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On this page, you will find an overview of reproductive behaviors in the male and female felines and the endocrine control over these behaviors.
Endocrinology & Central Nervous System *all information was from source 4
Endocrinology & Central Nervous System *all information was from source 4
Reproductive behavior is stimulated by sensory signals and is controlled by estradiol. In males, the brain aromatizes testosterone into estradiol. Males have a constant supply of testosterone. Testosterone can be aromatized whenever stimulated by sensory signals and, thus, exhibit reproductive behavior any time. For females, estradiol is only high enough during the estrus phase of the estrous cycle. Thus, reproductive behavior is only exhibited during estrus.
Visual, olfactory, auditory, and tactile signals stimulate sensory receptors. With the high levels of estradiol, these receptors send neural messages to the hypothalamus which synapse on neurons in the ventromedial, preoptic, and anterior regions. Due to this, behavior specific peptides are released to act on the midbrain. There, the peptides are translated into a fast response. Midbrain synapse with the medulla, where fast response is integrated and sent through the nerve tracts within the spinal cord. Then, the message is sent through motor neurons within muscle causing reproductive behavior.
Image (above): The key components of the process of sensory signals stimulating reproductive behavior.
Image Source: Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition (Source 3) pg. 234
Female Reproductive Behavior
Female Reproductive Behavior
*all information was from source 1
Search for Sexual Partner
"heat cry" or vocalization
rubbing chin and cheek on objects which allows for sebaceous secretions
urine spray
Courtship
rolling with purring, opening and closing claws, and stretching
lordosis
Sexual Arousal
lordosis
sanguineous discharge from vulva
Mounting
queen must be in lordosis position
neck grip is still present on queen's neck
Intromission
treading of hindlimbs
neck grip is still present on queen's neck
Dismounting
turn aggressively on tom
"copulatory cry"
dilation of pupils
Afterreaction
rolling and stretching
licking vulva
Refractory Period
average 19 minutes but decreases with experience and between matings within a single estrous period
Territory and Competition
Territory and Competition
Some toms are more territorial while others are more of wanderers. Intermale aggression may increase during the mating season but fighting does not usually happen after the initial meeting. This allows for most males to have the chance to breed a female. Competitions do not happen with a queen in estrous present. Wandering males usually avoid territorial males and their territories even if a queen in estrous is present. Territorial males tend to be more dominant and confident than the wandering males (3). Urine spray is characterized as small depositions of urine on vertical surfaces and is used by territorial males to mark their territories (2). If there is more than one tom in the mating area, the tom that won the initial fight will be the first to mate with the queen. Then the other(s) will follow after. Most of this behavior is seen in the pre-copulatory phase of reproductive behavior during searching for a sexual partner (3).
Male Reproductive Behavior
Male Reproductive Behavior
*all information was from source 3
Search for Sexual Partner
"caterwauling" or vocalization
urine spray
Courtship
"greeting" or chin and face rubbing
flehmen response (curling of the upper lip for more access to the nasopalatine ducts)
"neck grip" or biting dorsum of skin without penetrating the skin
false mounts to test female receptivity
Sexual Arousal
erection
penile protrusion
Mounting
straddling with both forelimbs and hindlimbs
treading movement on hindlimbs
pelvic trusts
neck grip is still preformed
Intromission
pelvic lunge which is more forceful thrust
penis enters vagina
neck grip is still preformed
Ejaculation
release of semen into vagina
neck grip is still preformed
Dismount
neck grip released
rapidly dismounted
moves out of striking range
Afterreaction
licking penis and forepaws
sit near queen but out of striking distance
Refractory Period
5 to 15 minutes and increases between each mating
Memory
All of these steps require learning in the toms
More experience allows for faster mating and more successful breeding
Here are two good videos displaying pre-copulatory, copulatory, and post-copulatory behavior.
Video 1: WHY CATS ROLL AROUND AFTER MATING
Video 2: Ragdolls mating, cat courtship
References for Reproductive Behavior
Female feline sexual behavior. Veterian Key. (2016a, December 22). https://veteriankey.com/female-feline-sexual-behavior/
Horwitz, D., & Landsberg, G. (n.d.). Cat Behavior Problems - Marking and Spraying Behavior. VCA Animal Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cat-behavior-problems-marking-and-spraying-behavior#:~:text=Both%20male%20and%20female%20cats,that%20is%20strong%20and%20pungent
Male feline sexual behavior. Veterian Key. (2016b, December 22). https://veteriankey.com/male-feline-sexual-behavior/
Senger, P.L. (2012) Pathways to Pregnancy and Parturition. 3rd ed. Current Conceptions, Inc.
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