Cats are prolific breeders, they can get pregnant multiple times a year and various times throughout their lives.
In contrast to humans, the average human can only get pregnant twice a year if there is no miscarriage or abortion.
The average female cat can get pregnant three times a year and some others can get pregnant 5 times a year so in a lifetime they can get pregnant for either 30 or 50 times.
If a female cat has 3 to 5 litters in a year and has a breeding life span of 8 to 10 years, she can have a minimum of 24 litters and a maximum of 50 litters in her lifetime.
In humans, each pregnancy lasts for about 9 months while pregnancy in cats lasts for two months only.
After they have given birth they can be fertile and be on a heat period after a few weeks which allows them to have as many litters as possible.
Female cats reach breeding age between 5 to 9 months, usually at 5 months, and they can continue to have litters until they are 10 years old.
How Can A Cat Get Pregnant:
Cats, just like humans, dogs and so many other animals, reproduce naturally through sexual means of reproduction which means mating with the opposite sex.
Mating involves two cats, a male and a female coming together in a biological process to combine genetic materials to produce biological offspring.
Phases Before, During And After Pregnancy:
1. Sexual Maturity:
The female cat known as a queen has to reach sexual maturity age between 5 to 9 months before mating with the male cat.
Sexual maturity differs based on breed and individuals, genetics, environments, etc.
In some cats, their genetic pedigree plays an important on when they can reach sexual maturity.
While nutrition during the kitten phase can make them reach sexual maturity sooner or later. Cats that have good nutrition can reach sexual maturity sooner compared to those with poor nutrition.
Health issues especially during the growth stage can also affect sexual maturity in cats.
Cats in warmer climates also reach sexual maturity age sooner than those in cooler climates.
2. Heat Period:
Female cats are polyestrous. they can be on heat almost throughout the year except when they are pregnant.
Their cycle is largely affected by climate. Cats in warmer climates experience more heat cycles compared to cats in cooler climates.
3. Mating:
The female cat when she is in her heat period (estrus cycle) becomes very receptive to the available male.
They become restless, they start yowling frequently and in some cases roll on the floor to get the attention of the male cats.
The male in return understands her receptive and friendly gestures and behavioral signs and mounts her when she is at a standstill with his penis fully erect and inside her until ejaculation.
4. Fertilization:
Cats do not have an organized ovulation phase, unlike humans, their ovulation is triggered when having sex with the male cat.
After mating, the sperm released from the male’s penis fertilizes the egg in the female to produce a zygote.
5. Pregnancy/ Gestation Period:
After the successful fertilization of the female egg by the male, she becomes pregnant, carrying kittens whose genetic makeup is distinct from the mix of both parents.
Pregnancy usually lasts for not more than two months with some symptoms similar to humans.
When she’s pregnant, she develops visible and darkened nipples around her breast which prepares her for lactation.
She becomes more protective of herself, she develops more appetite and weight and she searches for conducive and cool places to give birth towards the end of her pregnancy.
6. Giving Birth:
After a period of carrying her kittens which is called the gestation period, she gives birth to her litters of kittens usually from 1 to 9 kittens.
The health status and their sizes at birth depends on several factors from the parents. their health, genetics, nutrition, environment, etc contribute to the health and birth size of the kittens.
How Often Should A Cat Get Pregnant:
This depends on the individual preference of the cat owner and the health, age, and breeding quality of the cat.
Nevertheless, it is best advised to spay a cat after her first litter.
Spaying In Cats:
This is the removal of the ovaries and sometimes, the uterus of a female cat. It is also done in male cats in a process known as neutering or castration.
Neutering is the process of surgically the testicles of a male cat. It is carried out by a veterinarian when the cat is 5 to 6 months old.
Spaying and castration are not only limited to cats but other pets such as dogs. Both the male and female dogs are neutered in a similiar process as cats.
Reasons For Spaying A cat:
Cats can have multiple litters in a year and their lifetime which when allowed can lead to problems for not just the cat but also the cat owner.
Spaying is done for the following reasons.
1. Pet Population:
Cats are capable of producing over 5 litters every year and a litter contains 1 to 9 kittens and they have a breeding life span of 8 to 10 years.
If they are not spayed, it will lead to the birth of unwanted kittens that can not be well taken care of.
Every year, millions of cats end up in shelter homes causing significant pressure on shelter homes.
A large number of them are euthanized after a while when they cannot be taken care of.
Spaying helps to reduce the pressure on shelter homes and takes the pressure off pet owners who cannot take care of unwanted litter.
2. General Health Of Cats:
Unneutered aged cats are susceptible to life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
The older females when not spayed are liable to uterus infections such as pyometra which is also a life-threatening disease.
These issues cause great discomfort and pain to cats and if not diagnosed early and properly treated can lead to death.
Spaying a cat helps to prevent these issues and contributes to the general well-being of a cat.
3. Economic Impact And Cost Benefits:
Unwanted cats can cause unnecessary cost implications to cat owners, pet owners can take off this extra and unplanned cost by spaying their cats.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Roughly 6.5 million animals enter shelters each year but only 3.2 million are adopted
This can help reduce the cost and budget of shelter homes and rescue organizations.