Introduction
There is a common misconception that when it comes to mating, the male cat is in charge and the female simply accepts or rejects his advances. However, research shows that female cats actually play an active role in choosing their mates. In fact, according to one study published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 93% of female cats exhibited mate choice, actively approaching certain males over others.
Female Cat Reproductive Cycle
The reproductive cycle in female cats is called the estrous or estrus cycle. It typically begins around 6-10 months of age and repeats every 2-3 weeks during breeding season, which is usually spring and summer (Source).
The estrous cycle has four phases:
- Proestrus – The beginning stage when estrogen levels rise, the female cat becomes vocal, and mating behaviors start. This phase lasts 1-2 days.
- Estrus – The peak fertile period when ovaries release eggs and the female cat can become pregnant. Estrus lasts 2-15 days.
- Interestrus – Ovulation ends and progesterone levels rise. The female cat is no longer receptive to mating. This phase lasts 30-40 days if no pregnancy occurs.
- Anestrus – A resting period when the cat has low hormone levels. This phase lasts 2-3 months.
The estrus phase is when mating occurs since the female cat is fertile and actively seeking male cats. She displays mating behaviors like rubbing, rolling, and raising her hindquarters in response to males. This signifies she is receptive to breeding during this brief window (Source).
How Cats Choose Mates
Cats rely on a combination of instincts and environmental factors when selecting a mate. Instinctually, cats avoid mating with close relatives to promote genetic diversity. However, confined spaces can override this instinct, leading sibling cats to mate (https://petcommunitydaily.com/cat/can-cat-siblings-breed/). Beyond instincts, cats use courtship rituals involving visual, auditory, and olfactory signals to assess potential mates. Visual displays like rubbing, grooming, and tail positioning communicate receptivity. Vocalizations also play a role, with female cats soliciting males through loud yowling when in heat. Most importantly, pheromones in urine, feces, saliva and scent glands provide key information about mate suitability and fertility status (https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRQMo7ZGSPVTqHaGEKmXessglpwm-cHIe). Environmental factors like population density and resource availability further influence selection by determining which potential mates are accessible. Overall, cats integrate multiple sensory cues and environmental context when choosing mates instinctively and selectively.
Feline Courtship Rituals
Cat courtship involves a series of behaviors that help indicate receptivity and facilitate pair bonding between potential mates. According to a 2023 article on misgatosyyo.com, once a male cat has caught the attention of a female, courtship rituals unfold through behaviors like mutual grooming, rubbing, and play [1]. These rituals serve the purpose of strengthening social bonds and signaling willingness to mate.
Some common cat courtship behaviors include:
- Rubbing – Cats rub their bodies against each other, mingling scents and depositing pheromones
- Grooming – Cats lick and clean each other’s fur, showing acceptance
- Play – Mock fighting and chasing help form social bonds
- Treading – Male cats tread their paws on the female’s back
- Tail twitching – Erect tails with twitching tips signal interest
- Calling – Cats meow and purr more frequently to each other
- Head butting – Cats engage in gentle head butts and nibbles
These rituals reflect the amicable nature of cat courtship. While mating is the end goal, willing participation of both cats is essential, so courtship facilitates mutual choice.
Receptivity Displays
Female cats in heat communicate their receptivity to mating through body language cues and behavior changes. According to Merck Veterinary Manual, when a female cat enters her estrus stage she will exhibit behaviors like rolling on the floor, rubbing against objects, kneading with her back feet, and vocalizing loudly.
The Spruce Pets notes that a receptive female cat will display a unique posture with her chest down, forelegs bent, and rear quarters raised with her tail positioned to the side. This posture signals to male cats that she is open and willing to mate.
Research also indicates that females in heat show willingness to breed by displaying interest in the male cat and initiating contact. As explained in a study by Little published in PubMed Central, “The queen in estrus will signal willingness to breed by displaying interest in the tom cat, and approaching and rubbing on him” (Little, 2012).
Role of Pheromones
Pheromones, which are chemical signals secreted from glands, play an important role in feline courtship and reproduction. Tom-cat odour contains pheromones like androstenone and androstenol that attract females and signal the male’s dominance. Valeric acid may function as a female-to-female pheromone that facilitates oestrus. Synthetic feline pheromones like Feliway help reduce aggression and stress in cats.
When a female cat is in heat, she secretes pheromones that attract male cats and signal her receptivity. Male cats have a vomeronasal organ that detects these pheromones, stimulating courtship behaviors. The pheromones provoke rubbing, grooming, and vocalizations from male cats.
Female Mate Choice
Female cats do exhibit mate choice, although they have less control over mating than some other species. According to research, the proportion of male approaches rejected by females ranged from 40-80% across various populations (Liberg, 1983). This indicates females are selective and do not accept every male that approaches.
However, given the persistence of male cats, most females will eventually mate during estrus even if not with their preferred partner. On average, males make 2-6 times more mating attempts than a female accepts (Little, 2012). So while females show mate preference through rejecting some suitors, they have limited ability to avoid mating overall.
One study on leopards found that female spatial patterns were driven more by food distribution than accessing mates (Snow Leopard Conservancy, 2018). This suggests mate access is not a primary driver for females. So female cats exhibit mate choice, but food and safety are higher priorities than finding preferred mates.
Rejected Suitors
Female cats can display a variety of behaviors to reject unwanted suitors or discourage mating. These include:
- Hissing, growling, or swatting at the male cat
- Running away or hiding from the male
- Rolling over on her back to protect her belly and show she is not receptive
- Acting aggressively towards the male by scratching or biting
Some female cats may even continue these rejection behaviors during the mating act itself, suddenly hissing or attacking the male mid-coitus. This likely indicates that the female is no longer receptive to mating for a variety of possible reasons, including discomfort, lack of interest, or not sensing the right pheromones from the male.
Females will typically only mate with males when they are in heat or estrus. If a male attempts to mount a female when she is not ready, she will forcefully reject him. According to The Cat Site, a female cat in heat may initially be receptive to a male and show mating behaviors, but then change her mind partway through the act, hissing and pushing him away.
In summary, unreceptive female cats have a number of rejection displays to discourage unwanted mating attempts, ranging from aggressive acts like scratching to more passive acts like running away and hiding.
Mating Behaviors
The physical mating process for cats begins with the female assuming the mating posture – chest and forelegs lowered to the ground while the hindquarters are raised with the tail held to one side. This posture, along with scent marking and vocalizations, communicates the female’s receptivity to mating.
If interested, the male will approach and initially sniff and lick the female’s vulva region. He may gently bite the female on the back of the neck as a form of holding her in place. The male will then mount the female from behind, grasping her flanks with his forepaws to maintain stability.
Penetration and copulation follow, during which the male makes pelvic thrusting motions. Copulation lasts only a few seconds, though the pair may mate multiple times with short intervals in between. After separation, the male will give the female’s ears and face a few licks before walking away.
Signs that mating was successful include the male’s penis becoming engorged and extending barbs to irritate the female’s vagina, triggering ovulation. The female will also roll around and vocalize after mating. Within about 2 weeks, pregnancy can be confirmed if the female stops going into heat cycles and her nipples grow larger.
Conclusion
In summary, female cats do exert mate choice when it comes to reproduction. While the male mating behaviors of fighting and dominance displays are quite overt, female cats engage in more subtle mating rituals through scent marking, vocalizations, and body language. Receptivity signaling, estrous calls, and solicitation displays all indicate a female cat’s willingness and choice to mate with a particular male. Though male cats compete aggressively for access to females, it is ultimately up to the female cat to consent and accept a mate. Her preferences are influenced by pheromones and familiarity with potential mates. By rejecting certain males’ advances through aggression or avoidance, the female cat exhibits mate choice and control over the outcome.
So in answer to the original question, yes female cats are selective and choose who they decide to mate with rather than automatically accepting any male. Their preferences may change over successive mating periods, but each mating encounter involves active choice on the female’s part.