What cats feel when they are in heat

A cat at this stage is not ready to mate and impregnate, but the owner may notice changes in the behavior of the pet. The animal becomes more demanding, it wants more attention, its appetite decreases, it may spoil the furniture. There is pronounced swelling of the external genitalia and mucous discharge. The duration of this stage is from 2 to 4 days. It is followed directly by heat.

How to stop cat meowing during heat?

Your cat is a sweet, affectionate kitten that stretches out on your lap and dozes with a gentle smile on her fluffy muzzle. The next day she's already a boisterous, meowing, relentless beast with a fierceness in her eyes like you've never seen before. Congratulations, you have a teenage cat!

First of all, cats don't shed their uterine "pad" like many other mammals when they are in heat. Therefore, your cat should not be bleeding. If there is bleeding, you need to see a veterinarian immediately. Otherwise, you don't need to go to the vet. The burden of her heat falls mostly on you.

The incessant screaming is the most obvious, and also the most unpleasant sign of a cat in heat. Combine this with excessive grooming (especially of the hindquarters) and bulging butt in the mating pose, and it looks more and more like the cat is really in heat. Add to that mood swings, urine splashing, and possibly loss of appetite, and you certainly get a cat in heat.

The cycle of heat.

A cat's first heat can occur as early as four months of age and lasts an average of seven days. Depending on the time of year (the heat season lasts from January through October, when the daylight hours are approximately 14-16 hours), your cat's heat may be repeated every two to three weeks! This not only puts a strain on your cat's body, but it can also be uncomfortable for you.

Showing extra attention by playing with your cat will tire her out and hopefully help her sleep better. Soft music can also soothe her.

Aside from affection and comfort, the best solution for a meowing cat during heat is to just get over it and neuter her so it doesn't happen again. Caressing, cuddling, playing, and lots of mental exercise, such as Food Puzzles for Cats, can help.

Other remedies.

You may be able to temporarily calm your cat with catnip, but not all cats respond to it and some become more aggressive. Be careful.

Another natural remedy is an amino acid called L-theanine. It can relax your cat, but it takes time to take effect and is not recommended for breeding animals.

Pheromones in a can or diffuser mimic the pheromones secreted by a cat's muzzle glands and will help her feel safe in her environment. Worth a try.

Keep in mind that some cats prefer to be left alone. In this case, try to make things as peaceful and quiet as possible for the cat and always provide a safe place for it to escape to if it needs to hide.

Given the stressful nature of a cat's heat cycle – for both of you – the easiest and safest solution is neutering. Most veterinarians recommend this surgery at about 5 months of age, which is usually before your cat's first heat.

How do you calm a cat?

If the cat has started to walk and there is no necessary medication in the house you can use the following methods:

1. Wet the cat with warm water. The animal will calm down while it licks its fur.
2. You can lock the cat in a separate room, but this will often only traumatize the animal (undesirable).
3. Turn the cat's attention to play. During heat, the animal is very active and needs somewhere to dispose of excess energy.

The cat's owner must understand that the cat must give birth at least once a year, otherwise serious health problems can occur. If you don't want to give kittens, then it's better to have your cat sterilized.

Homeovet Veterinary Pharmacy and Pet Shop can offer its customers a wide range of medications for cats in heat.

Such medications may have different effects on the cat, from a simple calming effect to changes in hormonal background.

Medications come in a variety of forms: suspensions, drops, shots, pills, or decoctions. Be sure to read the instructions for use, because any drug can have side effects, strictly follow the dosage so as not to harm the pet.

How often can a cat have heat?

As previously written, the first heat in a cat occurs at 6-7 months of age.

If, the cat has not yet walked it asks the cat much more often. A mature cat that has already given birth will go for a walk once every three months. There are cases when a cat asks for a cat as early as a month and a half after giving birth.

As a rule, the beginning of heat is determined by the behavior of the animal. The symptoms are described above. The beginning of the phase lasts 4 days, during this period, the cat does not yet accept the cat, but there are already clearly visible changes in behavior, the so-called signs of the hunt.

On average, the hunt in cats lasts for 7 days, but the owner should understand that the older the cat, the longer it will walk, the more often it will bring offspring.

It is worth to think about the consequences and the health of the animal before you buy it. If you have no possibility or desire to deal with kittens, it's time to think about sterilization, weigh the pros and cons.

How long does it last in heat

On average female raptors' estrus lasts 14 to 20 days. How many days in a cat's heat depends largely on the individual characteristics of the body. Too long a heat warns of a cyst, tumor, inflammation of the ovaries. Too short indicates problems with the thyroid gland, whose hormones are involved in the development of sexual characteristics. The second reason that occurs more often than others is underdevelopment of the ovaries.

How does heat occur in a cat? It consists of several stages and has its own characteristics. Unlike dogs, where the counting begins after the appearance of the first drops of blood, the symptoms in cats are blurred. The transitions between stages are smooth, and even an experienced cat person will not always notice. This is especially true for young females whose cycle is just forming.

Proestrus

Proestrus is the initial phase, when heat has not yet begun, but it is 1-4 days away. The brain orders increased synthesis of hormones that stimulate egg formation within the follicles. The egg begins to grow, producing estrogens that "attack" the uterus, forcing it to prepare for conception. Its mucous membrane swells and thickens, glands deepen, branch out, etc.

Estrus

Estrus (hunting period) is the stage when fertilization takes place. Estrus averages 5 to 10 days, but sometimes it lasts longer. The female lets the cat come up on the first day of estrus. Not being able to realize the sex drive causes agony. Therefore, if you do not plan to mate your pet, it is better to spay her.

Ovulation in cats has its own characteristics. In dogs, it occurs spontaneously, on certain days. In cats, it begins 1-3 after mating under the influence of mechanical influence, after multiple mating. The stages of fertilization are as follows:

1. Under the influence of vaginal stimulation, the LH hormone is released, which causes the follicle to burst and release the egg.
2. Cat sperm remains active for 24 hours after the process, so fertilization can occur within 2 days of ovulation.
3. The zygote travels through the oviduct for 4 days and is fixed in the uterus on the 14th day after fertilization.
4. A yellow body forms in place of the follicle, which synthesizes the hormone progesterone, necessary to maintain pregnancy.

Signs of heat in cats

Unlike dogs, cats do not bleed when they are in heat, because ovulation has its own specifics. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to other symptoms. They directly depend on the phase of heat.

Proestrus: symptoms

The beginning of the heat can be determined by a change in the cat's behavior. She is not yet ready for mating, she does not let the cat near. But the hormones are pounding her head, she begs to be held, demands affection.

• There is a slight swelling in the genital area.
• Weak, almost imperceptible mucous discharge in a cat during heat.
• Excessive grooming of the genitals.
• Restlessness.
• Lack of appetite.
• Demanding affection.
• Rubbing of the head and sides against various objects, the floor.
• Splashing urine to release pheromones.
• Screaming.

Leeching in cats: symptoms of estrus

All the actions of the predator are aimed at calling the cat. Cats yell during the heat, regardless of the time of day, and if stroked, assume the mating pose. The pet rumbles restlessly, crawling on the floor, pestering people. She also:

Post-extrus: symptoms.

The pet gradually calms down, stops letting the cat near it, and becomes aggressive toward it.

Anestrus: signs

How long does the heat last in cats

The period of heat in cats depends on the individual characteristics of the body, on average, it is from 5 to 20 days. Deviations in the direction of shortening or lengthening this period indicate the presence of hormonal abnormalities or diseases of the reproductive system. Among the common reasons are improper functioning of the thyroid gland, underdevelopment of the ovaries, the presence of inflammatory processes, cysts and tumors. Attentive owners always notice how long the cat's heat lasts – it allows not to miss the deviation from the norm and show the pet to the vet in time.

How often a cat is in heat

Fertility of a cat is also genetically determined. It has been observed that some breeds have a higher temperament. Among them Siamese and Persian cats – they have heat on average once every 3 weeks. More phlegmatic cats, such as the Scottish Lop or British Shorthair, have their heat period once every three months.

The frequency of heat is also influenced by the experience of having kittens and the age of the cat. The older a cat gets, the weaker her breeding instinct becomes. Cats that have given birth show an interest in breeding once every 2-3 months, those that haven't – once a month. After giving birth, the next heat comes in 3-6 months.

The time of year also affects sexual activity; the period from March to October is characterized by the greatest need for mating, and the "quietest" period is winter. However, if a cat lives in the comfort of a warm home, its interest in reproduction persists all year round.

How to calm a cat during heat

If the owner of a domestic cat does not wish to receive offspring from his whiskered pet in the future, then in this case doctors recommend an early sterilization. Using surgery not only allows you to completely calm the cat during heat, but also to prevent further disturbances in the animal.

As a rule, surgery is performed to remove the reproductive organs after the body of the female has formed in all respects, but before the onset of estrus. Until now, veterinary specialists cannot reach a consensus on what is the best age for sterilization.

Before deciding whether to neuter or spay your cat, you should make an accurate diagnosis of your cat's body and have a consultation with a qualified veterinarian.

There are a number of benefits to stopping a cat from going through heat. Above all it is a health benefit, since cats that have been spayed in time will not develop malignant neoplasms of the mammary glands. The likelihood of pathological processes in the genital area of the cat is reduced at times.

In addition, the animal becomes much calmer, which is caused by changes in hormonal background. There are also side effects against the background of neutering the cat – changes in metabolism. Quite often females become overweight as a result of hormonal changes. This can be avoided by carefully selecting the diet of the animal.

Rarely, but there are risks associated with an animal coming out of anesthesia after surgery. Complications occur when medications are not properly selected, as well as when chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system are present.

Help a cat in heat for a short time can be helped by the use of various drugs on a hormonal and herbal basis. Drops for cats, created on a herbal basis, are widely used directly during heat. They have no deleterious effect on the animal's body and do not provoke serious complications if used for a long time.

Leaking in a spayed cat

The beginning of estrus in cats is triggered by the work of the ovaries and the hormones they produce. It is important to understand that neutering is actually a procedure that involves pulling the fallopian tubes or removing the uterus without the ovaries. It is the neutering procedure that allows you to get rid of the cat's sex drive.

In some cases, after surgery to remove the reproductive organs, the animal still has the characteristic signs of the sexual hunt.

The main reasons why a cat behaves as it did before during estrus are:

• Slow attenuation of sex hormone production . After the manipulation of the reproductive organs, the sex hormones do not disappear, but continue to move through the bloodstream for a period of time. As a rule, the complete fading of hormonal background occurs after 1.5-2 months. Less often a long process of attenuation is registered.
• Ovarioreminant syndrome . If an animal has been castrated after the first sexual intercourse, or even less frequently, after the first birth, there is a high probability of developing the preserved ovarian tissue syndrome. Any tissue structures in the body are capable of reproducing from small particles by fission. The remaining piece of ovarian tissue is able to grow over time and produce hormones (less often mature eggs).

The rarer causes of a cat in heat after spaying are:

• Ectopic Tissue Syndrome. – Is a rare congenital abnormality. In this pathology, ovarian tissue can be placed in any part of the body. Diagnosing the pathology is quite problematic because it can be located in any part of the peritoneum.
• The tumor process . A tumor located in the area of the mammary glands, adrenal glands, hypothalamic-pituitary system or uterus is hormone-producing. The development of oestrus in these cases is taken over by the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland.

Stages of estrus in cats

The heat is divided into 4 phases. Even an experienced owner will find it difficult to distinguish one estrus period from another. However, knowing the physiological peculiarities of whiskers, it will be possible to calculate a favorable date for mating, as well as to avoid unpleasant incidents.

• Proestrus. This is the preparatory phase. It lasts from 1 to 4 days. You can notice changes in the cat's behavior. The female cat rolls on the floor, caresses her owner, and the first scanty secretions appear. At this stage, the female will not let the cat near her because she is not yet ready to fertilize.
• Estrus. The second stage is called the same as the whole cycle. The heat itself lasts from 5 to 10 days, which largely depends on the breed. Under the increasing influence of hormones, the cat has difficulty controlling its behavior – it cries day and night, and assumes a mating pose when stroked. Transparent discharge becomes visible. Planned mating or spontaneous copulation occurs during this phase.
• Interestrus, metaestrus, or post-mating. The third period can follow several scenarios, depending on how the previous stage ended. If the cat has been mated and fertilized, then pregnancy occurs in the metaestrus and kittens are born in 60-70 days. There are cases when conception does not occur during sexual intercourse, and the pet develops a false pregnancy. This condition resembles a normal pregnancy, but does not end in childbirth and passes in 30-45 days. If the cat had no contact with a male, then within the next 2-15 days the attraction fades, and interest in the opposite sex is replaced by aggression.
• Anestrus. The final phase is called the resting period. The female pet behaves as usual. The duration of anestrus can be from 3 weeks to several months. A cat that has given birth will have a longer quiescent period than a pet that has not found a mate.

How to calm a cat in heat

Every owner who encounters a cat in heat thinks about how to help and relieve his cat's condition. Although, unlike illness, estrus is a normal physiological process, the fluffy beauty is under a lot of stress. During these days, be affectionate to your pet and give her enough attention. Try to take her in your arms more often, pet her, talk to her. These actions will not cancel the symptoms of heat, but the cat will feel calmer.

Playing games can help sublimate energy. Buy your kitty a new toy to distract her from her sex drive. Even the simplest objects will do, such as toy mice, tassels and bows. Also, a tired cat is more likely to sleep at night than to meow. For the same reason, don't let your pet sleep for long periods during the day.

Since appetite decreases during heat, reduce food portions, but increase the frequency of feedings. Nutrition should be balanced.

During estrus, some owners are willing to allow a cat to mate with a cat. Letting your pet out of the house for a sexual hunt, you need to be prepared for kittens. If breeding is not in your plans, a castrated cat will do, and 2 weeks after the heat, spay the animal.

Sedatives

On the advice of your veterinarian, you can buy special medications to calm the cat (Cot Bayun, Anti-Stress, Stop-Stress, Fitex). It should be a sedative, not a hormone. Herbal remedies relieve emotional stress, and heat passes more easily. Drugs act gently, do not cause addiction. The choice of a particular brand and dosage is made by a veterinarian after a consultation with a description of all the symptoms. Each cat reacts differently to sedative drops, as in the case of valerian.

Hormonal medications

It is possible to interrupt the heat by giving the cat hormones, but this is an extreme measure, which can be resorted to maximum 2 times a year. Moreover, experts do not recommend the use of drugs with the effect of "antisex" at all because of a number of side effects. Hormonal failures, caused by drops, can provoke inflammatory processes in the genitals, cysts, malignant tumors, diabetes and adrenal gland dysfunction. Do not resort to heavy artillery without good reason.

Cat behavior during heat

Each individual's behavior during sexual activity is individual. But for the most part, the behavior of females during heat is about the same:

1. Cats scream as if they are in pain, although they are not actually in pain. Most often the periods of crying occur at night, in the morning and in the late evening.
2. The animal may lie flat, quietly rumbling, or be silent at all.
3. The cat actively rubs itself against various objects.
4. He scratches, bites, that is, he is aggressive.
5. Goes to the toilet quite often.
6. He refuses to eat at all or eats very little.
7. Walks on half-bent legs with his tail moved aside.
8. She licks her tail several times a day, as her vulva (external genitalia) swells up and produces a transparent secret. Blood is not secreted during a cat's heat.
9. The animal obsessively demands affection, literally does not leave the owner.
10. Demonstrates abnormal interest in animals and people of the male sex. Sniffs their clothes and shoes.
11. When stroking the sacrum area, takes the tail to the side and squats, pushing back his butt.

All of these symptoms may occur one at a time or simultaneously. Some of them may not occur at all. Some cats go through heat without any symptoms at all.

How to calm a furry pet?

At home, a cat in heat can be tried to calm you down without the use of any medication. The most important thing you can do to help your little purr during this difficult time is to show her more tenderness and care. Just take her in your arms more often, pet her, brush her, talk to her. Such simple manipulations will relieve the tension and calm her down a bit.

A warm and soft bed

Cats value comfort at all times and whatever their emotional state.. And especially during heat time they like something soft and warm. To calm her down you can offer her a soft and warm pad, a heating pad or even just a warm bag.

A warm bath will help soothe your furry pet for a long time. After it, she will be busy licking her fur, which will reduce the degree of tension and stress levels.

Isolation from cats

During heat The presence of cats excites the female very much.. Therefore, to prevent pregnancy, she should not be allowed outdoors. The windows and doors must be closed. If a cat also lives in the house, it is recommended to give him away to friends for a while.

Games and entertainment

Distract the cat from the sex hunt by playing games, because during this period Her motor activity increases. The energy of the pet is overflowing, so at night it starts to scream, calling for the cat. To exclude night "concerts", the female must be forced to play during the daytime. To do this, you can buy or make new toys or even play with her yourself. Having played during the day, the kitty will sleep soundly all night.

Infusions of thyme, chamomile or natural mint, of course, will not completely rid the animal of sex drive, but the activity will reduce significantly. Moreover, these herbs have no side effects and cost inexpensive.

First heat

Puberty in cats occurs at the age of 4 to 12 months. At this time the production of sex hormones begins. Under their influence, the kitten's body is restructured, which is expressed in the formation of gender-specific appearance and behavior, as well as the development of breeding organs and mammary glands.

The first heat, accompanied by signs of sexual excitement, most often occurs at the age of 6-10 months [5]. The exact age depends on many factors. These include:

Genetic characteristics.

Large-sized cats take longer to form and often have their first heat later than smaller pets. Smooth-haired breeds mature earlier, on average, than long-haired breeds.

Health

Illnesses that a kitten has had may affect its rate of development and cause the cat to reach puberty later than its peers. Fatness also matters. Both too much and too little weight delay the first heat.

Living conditions

An insufficient and unbalanced diet can also have a negative impact on a cat's development. For kittens to grow and form properly, they must receive a diet that meets species and age-specific needs. Kittens should be fed on a special food suitable for rapid growth and balanced development, such as PRO PLAN® NUTRISAVOUR® JUNIOR FOR Kittens, with Veal in Sauce.

Also, cats raised without human contact mature later in life. On the contrary, if there is a cat in the house, its active behavior can stimulate the first heat in a young cat earlier than usual.

Timing of birth

Kittens born in the fall and winter, with short daylight hours, usually become sexually mature later than those born in the spring and summer [8].

How can you tell if a cat is in heat?

• A deterioration or loss of appetite;
• restlessness;
• unusually affectionate behavior;
• Frequent attempts to rub the head and sides against various objects;
• Leaving urine marks;
• Frequent, loud, unusual in tone meows, which may turn into howls;
• Attempts to get out of the house;
• Crawling and rolling around on the floor;
• assuming a mating posture (the cat presses its chest to the floor, bends its lower back, raises its pelvis and moves its tail to the side)
• Frequent licking of the genital area;
• Minor mucous discharge from the genital opening.

Unlike in dogs, cats do not normally have bloody discharge during heat. If this occurs, the cat should be taken immediately to the veterinarian.

How to calm a cat in heat

How do you calm a walking cat? Read about it in my book, "No Man's Land." No kidding, the internet is full of advice and recommendations, but they don't work:

• Pet the cat and pay attention to her: tactile contact only increases sexual arousal;
• Give herbal sedatives: the cat is not stressed and she is not nervous. She wants to breed. Drink Persen with Novopassit can be given to owners, no herbs will affect cat behavior.
• Use products with pheromones like Felivey. They really help to get over the trip, get used to the new place and accept the new member of the family. But they are expensive, and absolutely useless in the heat.

It is no secret that hormonal drugs against sexual desire in cats and cats are widely sold in pet stores – Stop-intim, Sex-barrier, Contrasex. But such drugs should not be used during the first heat or longer than 1.5 years in a row. Another important point: the use of hormonal drops at the height of estrus leads to serious side effects. They should be used well in advance, better under the guidance of a veterinarian, to monitor breeding function. Do not run to the nearest pet store for a miracle drug, when the cockerel has already takes the bite.

Hormones are for preventing heat, not stopping it!

There is one trick to distract the cat for about an hour to get her to sleep. Wet the coat with water or dip it in something tasty (sour cream, canned cat sauce). The cat unwillingly begins to tidy up its fur, and licking and meowing at the same time is impossible. Unfortunately, as soon as the coat dries out, the cat will start singing the calling songs again.

The only way to forget about the problem for a long time is to mate and then get pregnant. This option is only suitable for breeding animals with a successful show career. If the owners are not interested in producing offspring, the best thing to do is to have the uterus and ovaries removed. Sterilization is best done before the first heat.

A quick note about heat in cats: everything you need to know

1. Puberty occurs at 6-9 months of age.
2. The heat lasts an average of a week and recurs every 2-3 weeks in the absence of mating.
3. The only way to calm a cat is to induce ovulation with a special massage that simulates sexual intercourse.
4. The use of hormones or surgical sterilization should be considered before the onset of the heat period.
5. Repeated "empty" periods of sexual heat cause diseases of the genitals – ovarian cysts, pyometra, hydrometra.

Now that you know how long the heat lasts in cats, and how difficult it is to calm a pet, let's move on to the main thing. Sterilization is the most favorable way out if you do not plan to breed the cat regularly and get kittens from it. Read about this operation in a separate article.

I'm glad if the article was helpful! Read fascinating stories about the work of veterinarians HERE