On average, female domestic cats remain fertile for a longer portion of their lifespan compared to humans. It seems that ultimately it is the fertility of the female which normally dictates the longevity of fertility in domestic cats and humans.
Cats:
- Domestic cats can remain fertile until about 10–12 years of age, which is roughly 56–64 human years.
- Cats do not experience menopause in the same way humans do. Their fertility gradually declines with age, but they can potentially conceive throughout their lives if they are healthy, even though it’s less common in their later years.
Humans:
- Human females experience a sharper decline in fertility, with significant reductions after age 35 and infertility typically occurring by menopause, around 45–55 years of age.
- This means that human women are generally fertile for only about 30–40% of their total lifespan, assuming a typical life expectancy of around 80 years.
Why the Difference?
- Cats age more quickly than humans, but their reproductive systems remain functional for a larger proportion of their shorter lives.
- Unlike humans, cats do not have a defined menopause-like event. Instead, their fertility wanes slowly over time.
In essence, while the absolute reproductive lifespan (in years) of cats and humans may overlap, cats remain fertile for a larger share of their natural life span compared to humans.
Note: the information comes from a partnership with AI. I have to ask the correct questions! AI gleans its information from the entire internet. Sadly it means that AI ‘steals’ information provided by humans.
Dr Desmond Morris in his book Catlore states that “Tom-cats have been known to produce offspring at the advanced age of sixteen years. This is the equivalent to a human male becomiong a father in his late seventies.”
However, humans can (exceedingly rarely) beat this. 😃 The oldest known human father after natural intercourse is Les Colley, an Australian farmer who fathered a child at the age of 92 years and 10 months in 1992. He conceived the child naturally with his third wife, who was 37 years old at the time.
The difference in the fertile lifespan between women and domestic cats is primarily due to the menopause in women. Menopause is a unique biological process that marks a definitive end to natural fertility in women, while domestic cats do not experience a comparable phenomenon.
Menopause is believed to have an evolutionary purpose. The “grandmother hypothesis” suggests that ceasing reproduction allows older women to invest in the care of their grandchildren, enhancing survival and fitness of the family group.
