Ring-tailed lemurs often begin mating in mid-April. Females reach sexual maturity at about 2-3 years old. During this time females 2-3 years and older are looking for mates. The males reach sexual maturity at about 1.5-2 years old. They will often fight with other males for a chance to mate by bouncing, wafting scent glands, and slashing at each other with their canine teeth. They will then attempt to guard the females after mating. Female lemurs are only receptive for about 36 hours and may mate with as many as 3 males during this time.

Ring-tailed lemurs exhibit internal fertilization. Gestation is 134-144 days. The young are known as pups and are generally born in August. Females give live birth, known as viviparity, most often to one pup but may also have twins on occasion.

Pups are born with adult fur coloration, large heads, scrawny arms, and open blue eyes. As with many mammals, after a few weeks the eyes will change to adult coloration. They are born being able to cling to mom. They will cling to the front of her for the first two weeks, then after that they will ride on her back. The you are cared for by the entire troop and are often exchanged between mothers. They wean at 4-6 months and will be nearly adult size by their first birthday.

Mom at this point will mate again and typically reproduce once a year, every year.