Pheromones can compel male cats to do serious prowling for a
female cat. It should be mentioned that pheromones are not only connected to
sexual arousal, but also behaviors like territorial respect, and alarm. It also
cements the bond which exists between a baby and its mother. No wonder many
science journals describe pheromone as a chemical which gets produced by one
animal so that it could change the behavior of another animal belonging to the
same species.
Pheromones
For cats, pheromones are vital. Felines have a superb sense
of smell, and the pheromones act as a road map. It plays a much more important
role than attracting the male species of the cat to the female one. The body of
the female cat sends out certain chemicals when it is in heat. The male cats
get the signal that she is available for mating. If the female cat gets
pregnant, she stops sending out signals. It means a spayed cat will never send
out signals.
Pheromones of male and female cats are different. It is
possible to know a cat's gender and also location by the pheromones that can be
scented in that area. Male cats routinely spray to tell other male cats who is
the boss in that location. This is the reason one male cat will have choice of
almost all females while other males look on helplessly.
Pheromones play a significant role in mother-baby bonding.
The chemical present in the milk of the mother cat does not calm the kittens,
it also gives a nice map of where to find their mother if they get separated.
Synthetic pheromones are available in the market to calm down frightened
kitties. It is clear that pheromones are vital to any cat's life-especially
those who live outdoors.
Heat and spaying
Female cats reach maturity at around six months, and the
estrus or "heat" cycle begins at this stage. During every breeding
season, a female cat may go into her estrus cycle multiple times. The heat
period lasts from a minimum of a day to about seven days. In-case the mating
did not happen, the process will halt for one to two weeks, and the cycle
restarts again. Only during this time, many male cats will appear at your house
trying to mate with your female cat. When it comes to distance traveled, it is
observed that male cats can recognize a female cat is in heat from as much as
two miles distant. If you do not want to see, male cats sitting around
expectantly in front of your house, spay your cat. If you do not spay your cat,
be prepared to search homes for the kittens!
