Being people that look for a single partner to share a life with, it’s easy to understand why we would assume that cats, given the opportunity, mate for life. However, this just isn’t the case.
In reality, cats go about as far from a traditional monogamous relationship as possible! Many female cats will mate with multiple male cats, resulting in a mixed litter — this is why you see kitten siblings that look so different from each other.
Read on to learn about the interesting and unique mating habits of cats.
Male cats seek female cats in heat
Male cats are genetically wired to look for female cats in heat, but they also need to keep competition away. To do so, male cats will spray, or mark, their territory to try and attract female cats while warding other male cats away. So, if your unneutered cat keeps spraying in your house, this is probably why!
Another tactic male cats use is called roaming. This is exactly what it sounds like — going out and trying to pick up on a female cat’s scent while they’re in heat. This can mean your cat has to travel far to find a partner, so outdoor, unneutered male cats may not be around for long periods of time.
The goal for male cats is to mate about as much as possible. Of course, they have to compete with other male cats, so it isn’t like they’re finding dozens of partners at a time.
Female cats in heat
When a female cat is in heat (which is easy to tell from a cat’s howling and rolling around), they are looking for as many male partners as possible. Female cats can get pregnant from multiple partners at the same time, an evolutionary trick to help ensure some biodiversity.
So, unspayed cats may try to get outside, find several partners, then become pregnant with kittens that look nothing alike. This is perfectly normal for female cats, just as a monogamous relationship might be normal for other animals.
Do female cats choose who they mate with?
Female cats sort of choose who they mate with, but they aren’t that picky. When in heat, female cats are ready to mate with just about any male cat they can. So, while they “choose” their partners, they essentially choose every option available.
Why do female cats have multiple partners?
Having multiple partners is a way for female cats to have a diverse litter. A diverse litter increases the biodiversity of local cat groups, reducing the chance of inbreeding while increasing the chance of kittens having a genetic edge.
While a female cat may prefer to have multiple partners, it all depends on how many male cats visit her while she’s in heat. Also, not all mating leads to pregnancy, so a female cat could still have a litter that’s all entirely from one father.
How to know if your cat has mated
If you have a female cat that’s unspayed, you can tell your cat has mated based on several factors:
- Your cat isn’t interested in mating anymore. If your cat has mated and is pregnant, it won’t have a biological urge to keep mating.
- Changes in your cat’s behavior. Female cats that have mated will need more food, so expect them to eat quite a bit more. A cat actively building a nest or showing nesting behavior is another sign that they’re pregnant.
- Physical signs of pregnancy. A bigger belly is a pretty clear sign that your cat mated and is now pregnant. If you have a long fur cat, you’ll need to feel for changes or take your cat to a vet.
Should you spay or neuter your cat?
We encourage all cat owners to spay and neuter cats. For male cat owners, neutering can remove any spraying problems while making the cat less aggressive. Spaying female cats prevents them from going into heat. Also, spaying and neutering means no chance of a litter of kittens. So, unless you want to take care of a litter of kittens, you should spay or neuter your cat.
Do cats mate for life FAQs
No, cat do not have permanent partners. However, that doesn’t mean that two cats won’t be close for their entire lives!
While cats naturally have multiple partners, they build bonds with other cats and can stay loyal to their partners for life.
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