Cats of March
When hormones hit the head
Olga Kolentsova
On the first of March, we celebrate two holidays at once – the onset of spring and the Day of Cats. And this is not by chance, because cats, according to scientists, are actively looking for a mate this month. Why this happens, read the RIA Novosti article.
"The hormonal cycle of wild cats living in the southern regions or tropical in origin is practically not tied to a specific time of year. They bring offspring both in autumn and summer. Inhabitants of the middle latitudes tend to breed from spring to early autumn. But the "northerners" breed strictly in the spring, but they can be counted on the fingers. These include the Eurasian lynx, snow leopard, manul and Chinese wild cat," says Sergey Naidenko, a leading researcher at the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a specialist in mammalian reproductive biology.
The wild ancestors of our cats fed mainly on rodents that sit in burrows in winter. With the onset of cold weather, it is more difficult to get food, therefore sexual activity decreased. A small role was also played by the fact that in the cold season kittens can simply freeze. The body of cats familiar with winter has adapted to the change of seasons, thanks to the ability to distinguish the intensity of sunlight.
Each hormone has its own season
The hormonal cycle of a cat is divided into two periods. In the first, the pituitary gland, that is, the gland located at the base of the brain, secretes a hormone that stimulates follicles. They form estrogens – hormones that prepare the animal's body for mating.
Then the eggs grow and mature, estrogen is produced and released, and the cat begins the period of sexual hunting. Mechanical stimulation of the vagina during sexual intercourse causes the release of the hormone lutropin into the brain. And it already stimulates the ovaries and the output of the egg. This type of ovulation, called induced, is characteristic of most solitary predators. The explanation for such resource savings is very simple: why waste eggs "idle" if the partner is not around anyway?
"Seasonal dependence of the breeding season is tied to melatonin, a hormone produced by the endocrine gland called the epiphysis. It is synthesized only in the dark: therefore, the longer the daylight, the less melatonin in the animal's body. Therefore, the first period of the rut of cats living in temperate latitudes falls on March, when the sun begins to shine longer and stronger," explains Sergey Naidenko.
The less melatonin is produced, the more the hormone that stimulates the follicles is formed, which, in turn, increases the level of estrogens.
Outside of the estrus period, the cat will not allow the cat to mate with her. And males treat females who are not ready to get pregnant differently. Some try to be friends with them, play, communicate, others are indifferent or sometimes show aggression, trying to drive the cat out of their territory.
Contrary to nature
A domestic cat can go into heat almost at any time of the year. On average, about 12 hours of light exposure per day is enough for this, and not necessarily solar – artificial light is also suitable. And in his absence, estrus may stop altogether: in particular, in long-haired cats, which often have a lower hormonal background.
"Interestingly, in rural animals, the binding of the "riot of hormones" to the warm season is more pronounced than in urban and domestic animals. It is quite logical, because the last two categories are provided with food all year round," the expert notes.
Street animals that get enough food sometimes give birth to kittens in winter and early spring. They can get the necessary dose of light from lanterns, signage or in the rooms where they are allowed to warm up. Therefore, it is better not to let domestic cats that are not sterilized for any reason into free range at any time of the year.
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