How does a cat have a litter of kittens that each have a different father?

The cat we had when growing up had several litters (she kept getting pregnant before we could get her neutered) and you could pick out the father of each kitten from the neighborbhood, one was black & white, another tabby, orange and Siamese, etc. How does that happen in one litter?

  • Vetinfo

    By: Julie Ann El Segundo, CA

    Replied on 04/19/2011

    Cats can have more than one father to a litter. Dogs can too. Cats are reflex ovulators meaning they do not ovulate or release eggs until they are bred. If the female cat mates with more than one male within a 1-2 day period the sperm of both males have the opportunity of fertilizing the multiple eggs that have been ovulated. Once a female cat has been bred they go out of heat quickly. Julie Ann, Vet Tech

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