Cat mating habits have long fascinated cat owners. Domestic cats are largely believed to be solitary creatures that come together only to mate before going their separate ways. This has led many cat owners to wonder – do cats mate with the same partner repeatedly, or do they seek out new mates each time? This article will examine the mating behaviors of cats, looking at whether or not they form lasting bonds with mates or simply mate opportunistically.
Solitary Nature
Cats are generally considered solitary animals that don’t naturally form social groups outside of mothers and kittens (Source). In the wild, most cats lead largely solitary lives and hunt alone once they reach adulthood. Exceptions exist among certain wild cat species like lions that live in prides, but the majority are lone hunters. This natural inclination toward solitary living makes long-term mating bonds uncommon in felines.
Domestic cats retain many of the solitary tendencies of their wild ancestors. While they can form social bonds with humans and other pets in the home, they don’t typically seek out relationships with unrelated cats (Source). Feral and free-roaming cats often lead solitary lifestyles and don’t form groups. Because domestic cats are derived from solitary wild cats, they lack the social structures that would facilitate long-term mating between the same partners over multiple breeding seasons.
Promiscuous Mating
Both male and female cats will mate with multiple partners when they are in heat or rut (Catster, 2023). This means that cats are not monogamous animals. Instead, domestic cats are considered polygamous, meaning they will mate with many different cats throughout their lives rather than sticking with a single partner (Cats.com, 2023).
Female cats come into heat multiple times per year, during which they will actively seek out and copulate with available male cats (Pets.ca, 2023). Male cats, on the other hand, do not cycle in and out of mating readiness. Instead, males are ready to mate at any time. This results in both sexes freely mating with many different partners.
Cats do not form permanent bonds with mates. The mating act itself is fairly brief. Once it is over, the male and female cats typically go their separate ways. They are not inclined to remain together or mate exclusively with each other. The promiscuous mating behaviors of cats seem to be an evolutionary advantage that ensures genetic diversity, successful reproduction, and survival of the species.
Exceptions
While most cats are promiscuous and do not mate for life, there are some exceptions among the big cat species. Leopards are known to sometimes mate repeatedly with the same partner over multiple seasons, though the bonds are not necessarily lifelong. Male leopards will follow and guard a female when she is in estrus to prevent other males from mating with her. Some scientists have observed radio-collared female leopards mating on multiple occasions over two years with the same territorial male.
There are also rare cases of domestic cats forming long-term bonds with the same feline mate. However, this is uncommon as domestic cats still retain much of the solitary promiscuous mating behaviors of their ancestral feral counterparts.
Mating Behaviors
Cats have unique and sometimes aggressive mating behaviors. When a female cat goes into heat, she will vocalize loudly with calls referred to as caterwauling to attract males. Her scent also changes to alert males that she is receptive. The males who detect her scent will fight fiercely with other males to determine who gets to mate with her. This fighting involves swatting, wrestling, and loud yowling. The dominant male asserts the right to mate by biting the neck of the female. The female, if she approves of the male, will respond by presenting her rear and elevating her tail. Once the male mounts her, the actual mating is brief, often less than a minute. After mating concludes, the female will roll around on the ground, which may help sperm move into her reproductive tract.
According to the CatBandit blog, “cat mating behaviors are complex and involve a variety of hormonal, vocal, and physical factors. Understanding these factors can help us to better understand our feline companions.” (https://blog.catbandit.com/why-do-cats-scream-when-mating-exploring-the-reasons-behind-this-behavior/)
Mother-Kitten Bond
Mother cats form an exceptionally strong bond with their kittens. From the moment they give birth, mother cats devote themselves fully to the care of their kittens. They keep the kittens warm, nurse and groom them, encourage elimination and waste removal, and protect them from any perceived dangers.
Kittens rely completely on their mother’s care in the first weeks of life. They nurse frequently and spend most of their time snuggled up to mom. As the kittens grow over the next 6-8 weeks, the mother cat guides their development – teaching them skills like self-grooming, litter box use, hunting, and social behavior.
This intense bond lasts until the kittens are weaned, usually around 8-12 weeks old. At that point, as the kittens gain independence, the mother cat begins separating herself and encouraging independence. Most mother cats and kittens will go their separate ways after weaning is complete, though some may continue interacting or living together if they are not separated.
Domestic vs Feral
Feral cats have very different mating behaviors compared to domestic house cats. Feral cats lead a solitary, territorial lifestyle and have much less human contact and socialization than domestic cats (1). As a result, feral cats rarely form lasting bonds with mates. Female feral cats will mate with multiple males when they go into heat, and male feral cats will compete aggressively for access to females in their territory (2).
In contrast, domestic cats can form closer bonds and repeat matings, especially if they live indoors with one mate. However, even domestic cats are still somewhat promiscuous. Female domestic cats may mate with multiple males during a heat cycle, and male domestic cats will still compete for mates. So while domestic cats may have repeated partners more often than ferals, exclusivity is still rare (1).
Overall, the solitary and territorial nature of feral cats makes them even less likely to have repeated mates compared to domestic cats. Feral cats primarily mate for reproduction and lack the social bonds and human care that can lead to exclusivity.
Effects of Neutering
Neutering cats, both male and female, significantly affects their mating behaviors. When cats are neutered, the sex organs are surgically removed so they can no longer reproduce (VCCA). This eliminates the ability for female cats to go into heat and male cats to detect females in heat.
However, neutering does not necessarily eliminate all mating behaviors in cats. According to The Spruce Pets, neutered male cats may still mount or hump other cats, furniture, or even their owners’ legs. They also still may spray urine to mark territory. These behaviors tend to decrease over time after neutering, but some cats continue to exhibit them throughout life.
Quora explains that neutered male cats can still become sexually excited by females in heat and attempt to mate with them. However, since neutered males lack sex organs, they cannot successfully complete mating or impregnate a female. So while the urge remains, reproduction is impossible.
Overall, neutering significantly reduces mating behaviors and sexual interest in cats. But it does not always eliminate behaviors like mounting, urine spraying, and sexual attraction completely. The behaviors may persist to some degree based on the individual cat’s hormones and experiences.
Rare Bonds
While domestic cats are typically promiscuous and mate with multiple partners, there are some rare cases where a bond forms between specific mates. According to one Reddit thread, some people have observed mating bonds developing between certain male and female cat pairings that they own (1). However, this is very unusual for domestic cats.
One example given on Reddit describes two cats that mated, had a litter together, and then continued to choose each other as mates repeatedly over the years. The original poster states that these two cats seem to prefer each other compared to other potential mates (1). However, this type of ongoing bond between the same male and female cat is highly uncommon among domestic cats.
There are also a few documented cases of male cats forming bonds with specific females when the female goes into heat and will mate exclusively with that female until she is no longer in heat. But again, this exclusive mating is rare and temporary (2). Most domestic cats, male and female, will mate with many different partners when given the chance.
While lifelong monogamous mating is not the norm for domestic cats, there are a handful of exceptions where cats have formed rare bonds with certain mates. However, the vast majority of pet cats behave promiscuously and do not limit themselves to one partner.
Cite urls: (1) https://www.reddit.com/r/acotar/comments/w2v8h2/mating_bond_is_it_that_rare/ (2) https://www.quora.com/I-know-a-female-cat-can-mate-with-multiple-males-and-her-litter-can-consist-of-kittens-with-different-fathers-but-is-it-possible-for-one-kitten-to-be-fertilized-by-two-toms
Conclusion
While some cats will form rare bonds with a mate, evidence shows most domestic cats are promiscuous and do not mate for life with the same partner. Cats are solitary creatures by nature, coming together primarily for mating purposes. They participate in serial monogamy, staying with one partner for a single breeding season but likely choosing new mates in subsequent seasons. Kittens separate from their mothers at around 2 months old and mature sexually between 6-10 months, after which they begin seeking mates. Though some exceptions exist, typically neither males nor females form long-term pair bonds. Instead they mate with multiple partners as opportunities arise. Only on very rare occasions has a male and female cat been observed staying together long after mating. So in summary, the majority of cats are promiscuous rather than monogamous due to their solitary natures, mating behaviors, and reproductive strategies. But in unusual cases, they may form a lasting bond with a mate.
