Final answer:
A female cat exhibits estrus when ready for mating, a behavior that ensures fertilization occurs when conditions are ideal. Courtship behaviors in various species, like nesting and displaying by males, play crucial roles in attracting and convincing females for mating.
Step-by-step explanation:
A female cat will exhibit estrus or 'heat' when she is ready to accept a male for mating. During this period, the female cat displays behaviors indicating her receptiveness to males, which is a part of her hormonally regulated reproductive cycle. Such behavioral cues are important as they ensure that mating occurs at an optimal time for fertilization, when there are fertilizable ova present in the female genital tract. This is common in the majority of mammals, where timing of mating is critical for reproductive success. Courtship rituals, such as those observed in birds like the bowerbird, which constructs elaborate nests, or in peacocks, which display their colorful tail feathers, are ways in which males attract females and compete for their attention during the mating season.
These courtship behaviors serve not only to attract but also to convince a potential mate of the suitability of the performing individual. Hence, in many species, female animals have a significant role in selecting their mate, often based on these elaborate courtship displays and behaviors performed by the males.