Why Do Cats Scream When Mating?

Have you ever been for a stroll outside and heard those terrible, high-pitched screams and wondered what animal they could possibly be coming from? Well, ladies and gentlemen, those screeches might actually be coming from your cat!

And, to be more specific, those sounds will actually only be coming from your cat if your cat is a female - both before and during mating due to her being in heat and in pain, respectively.

You might have thought that when cats mate, it’s all cute and cuddly, but actually it causes immense pain to female cats - which is a terrible thought, we know, but it’s unfortunately just how cats naturally go about their business.

Read on to find out more about why cats scream when mating and the best things to do and look out for if you have a female cat! 

WHY DO CATS SCREAM WHEN MATING?

As mentioned previously, it’s mainly female cats who scream during mating. Even before mating begins, female cats will also scream due to the fact they’re in heat, which signals to male cats that they’re ready to ovulate.

Female cats are what we call simulation based ovulators, meaning their ovaries won’t release an egg without the act of mating.

​So, the stimulation they need for this is, rather unfortunately for them, caused by a male cat’s penis, which just happens to be barbed on the ends. This means it scrapes the female’s vagina in an extremely painful way, hence her screams. 

As well as screeching, female cats will likely also try to fight the male off and run away, but male cats are strong and tend to hold them by the neck with their teeth to stop them getting away.

HOW LONG DO CATS MATE FOR?

Cats normally mate extremely quickly, and usually it will be over with in under a minute. Although, sometimes it can last longer. 
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The process tends to be so fast because neither the males or the females want it to last very long - cats definitely don’t mate for pleasure - and, particularly with wild cats, it can leave them quite vulnerable to attacks. 

​WHAT DO FEMALE CATS ACT LIKE AFTER MATING?

Immediately after mating, female cats can get very aggressive with the male cat they’ve just mated with, which is why males tend to leave them alone straight afterwards and go off in a different direction.

If males do happen to stick around after mating, though, the females will be quick to scare them away because they need time alone to react to the hormones that are released during the mating process.

After the male cats have run off, females will act erratically and will likely go back and forth between grooming themselves, calling out and rolling around.

​They tend to move from one action to another very quickly, due to the fact their hormones are still coursing through their bodies and, therefore, leaving them slightly confused about what to do.  

If you have a female cat who’s just mated, you’ll need to be a bit more careful when you approach her because female cats are extremely unpredictable after they’ve mated and will act out of character, so she might become aggressive towards you and try to scratch you. 

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CAT NEEDS TO GO TO THE VET AFTER MATING?

Despite the fact that mating is a fairly straightforward and efficient process for cats, problems can potentially arise for your female cat afterwards, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out to make sure she’s okay.

There are a few main signs to look out for that will require you to take her to the vet, which include abnormal discharge and extreme lethargy. 

And, sometimes, in rare cases, she could suffer a prolapsed rectum or vulva if the mating was particularly aggressive, in which case you should take her to the vet immediately because it’s classed as a medical emergency.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CAT IS PREGNANT?

Naturally, you’ll want to know if your cat is going to have kittens so you can be prepared, so it’s also important to look out for signs of pregnancy after your cat has mated. 

Initial signs include your cat having a bigger appetite, swollen mammary glands and a belly that’s getting bigger.

​However, cats can also show these signs during a pseudopregnancy - in other words, a false pregnancy - which is when female cats ovulate but don’t actually become pregnant. 

To check for certain whether your cat is pregnant, you can take her to the vet around 30 days after she’s mated - if you don’t know exactly when this was, try and guess a rough estimate if you can.

If she’s pregnant, then you can take her back to the vet another 30 days later and they can perform an x-ray to tell you how many kittens she has inside of her. 

SHOULD I NEUTER/SPAY MY CAT?

If you’re not interested in getting into cat breeding, then it’s a very good idea to neuter your male cat or spay your female cat.

​This is because female cats can have three to five litters per year with around four kittens per litter, which means there’s a general overpopulation of cats. 

Female cats can also eventually end up with illnesses in their reproductive organs, including a uterus infection that’s potentially fatal.

So, you’ll also be doing the right thing for your cat by spaying her because you’ll be protecting her from this and from the pain she suffers from during the mating process.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The reason why cats scream when mating is very bleak, as it’s basically female cats crying out in pain due to male cats’ barbed penises. As horrible as this sounds, it is just a part of nature. 

However, if you don’t want your cat to go through this, it’s a good idea to have them spayed.

Hopefully this article has informed you well and you now fully understand why cats scream when mating!