FURRY FRIENDS ANIMAL RESCUE QUEENSLAND inc
  • Home
    • About
    • Sponsors
    • Mews Bulletin!
    • Social Media
  • Adopt us
    • Adoption Form EOI
    • Post Adoption Information Guide
    • Why Desex?
  • Foster For Us
    • Foster Carer Guide
    • Foster a Cat
    • Home Tour Info
    • Safe Cat Transfers During Covid-19
    • Arrival and Quarantine
    • Recommended Products for Foster Carers
    • Cat Nutrition & Food Standards
    • Request Supplies
    • Request a Vet Booking
    • Adoption Process for Foster Carers
  • Donate
    • PayPal Giving Fund
    • Containers for Change
    • GiveNow Donation
  • Store Partners
    • Pet Barn Ipswich
    • Store Managers Guide - Pet Transfers
  • Volunteer
    • COVIDsafe Agreement
    • Volunteer Insurance Registration
  • Surrender

Our Mews Bulletin

Superfecundation - The Modern Cat Family

9/4/2021

 
Picture
In March, we asked our fellow furry friends on our Instagram: ‘What would you like to know about cats?’ We received a response which peaked our interest. The question asked 'how can cats be from the same litter but have different fathers and breeds?' It’s an interesting question and one we wanted to know the answer to. The simplest answer to this question? It’s superfecundation. 

What Is Superfecundation?

According to Merriam-Webster, superfecundation is defined as ‘successive fertili[s]ation of two or more ova from the same ovulation especially by different sires.’ It’s a straightforward answer to a question that isn’t commonly asked. We knew that there had to be more to it, and we were eager to dive in and learn more. 

How Does It Work? 

It’s all about biology! The mating cycle of cats (aka being in ‘heat’) are determined by the seasons, typically ‘spring and summer’ when temperatures are higher and the days are longer. 

Throughout a female cat’s reproductive life, they will go through periods where they constantly make noise and they won’t sit still. They’ll ‘roll around on the ground and rub up against objects.’ This is the first sign that a female cat has entered the mating cycle. While the chances of a female allowing a male to approach her at first is small, she’ll ‘allow a … [male] to approach her and mate’ further in the cycle. It’s very common for a female to mate with multiple males during a cycle because it increases the chances of fertilisation.  

After the mating process, the female will release a number of eggs from her ovaries into the reproductive tract. If the female had mated with more than one male while she was in heat, the chances of different eggs being fertilised by sperm will increase. 

The Results?

Multiple kittens that look different from each other! According to vet, Dr Donald Shellenberger, the most obvious way of seeing the results of superfecundation is if the kittens ‘look drastically different from each other.’ Similar to humans, cats have recessive genes so characteristics like coats and eye colours aren’t the best indicators of superfecundation. However, if the kittens look as if they are of different breeds then you’ll know what occurred. 
​

While it’s unlikely for it to happen to a female house cat (especially if the cat is the only animal in the house or tends to stick to themselves), superfecundation is very common amongst strays. It’s one of the reasons for why desexing cats is so important. So there you have it. It is possible for a litter of cats to have different fathers.

​Written by Matthew Leong for FFARQ        
Photo by Kym Ellis on Unsplash

Comments are closed.

    FFARQ News

    Articles, FFARQ news and fundraising events supporting the cause with the claws.

    Join the Furry Friends family today!

    * indicates required

    Archives

    September 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018

    Categories

    All
    Cat Behaviour
    Cat Care
    Cat Health
    Cat History
    Famous Cats
    Foster Care Stories
    Furry Tales
    Pet Ownership
    Recent Adoptions
    Recent Arrivals

    RSS Feed

Furry Friends Animal Rescue Queensland thanks its supporters for their ongoing support.
​Privacy policy

Picture
Petbarn
Picture
Picture
Registered Charity logo
© COPYRIGHT 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
    • About
    • Sponsors
    • Mews Bulletin!
    • Social Media
  • Adopt us
    • Adoption Form EOI
    • Post Adoption Information Guide
    • Why Desex?
  • Foster For Us
    • Foster Carer Guide
    • Foster a Cat
    • Home Tour Info
    • Safe Cat Transfers During Covid-19
    • Arrival and Quarantine
    • Recommended Products for Foster Carers
    • Cat Nutrition & Food Standards
    • Request Supplies
    • Request a Vet Booking
    • Adoption Process for Foster Carers
  • Donate
    • PayPal Giving Fund
    • Containers for Change
    • GiveNow Donation
  • Store Partners
    • Pet Barn Ipswich
    • Store Managers Guide - Pet Transfers
  • Volunteer
    • COVIDsafe Agreement
    • Volunteer Insurance Registration
  • Surrender