Research overview: estrus behavior in the domestic cat

Female cats in estrus display a recognizable suite of behaviors, including increased vocalization, rolling, treading, lordosis posture, and heightened receptivity to males. This overview describes the behavioral and endocrine features of feline estrus, the typical duration of receptivity within a follicular phase, and how estrus recurs in cycles when ovulation does not occur. It considers how environmental factors such as day length influence cycling and how breeders and clinicians recognize and time estrus for mating or insemination. Because the domestic cat is the principal model for felid reproduction, characterizing its estrus provides a baseline for interpreting the often more subtle estrous signals of wild and endangered cats managed in captivity.