QuickCheck: Can kittens of a litter have different fathers?

KITTENS - and cats in general - come in a variety of colours and patterns, and this can even extend to those from the same litter.

This can trigger a question, as some might wonder how kittens of the same litter have a variety of colours and patterns?

Is it true that kittens from the same litter can have different fathers?

VERDICT:

TRUE

The answer is yes, it is true.

A female cat can get pregnant if they mate with different males during the same reproductive cycle; this phenomenon is known as superfecundation.

A female cat typically releases multiple eggs during ovulation, and if she mates with multiple males within a short period of time, each egg can be fertilised by sperm from a different male cat.

As a result, a litter of kittens from the same litter can have different fathers - and this explains why they can inherit different colours, patterns and even fur lengths.

This can occur in domestic cats, but is more common in outdoor or feral cat populations as multiple males may have more access to a female in heat.

So, while birds of a feather flock together, kittens of a litter may not share a father.

References:

https://wagwalking.com/wellness/can-cats-get-pregnant-by-multiple-partners

https://modkat.com/blogs/modkat-purrr/can-a-female-cat-s-litter-have-different-fathers

https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/46273/20230929/cats-pregnant-different-males-same-time-researchers-investigate-feline-reproduction.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3zMv1dA7vM&ab_channel=TwoCrazyCatLadies