Pet Sex: Why romance doesn’t rate in the pet world
By Animal Behaviourist Dr Joanne Righetti.
Visit: www.petproblemsolved.com.au 

(Warning – this article contains material of a sexual nature)

Now that we have so many responsible pet owners who choose to desex (neuter) their pets, our knowledge of the sexual behaviour of pets is almost non-existent. Not long ago, families used to observe their pets’ mating and birthing habits to teach children all about the “birds and the bees”. Rather strange, given that these are completely different species from humans!

If you sometimes wonder how pets “do it”, here’s some examples of questions that occasionally come my way…

Q. I have a pedigree cat and, when I bought her, the breeder asked me if I might consider having a litter. We are thinking about it. My question may seem strange but when I take her to the breeder’s home where the “father-to-be” lives, would you recommend I stay and watch with my kids?
A. No, I would not recommend that you or your children become a voyeur of feline sex. The reason is that you may become distressed as you observe the animals. Male cats have barbs on their penis and when he finishes the act of copulation and withdraws from the female, these barbs pierce the female. Ouch! The queen (the name given to the female cat) generally turns around, hissing, spitting or lashing out at the male – not surprisingly!

Nature has a purpose in designing this rather painful mating behaviour, as this action actually induces ovulation in the female. She is not permanently hurt. In fact, generally females recover quickly and after a period of writhing around the ground and a quick clean, she is often ready to go again. And not always with the same bloke!

Think carefully before you take your children and before you decide to breed. Ensure that you have homes for the kittens.

Q. My son, who’s 11 years old, was at his friend’s house and he said his friend’s two dogs – a Labrador and a Jack Russell - were standing back-to-back and they couldn’t be separated. He thought they might have been glued together! Of course I had to explain the birds and the bees but I wanted to know why dogs “stick” together after mating?

Nature is clever. In ensuring that the male and female stay coupled, through swelling of the male’s anatomical parts and contractions of the females, this ensures that the eggs have a good chance of being fertilized by the male’s sperm. The male is increasing his chances of being the father. The height difference in these two breeds was obviously no obstacle to “love”. 

Now we see less of these “random” matings and that is a good thing. There are too many unwanted cats and dogs and, if we still want our children to learn about pet sex, we can take them along to a local shelter where they will see puppies and kittens galore.

More interesting facts on pet sex…
• Cats and dogs are pregnant for around 9 weeks.
• Dogs come into season twice a year (once in wild dogs).
• Cats continually come into sexual receptiveness until they are mated. This is influenced by the amount of daylight.
• Litters of puppies and kittens may be sired (fathered) by more than one male.
• Love, in human terms, does not really play a part in the cat and dog world, although not every potential suitor is considered acceptable. 

Generally the female makes the decision who she will accept – go girls!!

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Photo: 2Dogs - Wooden sculpture by Aussie artist Peter Baka (c) Peter Baka