 Female cats are seasonally polyestrous , which means they may have many periods of heat over the course of a year , the season beginning in spring and ending in late autumn . Heat periods occur about every two weeks and last about 4 to 7 days . Multiple males will be attracted to a female in heat . The males will fight over her , and the victor wins the right to mate . At first , the female rejects the male , but eventually the female allows the male to mate . The female utters a loud <unk> as the male pulls out of her because a male cat 's penis has a band of about 120 – 150 backwards @-@ pointing penile spines , which are about 1 mm long ; upon withdrawal of the penis , the spines rake the walls of the female 's vagina , which is a trigger for ovulation . This act also occurs to clear the vagina of other sperm in the context of a second ( or more ) mating , thus giving the later males a larger chance of conception . 
