Even cats, as they grow up, go through the phase of puberty: sometimes they are affectionate, other times restless.
There always comes a time when any kitten, growing up, tests the limits we have set for him. With this article we want to give you information about this delicate phase of the cat’s life and see together the implications of its puberty in your life, as an owner.
Summary
- When does puberty begin in cats?
- What are the signs to keep in mind?
- What should you watch out for during cat puberty?
- Should cats be neutered during puberty?
When does puberty begin in cats?
Puberty is defined as the period of life in which the cat reaches sexual maturity. This phase begins as soon as your body starts producing sex hormones: these are progesterone and estrogen in females, two hormones of fundamental importance, and testosterone in males. This sexual maturation process usually begins around the third to fifth month of the cat’s life.
If you have a cat, you may realize that she is in heat around 6-12 months of age. Males, on the other hand, become sexually mature around 5-7 months. Breed and several other factors determine in each animal the exact moment when sexual maturity is actually reached.
In general, however, by the time the cat reaches 6 months of age it can be assumed that it is entering the stage of development of puberty.
What are the feline breeds that have an early development?
Cats belonging to breeds that have a particularly early development can become sexually mature as early as 4-5 months of life. Among them are in particular kittens that belong to cat breeds of oriental origin such as theAbyssinian , loSphynx and theSiamese .
Which breeds have slower development?
Unlike the cat breeds of oriental origin, there are cats that show a much later development and that begin to mature sexually only after one year of life. Among these we remember above all the large and long-haired breeds, such as theMaine Coon and the catNorwegian Forest Cat .
What are the signs to keep in mind?
Looking back on your puberty, similar memories will surely come back to your mind. Mood swings and irritability are in fact typical of this phase of life, both for cats and for us humans. Although puberty is usually milder in our feline friends than it is in people, even cats in this period show changes in their behavior, which begins to be characterized by that attitude of defiance for an end in itself typical even in teenagers.
- The mood swings
Maybe you’ve just finished playing happily with your cat and suddenly his mood changes. For no apparent reason you see him hissing and hitting with his paw the toy you are still holding. Mood swings like these are quite common in cats going through puberty.
- During puberty cats make frequent markings
As a cat grows up, it develops the dual interest of attracting the attention of potential sexual partners while protecting its territory from rivals. Therefore, during puberty it is very common for cats, especially males,mark their territory through urine. In fact, urine contains important odorous substances (pheromones) which are attractive to cats sexually predisposed to mating, while keeping potential competitors away.
- The cats go into heat
The very presence of sex hormones in the cat’s body implies that she is able to reproduce. To better arouse the interest of males, the female in heat rolls on the floor meowing and taking advantage of every opportunity to be cuddled. Ready-to-mate cats can become very sticky.
- Self-confidence grows
As kittens become adults, their self-esteem also increases. We realize this because, for example, suddenly the cat is not afraid to climb and jump on tall trees and places where a little earlier, as a kitten, it did not have the courage to venture.
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What should you watch out for during cat puberty?
Cats are animals with a very sensitive nature. During this delicate phase of their life it is necessary to be even more understanding with them. We therefore recommend that you always remain calm and show patience if your cat is behaving strangely or if you notice that he has marked the new carpet with urine.
On the other hand, this does not mean that you cannot place limits on your paw friend. Cats going through puberty also need to be educated: they should therefore be rewarded when they do something right and, when faced with unwanted behavior, it is important to say “No!” in a firm but gentle way. For example, if you see your cat jumping on the kitchen counter without your permission, you need to let him know that this behavior is not acceptable. However, we advise you never to scold your cat too severely.
If you have the feeling that your cat is very stressed at this delicate stage of his life, you can relieve his stress with the help of preparations based on pheromones or by making thecatnip .
You can find more information on these topics in our Magazine articles dedicated to Pheromones for cats eaThe basics of educating a kitten .
Should cats be neutered during puberty?
Having your cat sterilized or neutered is not a legal obligation, in Italy, nor for i house cats or for free spirits who can also live outdoors.
The choice of having your cat neutered , however, especially (but not only) if it has the possibility to move outside, is approved by the current guidelines of the law for the protection of animals, since fewer free cats makes survival less problematic specimens that are already found in nature. In some countries, such as Germany, for example, there is a move towards making castration mandatory for all cats that have a garden. So the question is: when is the best time to perform this surgery?
Castration of cats
It is considered appropriate to castrate male cats generally from six months of age. In this way, the risk of the animal being injured during the dangerous disputes for the division of the territory that take place between males is reduced. At the same time, once neutered, the cat will mark objects and surfaces in the house less frequently with its urine, thus preventing your apartment from becoming impregnated with unpleasant odors.
Incidentally, if you have your cat neutered before the growth plates of its bones have bonded together, it will tend to have very long legs. This phenomenon is known as eunuchoid gigantism or eunuchoid aspect in the cat.
The castration of the cats
Cats that have the opportunity to live outdoors should also be neutered as soon as possible, ideally within five months of life.
In this way, on the one hand, sleepless nights during the heat are avoided and, on the other, the risk of the cat contracting a severe infection of the uterus known as feline pyometra, or developing breast cancer. . The aspect that is even more important, however, is that of being able to safely exclude the possibility of an unwanted offspring.
If you still have doubts about spaying or neutering your cat, we recommend that you seek advice from your trusted veterinarian .
