Research overview: copulation frequency and the ovulation threshold in cats

In induced-ovulating felids the chance that mating triggers ovulation rises with the number and spacing of copulations, suggesting a threshold of cumulative stimulation that the female's neuroendocrine system must reach. This overview examines experimental and observational evidence that single matings often fail to induce a full luteinizing hormone surge, whereas multiple matings over a day or more reliably do. It discusses how this mechanism may function to ensure that ovulation occurs only when a male is present and persistent, and how it shapes the frequent, conspicuous mating bouts seen in many cats. The topic matters for both wild mating systems and captive management, where insufficient matings can lead to failed conceptions despite apparent estrus.