When does puberty begin in cats?

Puberty in cats begins at the age of 6-10 months, when the time of the first estrus comes. However, for some, it occurs earlier, at 4-5 months, and for some, on the contrary, later, at about 11-12 months. What does it depend on?

Factors affecting the puberty of a cat:

• Breed. Long-haired and heavy-boned large cats are thought to develop later. So, for example, in the Maine Coon, Siberian cat, Norwegian Forest cat and other representatives of similar breeds, the first estrus usually occurs at the age of 10-12 months. Short-haired cats with thin and light bones, such as Siamese, Burmese and Orientals, on the contrary, develop earlier. Their puberty occurs as early as 4–5 months;

• Body weight and date of birth. Sexual maturity is possible upon reaching 70–80% of the mass of an adult animal. It also depends on the time of year in which the cat was born and in which it will reach this weight, since cats are light-sensitive animals. If the month of reaching optimal body weight falls on a season with low daylight hours, estrus will come later, when daylight hours increase.

• Feeding and keeping a pet. A balanced diet, which contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals, is the key to a cat’s health and its timely development.

External signs of puberty

Estrus in cats is characterized by a sharp change in behavior. The animal becomes very affectionate, rubbing against furniture and rolling on the floor. After a couple of days, it begins to meow, at the slightest touch, it falls on its paws, takes its tail away. All this is aimed at attracting males and is instinctive and uncontrollable.

In cats, puberty is also easy to notice. As a rule, males begin to mark the territory, their games are more like hunting, and the usual meow turns into a calling cry.

What to do?

When a pet reaches the age of puberty, owners should think about further offspring. If your cat is of interest for breeding and breeding value, it makes sense to look for a suitable partner. However, do not rush to knit!

Despite puberty, the cat’s body is still not physically strong, pregnancy is possible only at the age of 12-15 months.

If you are the owner of a cat without documents or without a breed, it makes sense to think about spaying. Each estrus is a stress not only for the animal’s body, but also for family members, because exhausting meowing, in the end, becomes an annoying factor. Sterilization will solve the problem of constant empty estrus and provide the pet with comfortable living conditions.

July 1 2017

Updated: 30 March 2022