 1-3
Age at puberty - male 7-18 mths
6-10 mths, as early as 4 mths, as
Age at puberty - female
late as 21 mths
 Breeding Management
 Under optimum conditions, many queens
can have two litters per year.
 Queens can breed successfully until the
age of 8 or 10 years, but their best
breeding years are between the ages of
two and five.
 It is preferable to bring the queen to the
tom, as the tom needs to feel comfortable
in his surroundings to breed successfully.
 Environmental factors can interrupt
mating behavior, especially in the tomcat
 The queen in estrus will signal her
willingness to breed by her interest in the
tomcat, often vocalizing or purring.
 Immediately after a successful breeding,
the queen will vocalize (the "coital cry")
 On average, the male cat makes from two
to six more attempts at breeding than the
female accepts.
 Pregnancy Diagnosis
 Pregnancy Kits
 Ultrasound
 X-Rays
Average Litter Size for Some Pedigreed Breeds from
Various Sources

BREED A B C D E F G2 H I
4.8
Devon Rex - - - 1
- - 3.17 - -

2.90
Persian 3.2 3.9 - 4.0 - - 2.93 - 4

Siamese 4.7 4.5 - 5.1 - - 4.2 - 3.78

Burmese 4.2 5.0 - 5.1 - - 3.2 4.3 -

Abyssinian - 3.5 - 4.2 - - 3.0 - 0

Manx 3.2 - - 3.7 - - 3.0 - -

Various 4.61
3.59 4.22 4.6 4.4 4-5 3.49 3.3 3.57
Breeds 3