A survey of sexual behaviour and reproduction of female cats

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Abstract
Details of reproductive activity among 168 breeding queens were obtained from a survey of specific information supplied by cat breeders. Puberty was reached, on average, at 9–10 months of age. The gestation period was calculated to average 65 days. Almost half the queens in the survey showed cyclic occurrence of oestrus throughout the year. Cycles were usually 21 days long. When a non‐breeding season was present it generally occurred between September and the end of January, its average duration being 4 months. The data obtained from the survey are examined and discussed, and are considered to illuminate usefully a scantily reported topic.