Mates

Mate is the Clan terminology for a partnership between a tom and a she-cat.

Taking a Mate
Two cats are usually considered mates after spending some time together, and are seen sharing tongues often, and after some kind of confession of love, or asking them if they would like to be mates. Usually when cats are apprentices or warriors, they will show some sort of affection toward a certain cat. Clan cats usually take a mate from the same Clan, although there are examples of pairings from different Clans or groups. However, sometimes cats from different Clans will mate secretly despite it being against the warrior code. Examples are Bluestar and Oakheart, Silverstream and Graystripe, or Leafpool and Crowfeather. It is not unusual for a cat to have more than one mate, especially toms. After a while, if they stop showing affection, or if their mate dies, they will usually take on a new mate. An example is Graystripe and Millie or Willowpelt and Patchpelt.

Breaking Up
In the Warriors universe, breaking up is fairly rare, but can happen. Some examples of mates who broke up:
 * Bluestar and Oakheart.
 * Daisy and Spiderleg.
 * Leafpool and Crowfeather.
 * Bumblestripe and Dovewing.
 * Goldenflower and Tigerstar.
 * Rainflower and Shellheart.
 * It is noted after Rainflower's death, that Shellheart always loved Rainflower, even after they weren't mates anymore.
 * Sasha and Tigerstar.

Reasons
Mates break up mainly for the following reasons: In some cases, mates will get back together some time after breaking up, for example, when Bramblestar forgave Squirrelflight for lying to him about Leafpool's kits, though this is fairly rare.
 * They decide they are not suited for each other anymore or don't truly love each other.
 * One cat does not love the other anymore. (Daisy and Spiderleg)
 * One cat does not truly love their mate back and has feelings for another. (Dovewing and Bumblestripe)
 * Ending a relationship of forbidden love by mutual agreement, recognizing that loyalty to their Clan is more important than their love. (Leafpool and Crowfeather)
 * Disagreements, mistrust, misunderstanding. (Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw in Starlight)
 * Disappointment in their mate's actions or behavior. (Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw in Sunrise, Shellheart and Rainflower in Crookedstar's Promise)
 * One of the cats leave the Clan. (Goldenflower and Tigerstar)
 * One of the cats dies. (Graystripe takes Millie as a mate after the death of Silverstream)

Restrictions

 * Taking a cat from another Clan (or a non-Clan cat) as mate is implicitly forbidden by the first rule of The Warrior Code, as such pairings are considered a sign of disloyalty. Kits born from such relations are named half-Clan, and are usually not trusted.
 * Medicine cats, either male or female, are not allowed to take mates, in order to be fully dedicated to their medicine cat duties, though this rule is often broken. (ie. Crowfeather and Leafpool, Yellowfang and Raggedstar.)
 * Apprentices do not take mates because they are too young, and that if females were to give birth to kits, it would distract them from their duties, though they do sometimes show affection.

Related Romances
There are a variant relationships with similar aspects to mates, either in mutual affection, mutual displays of affection, and/or breaking the warrior code to meet with another Clan cat at night. However, these couplings are never considered official mates for varying reasons and never resulted in kits. Keep in mind, none of these cats ever become mates, but it is largely hinted that they might of become mates later. Main examples of these are:


 * Firepaw and Spottedleaf
 * Squirrelflight and Ashfur
 * Lionpaw and Heatherpaw
 * Jayfeather and Half Moon
 * Dovewing and Tigerheart
 * Bramblestar and Jessy
 * Tallstar and Jake
 * Foxleap and Rosepetal

Reasons
Common reasons why these aren't true mates are the following:
 * One or both were apprentices at the time and too young for a mate. (Lionpaw and Heatherpaw, Dovepaw and Tigerheart initially)
 * It was forbidden by the warrior code and one or both would refuse to break it. (Spottedleaf and Firestar)
 * Were never in an official relationship. (Jayfeather and Half Moon, Squirrelflight and Ashfur, Bramblestar and Jessy)
 * Were never clearly described as mates or resulted in kits. (Dovewing and Tigerheart and Tallstar and Jake)
 * Author realized they were related. (Foxleap and Rosepetal)

WindClan

 * Meadowslip and Hickorynose
 * Onestar and Whitetail
 * Redclaw and Brackenwing
 * Sandgorse and Palebird
 * Sedgewhisker and Emberfoot
 * Shrewclaw and Ryestalk
 * Woollytail and Palebird