Why Cats Don't Estrus After Maturity: Possible Causes
Understanding the Variations in Cat Breeds: When it comes to cat breeds, such as the British Shorthair, American Shorthair, and Siamese, those with pointed faces tend to reach sexual maturity and start their heat cycles earlier. On the other hand, breeds with flat faces, like Persians, Exotic Shorthairs, Longhairs, Himalayans, and Chinchillas, usually mature and come into heat at a later age.
Genetic Differences: Even within the same breed, cats can vary in the timing of their heat cycles due to genetic factors. This is particularly true for Persians, where some purebred cats may not have their first heat until they are 2 to 3 years old.
Individual Differences: Cats of the same breed can also differ in the timing of their heat cycles, often due to variations in hormone levels. This can result in some individuals maturing and coming into heat earlier or later than others.
Nutritional Concerns: Chronic undernourishment or an imbalanced diet can weaken a cat, potentially affecting its ability to cycle normally. By improving nutrition and adopting a scientific feeding approach, a cat's health can be restored, allowing it to cycle as expected.
Reproductive Fatigue: Female cats can become physically drained after giving birth if they don't receive adequate nutrition to replenish their energy. Similarly, male cats can suffer from significant fatigue if they are bred frequently without proper rest and nutrition.
Pathological Causes: Female cats may develop uterine infections like pyometra due to longterm heat cycles without mating, low progesterone levels, polycystic ovaries, or other pathological conditions. In males, issues such as underdeveloped seminiferous tubules leading to reduced sperm count and motility, cryptorchidism (including incomplete descent or ectopic testicles), and chromosomal abnormalities can also be responsible.
