...Cats in season
The oestrus cycle of a cat occurs repeatedly during mating seasons. The season is dictated (most commonly) by day length and natural light. Typically, 1 or 2 months following the winter solstice, sexual activity increases. One month after the summer solstice, the activity decreases. Pregnant cats and kittens that come into rescue centres conform to these seasonal patterns, although there are exceptions. Electric lighting can interfere with this natural cycle for example. The phenomenon is linked to the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is produced largely during periods of darkness, the hormone inhibits the production of sexual hormones.
Each oestrus cycle begins with the development of follicles containing the oocytes. Proestrus then lasts for 2 or 3 days and the queen will express oestrus behaviour in order to attract male suitors. She will rebuff any approaches during this phase. Oestrus then follows and the female will accept a male instead of refusing him, as she would have during her tempting proestrus phase. Queens in oestrus may become increasingly vocal. The frequency, volume and length of her calls may increase and even lower in their pitch. She might become unusually friendly towards the beings around her and apparently to objects too - she may rub against obstacles and roll on the floor. She may even spray urine in her scent-marking frenzies. When approached by a tom, his presence on her lower back will see her adopting the Lordosis position. She will crouch low to the floor with her rear end raised, the tail held to one side. She may also tread with her rear feet "Paddling" from one leg to the other. The oestrus phase can last for between 4 and 10 days, copulation will reduce the period. A female will, dependent on the circumstances, mate repeatedly with different toms during this time. (This is why stray Tomcats are so prominent in the alleyways, they are fighting for the survival of their genes.) It is possible for every member of a litter of kittens to have a different father. This gives the genes of a queen the best chance of survival as the variety in the gene pool of her litter offers strength in numbers and the strongest at least should survive. Female cats do not ovulate automatically but require sexual induction, therefore once stimulated she may produce eggs separately with each partner. Immediately following copulation, the female in oestrus will turn on her tom. This is believed to be due to the barbs on the end of a tom's penis, which are thought to be present to stimulate the ovulation but may be painful for the queen. Having mated, a female may then violently roll on the floor, the male will keep his distance until she is receptive again - multiple matings will follow the same pattern. A queen will come into heat repeatedly during her season. The time between oestrus cycles, the interoestrus period, can last from a few days to 7 weeks dependent on factors such as bloodlines and breed.
Entire males and females out & about
Queens cats - females able to produce kittens
Entire males have large jowls/cheeks, a result of testosterone
2 years after neutering, the same male has visibly reduced jowls
