Breeding season in female cats acclimated under a natural photoperiod and interval until puberty

The breeding season was investigated in 174 female cats that were acclimated under a natural photoperiod, and determined the interval between birth and initial estrus (puberty) was determined in 125 cats. Although the breeding season differed noticeably among individual animals, the mean was 180.4 +- 3.0 (SE) days between the end of January and the end of July. The interval between birth and first estrus ranged from 181 to 560 days, with a mean of 345.0 +- 0.9 days. With respect to month of birth, the mean interval was 343.0 +- 9.5 days in cats born between March and June. Among cats that were born between July and October, the mean intervals were 242.0 +- 6.3 days in cats that exhibited estrus the year after birth and 519.2 +- 5.8 days in those that exhibited estrus 2 years after birth.