How to understand that a cat is in heat

For many pet owners, it can be a bit of a mystery when a cat is in heat. You can provide your cat with better care during their reproductive cycle by being aware of the signs that indicate when they are ready to breed again. Supporting your feline friend will be simpler if you know what to look for.

You may see behavioral changes in a cat during her period. She might start meowing or yowling more than normal. She uses this vocalization to communicate with possible partners. In addition to the noise, you might notice that she is growing more affectionate, nuzzling you or the furniture in an attempt to get attention.

Her posture is another important clue. A cat that is in heat may assume the lordosis posture, which involves lowering her front and raising her hindquarters. This is an innate behavior aimed at luring in male cats. She may also begin marking her territory with urine to indicate to other cats that she is available.

Understanding these indicators can have a big impact on how you handle your cat’s heat cycle. Being informed enables you to make sure she stays comfortable and healthy during this time, regardless of whether you decide to breed her or take other action.

Signs of Heat	Description
Increased Vocalization	Your cat may meow loudly and frequently to attract mates.
Affectionate Behavior	She might seek more attention and rub against you or objects.
Restlessness	She may appear agitated, pacing around or trying to escape.
Posture Changes	She might adopt a mating position, raising her hindquarters.
Excessive Grooming	She may groom her genital area more than usual.
Spraying	Some cats may spray urine to mark their territory.

Phases of heat

There are four stages of heat, each with distinct symptoms.

Take note! Different breeds express sexual desire in different ways. Long-haired species therefore exhibit calmer behavior than oriental species.

Cats’ heat phases are shown in Table 1.

Phase name	Duration, days
Proestrus	1–3
Estrus	7–10 (during coitus — 4–6)
Metestrus	1–3
Anestrus	from 5–6 days to a month (depending on whether sexual intercourse occurred)

Proestrus

The female’s genitalia are getting ready for insemination during this phase, which is also known as preparatory. Though barely noticeable, the cat may ask to be picked up or gently rub against a person’s legs. Women tend to leave stains.

• swelling of the vulva;
• discharge of a colorless, transparent secretion from the genital slit;
• intensive licking of the genitals.

The owner’s legs are rubbed by the cat.

Estrus

The cat’s altered behavior makes this phase easy to identify. She calls out to the male while rolling and rubbing herself across the floor and trembling excitedly. She also lifts and wags her tail. A loud, shrill meow may accompany this, which could knock someone off balance.

Touching the pelvic region of the cat’s body induces a state similar to a human orgasm. This is visually demonstrated by the perianal zone muscles contracting quickly and rhythmically. Additionally, the gait alters. The animal lifts its tail while moving on partially bent paws.

Feminine animals also mark their territory, in addition to males. Certain ones have the tendency to start pissing in inappropriate places, like the owner’s bed, which can be quite inconvenient.

The excited cat’s pose

Crucial! In cats, ovulation happens one day following sex with a male, not earlier. An egg is released and a hormonal surge is caused by coitus.

The phase lasts for one to three days. Pregnancy-related yellow bodies form during this time. The intensity of the estrous symptoms is waning. The female acts aggressively toward the other sex and won’t let its representatives get close to her.

Video – Behavior of a cat during estrus

Anestrus

In the event that coitus has taken place, anestrus lasts roughly one month. If not, the phase lasts for just five or six days. At this point, interest in the sexual partner also fades, along with the typical signs of estrus and sexual arousal.

Interest in men fades at the end of the cycle.

First estrus

A number of variables affect when the first estrus occurs. Thus, this is the eleventh month of life, or even after a year, for cats with low temperaments. Active cats reach adulthood sooner. This can occur as early as the fourth month of life if there are health issues.

Discharge during estrus

It’s important to keep an eye on the type of discharge during estrus. As was previously said, they ought to be obvious and unimportant. If the discharge starts to turn red or white, you should see a doctor. This is a sign of a number of reproductive system illnesses, including endometritis, pyometra, hydrometra, and even cancerous processes.

Discharge could be a sign of internal organ diseases.

Frequency of sexual hunting

Numerous factors determine how frequently the process occurs. A young cat that hasn’t mated may occasionally experience monthly recurrence of estrus. This period is three months for those who have given birth at least once. Estrus returns after roughly six months of pregnancy. However, this occurs six weeks earlier than expected.

The cat goes on a "hunt" after five or six months of giving birth.

What to do if a cat is in estrus

Many cat owners think that cats should be left alone and receive less attention during this time. However, this is untrue. It will be beneficial for people to participate. The animal requires communication, affection, and stroking. If necessary, you can talk to her, brush her hair, and pick her up. This will help to distract and calm the animal. It is advised to engage your cat in active games to help it release energy. Food is served in small portions, and fresh water is always available. Water exercises aid in relaxation.

On "special" days, the cat requires the owners’ love and attention.

Additionally, medications are helpful. In order to correct the cat’s behavior on these days, sedatives such as Kot Bayun, No Stress, and Fitex are given. There is no risk to health if they are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Which medications are administered to cats to prevent semen?

Place catnip or an infusion of this herb in the animal’s favorite spots. Animals enjoy the essential oil it contains, which puts them in a similar state to that of drug intoxication.

When a cat marks its territory while in estrus, efforts are made to use educational techniques to change the behavior. The animal is showered with water from a spray bottle as it performs the act, and it claps loudly. Marking one’s territory has come to be linked with fear over time.

Using a spray bottle of water will assist in changing the behavior.

Take note! Veterinarians advise against using physical punishment on animals since it is never successful.

Medicines against estrus

Veterinary medicine producers have created several products that influence cats’ sexual hunting behavior.

Veterinary hormone medications are used to stop sexual hunting.

Take note! Veterinarians advise against using any of these medications as a last resort. They injure the animal to varying degrees.

• Covinan. The drug is produced by the Dutch company Intervet International B.V. The formula is based on an artificially created analogue of progesterone – the substance proligestone. It reduces the production of gonadotropic hormones, thereby preventing the development of estrus. If the drug is used in the anestrus phase, a contraceptive effect is achieved. The product is available in the form of a solution for subcutaneous injections. Recommended dosage is 1-1.5 ml (depending on the size of the cat) once or repeatedly, depending on the desired result. Before using the product, you need to consult a veterinarian. The drug does not exhibit androgenic action and is indicated for animals over 5 years old.

• KontrSex Neo. The active ingredients of the product are acetobumedone and ethinyl estradiol. The drug works like Covinan, but is available in tablet form. It is given at the first symptoms of arousal. Dosage – 1 tablet 3-5 days.

• Stop-Intim drops 2. Due to the content of megestrol acetate, estrogen production is inhibited, which prevents morphological and psychophysical changes in cats. Stop-Intim is a low-hazard substance and does not produce a mutagenic effect. It is given between heats or to interrupt sexual hunting.

Stop-Intim decreases by two

• Suprastin. The direct purpose of the drug is to treat allergies in people. However, it is also used to calm a cat during sexual arousal. Dosage – ¼ tablet for every 5 kg of weight. However, when using Suprastin, extreme caution should be exercised: even the slightest overdose will cause the death of the pet. The drug is hormonal and also leads to disturbances in the body. Veterinarians do not recommend the use of drugs for the treatment of people for the treatment of pets.

Take note! Hormonal medications used continuously to stop cats from engaging in sexual activity can lead to major genitourinary diseases such as cancer, ovarian cysts, pyometritis, and endometritis.

A cat may exhibit a number of telltale symptoms when she is in heat, including increased vocalization, restlessness, and a need for attention. She might be rubbing up against furniture, rolling around on the floor, or posing in a mating pose. By being able to identify these behaviors, you can help your cat feel more comfortable and take the proper care of her when she is in heat.

Sterilization

Sterilization is one of the safest ways to end estrus, which also eliminates sexual desire and the urge to procreate. It is executed through the use of radiation, medication, or surgery. The latter has shown to be the most trustworthy.

Sterilization will eliminate the annoyances related to estrus.

It is thought that 5-8 months, or before the first estrus, is the best time for the procedure. Because the body is not fully developed, surgical intervention is not performed earlier.

Video – Sterilization of a cat

Estrus after sterilization

• Retentive ovary syndrome is a pathology in which ovarian cells settle in the wrong place during intrauterine formation of the fetus. During surgery, the tissue may not be noticed: it is difficult to detect.
• Tumor of internal organs (adrenal glands, mammary gland, cyst on the uterus), which produces hormones.
• Adrenal glands that have taken over the tasks of the sex glands.
• Activity of pituitary hormones.
• Long-term attenuation of hormonal levels, especially if sterilization was carried out during estrus.
• Preserved ovarian tissue, or ovarioreminant syndrome, developing if not all cells of these reproductive organs are removed from the body.

See a veterinarian if the cat becomes heat-sensitive after sterilization. He will perform diagnostic procedures and recommend the best course of action. Repeated surgical intervention is necessary in certain cases.

Mating a cat

The question of when to do the first mating still matters to pedigree cat breeders. Veterinarians advise against doing this before the infant is between the ten and fifteen months old. The female’s body has finished developing by this point, allowing you to have flawless, healthy children. It’s best to forego the first two heating cycles. This rule must be observed in particular if the female is small.

The third heat is the earliest possible time for mating.

About three days after the onset of the first signs of sexual hunting, contact with the cat is scheduled. If the pet tries to arouse her partner and cuddles up to him, she’s ready for coitus.

The symptoms of estrus often vanish during mating, which takes place on the cat’s territory. Stress is another reason for this. The process will resume as soon as the cat adjusts to it.

Knowing when a cat is in heat will help you take care of her needs and make sure she’s comfortable. She might display certain behaviors during this time, like increased vocalization, restlessness, and affectionate tendencies. Giving her the care she requires can be made simpler if you are aware of these symptoms.

Knowing your cat’s heat cycle will also help you decide whether to spay her or control how she interacts with other cats. Consider speaking with a veterinarian if you observe these behaviors so they can advise you on the best course of action. This can maintain the health of your cat and help avoid unwanted litters.

It’s important to observe your cat’s behavior and body language during this period. You can help her through this normal stage of life, making sure she feels safe and at ease, if you give her the proper attention and understanding.

Video on the topic

How to know when a cat is in heat? How to determine when a cat is in heat for the first time?

Don Sphynx giving birth