feline sexual behavior only issue in un-neutered cats

only don't neuter if registered breeder of pedigree

myths: females allowed 1 season or litter
recommended age: 4mo

female
3 litters per year
less chance of mammary, uterine, ovarian cancer, womb infections
unwanted heat behavior
less risk of FIV, FeIV

male
will roam for miles, crossing roads
less likely to fight therefore disease FiV FeIV
less spraying
lower stress
removes risk of testicular

in heat = oestrus
Jan-Aug
cycle in and out of heat until preg or spayed
5-8 days on, 3-14 days off

calling is high pitched noise to attract male cats

more affectionate, rubbing on everything, rolling on back or stretching with rear
in air
spraying

females make males chase

lordosis position, bite scruff of neck

barbed penis causes pain when withdrawn
2 days from ovaries to uterus, mate with more than 1 cat

gestation 63-65 days

nipples swell + pink
nesting behavior - private, warm and comfortable

signs of birth: cleaning teats and vulva but different with cats
no human intervention, could upset cat and harm relationship with kittens

stage1: not noticeable. uterus contract, cat pant. trips to and from kittening
breeder
stage2: kittens come out in sacks of amniotic fluid, mother breaks. clean kitten,
mouth+nose to clear mucous and bite umbilical cord
stage3 - pass each kitten's placenta. eat placenta
clean dry cloth can be used to break sack and/or clean kitten face

tiny blind, grow fast

0-2 weeks
eyes fully open by week 2. use scent & touch in meantime
mother licks genitals and anus to stimulate elimination because kittens unable to
dont move much

3-4 weeks
teeth develop.
by week 4 move a lot more
not confident away from mother, will cry out if gets too far
mother will collect it back to nest
can stand up if they fall over
would be weaned with prey brought by mother

5-6 weeks
mobile, may be able to catch and kill live prey
eliminate w/o mother's tongue
play begins, chase own tail

7-8
weaning is usually complete by 8 weeks
explore world on own

owners should offer solid food at 3-4 weeks to facilitate weaning

offer small bit on fingertips if uninterested

weaning too early can cause stress for mother and kittens, deprive nutrients
kittens removed too early may have difficulty learning basic skills like grooming &
using litter box

stray = previously owned

feral = no socialisation with people

2-7 weeks is critical period to socialise cat to humans

friendliness of father was equally as important as to whether they'd been handled

play behavior
social skills, motor coordination, develop hunting
patterns/fighting/mounting(sexual)
play reduces at 12 weeks

natural behaviors

marking territory
-urine spraying: cat stands instead of squatting, lifts tail vertically onto
vertical surface. urine is distinctive
-middening: deposit faeces
-other: use sebaceous glands on tail, lips, chin, forehead, paw pads

domestic cats shouldn't feel the need to spray or midden. if they do, could be
health issue

scratching: scent marks + visual marks +shed old layers of claws + stretching
provide surface to scratch

grooming is a problem when cat begins pulling out clumps of hair

chewing plants - in wild gets rid of hairballs

problem because some houseplants are poisonous

climbing - like safe/secure vantage points from which to survey territory

if no good places to climb, will knock things off of shelves or furniture

pica - eat fabric, cardboard, more common in asiatic cats

tail mutilation

elderly = 15 years +
issues with eating (arthritis makes more difficult to crouch, sense of smell
declines, dental problems)
difficulty grooming and elimination
mobility issues
senile behavior (general confusion, excessive vocalisation)