Phases Of Heat Cycles In Cats
A cat goes through five phases during a heat cycle:
-
Proestrus: Only lasts one to two days typically no change in behavior
-
Estrus : Lasting an average of seven days , this is the stage where you will see behavioral changes in your cat. This is also the stage where your cat will be receptive to male cats and can become pregnant.
-
Interestrus: This period occurs if a cat has not ovulated. It lasts 13-18 daysuntil proestrus starts again.
-
Diestrus: Occurs when a cat has ovulated
-
Anestrus: This is the absence of any heat cycle. It can occur as a result of fewer daylight hours .
Determine Whether Your Cat Is In Heat
Study about feline reproductive cycle and understand what to expect in each stage.
Make it a habit to regularly check her physical condition to discern what is normal and what is not.
A swollen genital is the earliest sign of heat cycle, so you need to watch out for it.
If your kitty shows increased appetite and restlessness along with the sudden physical changes, you should expect that shes going into heat.
Spaying And Other Long
Don’t Miss: How To Stop Cat From Scratching Door
My Cat Is Pregnant Now What
Once youve confirmed the pregnancy, youll need to decide what to do based on how far along the cat is in her pregnancy:
- For an unplanned pregnancy in your cat, one option is to terminate the pregnancy. Discuss this with your vet.
- The other option is to allow your cat to go to full term and deliver the kittens.
If you decide to allow the pregnancy to go to term, make arrangements for the kittens care in your home or contact local shelters or rescues to make arrangements.
Assuming youve had the vet checkup and have discussed vaccinations and medical concerns, youll next need to look at dietary needs.
Your pregnant cat needs a nutrient-rich diet during her pregnancy and fresh, clean water at all times.
How Can I Keep My Cat Calm While Shes In Heat
While your cat is in heat, she may experience some added stress and anxiety. Its important to keep your cat calm and comfortable during this time.
Each cat is an individual, so your approach will have to depend on your own unique cat.
Some cats may prefer extra petting, brushings, and attention to relax. Extra exercise can help burn off some energy and reduce stress, too, so you may wish to try some active games that get your cat moving.
Other cats prefer to be left alone and hide when they feel anxious. If your cat feels more relaxed when shes on her own, try providing her with a safe, quiet space where she can retreat. A carrier, cat bed, or enclosed area even a box with blankets might give her a nice place to calm down.
A heating pad might also help your cat relax and stay warm. Many cats find catnip or pheromone products to be relaxing. You should only use these products if they help your cat stay calm when shes not in heat. Some cats get too excited by these products, and you wont be helping by providing them during a heat cycle.
Read Also: How Cold Can Cats Be Outside
How Do You Stop A Cat In Heat
Spay Your Cat to Avoid Heat Cycle Issues It can be done, but theres an increased potential for surgical complications. However, if you have no intention of breeding your cat, consider spaying her. That way, you wont have to deal with this situation in the future, and youll prevent the birth of unwanted litters.
How Often Does A Female Cat Come Into Heat
Cats are seasonally polyestrous, which means that they have multiple cycles during the breeding season. The breeding season will vary according to geographic and environmental factors such as temperature and the number of daylight hours. In the Northern Hemisphere, cats usually cycle from January until the late fall. Cats that live in more tropical regions or mainly indoors however, may cycle all year round.
Read Also: How To Train A Kitten Not To Bite
The Cat Heat Cycle Explained
All female cats will go through the natural heat cycle unless they have been spayed or are pregnant. This is also referred to as the estrus cycle and during this time, a cat is capable of breeding that is, mating and having kittens. The stages of the cat in heat cycle are described in detail below:
How Long Does A Cat Stay In Heat
Cats go through 4 different heat phases during their heat cycle. This is also why one cannot give a clear and set answer to the question of how long a cats heat lasts. A cat can experience heat symptoms for days or even weeks. Generally, however, the heat period in cats lasts about 7-10 days. At the end of a cats heat period, the male enters the female with its barbed penis, causing pain in the female cat, triggering ovulation. This process is commonly known as induced ovulation. If fertilization does not occur, a female cats heat phase will repeat itself.
Also Check: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
How To Tell When Your Cat Is In Heat
You might expect bleeding when a cat goes into heat, but thats not usually the case.
Although a small amount of bleeding and discharge may occur, it is not common. The changes are more behavioral.
Here are some ways a cats behavior may change when she goes into heat:
- More affectionate
This video shows a cat in heat meowing to a male cat. Grab some ear plugs:
Urinary markings serve a purpose to other cats:
- The pheromones and hormones released in the urine indicate the female cats reproductive status.
- The scent can be so strong at times that you may notice male cats hanging around outdoors even if your cat is an indoor pet.
Spaying: The Only Long
The only way to prevent a cat from going into heat is to have her spayed as a young kittenbefore she reaches maturity . The youngest she can be spayed is usually around 812 weeks, or she must weigh at least two pounds. Once spayed, she will not go into heat again.
If you have an adult cat who has not yet been spayed, it’s not too late! Cats can be spayed at any age, though it may be best to wait until she is not actively in heat. Consult your vet to determine the best time to spay your adult cat.
Read Also: Cost Of Blue Buffalo Cat Food
Factors That Influence Heat Cycles
In addition to the biological process, there are a fewexternal factors that can affect your cats heat cycle.
As observed earlier, external heat plays a huge factor in stimulating the hormones that kick off the pro-estrus stage. Higher temperatures and warmer climates could cause extended reproductive cycles.
Exposure to natural light also is an important factor. Forindoor cats, artificial lights can be used to influence the cycle.
The constant presence of tomcats around her can also advanceher sexual maturity and increase her drive.
Dealing With Her Behavior
You May Like: How Cold Can Cats Be Outside
Do Female Cats Have Periods
Female cats do have a monthly cycle, but one which is quite different from female humans. Rather than shedding the uterine lining like human women do every 32 days or so, cats and select mammals reabsorb the old uterine-lining rather than bleeding it out. This takes place during the estrus cycle described below.
A small amount of blood may be shed during the heat cycle of your cat but it is more common for a female cat with a period to display the signs of a cat in heat above. Contact your vet if you notice worrisome bleeding in your female or male cat.
How To Manage A Cat In Heat
A cat in heat is incredibly difficult to live with. And because your cat’s behavior is absolutely normal, don’t try to search for a “cure.” Yes, it is possible to use vet-prescribed synthetic progesterone injections to ward off heat and save both your cat and yourself from its symptoms. But frankly, spaying is a better choice and a more permanent option.
If you do intend to breed her and just need to get through these cycles, provide your cat with toys or pillows that she can shred while she’s in heat, and play with her often. Make her a nest with a warm heating pad for privacy and offer her catnip to calm her down. If things seem to escalate and she becomes troublesome, stress-relieving herbs, made especially for pets and found at your local health food store, might work as a last resort.
You May Like: Blue Buffalo Limited Ingredient Cat Food
Can A Cat In Heat Be Sterilized
A cat in heat can be sterilized. However, we recommend avoiding neutering your cat during its heat cycle. Neutering a cat during its heat cycle can carry more complications and result in excess bleeding.
Is your cat in heat still getting its period? Find out why here.
If you want to read similar articles to How Long Is A Cat In Heat?, we recommend you visit our Heat category.
What Are The Signs Of Estrus
It is not common to observe vaginal bleeding from a cat in heat. The most notable signs of estrus in cats are behavioral. Most cats become very affectionate, even demanding they persistently rub against their owners , constantly wanting attention. They roll on the floor. When stroked along the back or spine, they raise their rear quarters into the air and tread with the back legs. They also become very vocal. These behavior changes often become annoying to owners, and sometimes owners think their cat has some unusual illness.
Some female cats will urinate more frequently or may even spray urine on vertical objects when they are in heat. The urine contains both pheromones and hormones, both of which act as signals of her reproductive status to other cats. This is the reason that queens in heat attract intact male cats. In some cases, this may be the first indication that a young cat has reached puberty.
Tomcats that have never been seen before in your yard or neighborhood will appear. They may spray urine on the house to mark the territory as theirs or may even attempt to enter the house to mate with the female.
Don’t Miss: Cat Swollen Leg And Paw
Why Do Mama Cats Kill Their Kittens
Yes, occasionally, female cats do kill and even eat their kittens.
Mom cats will sometimes do this if they think theres some danger threatening their kits.
According to cat expert Sarah Hartwell, it is a frustrated protection instinct. Unable to protect her kittens against a perceived threat, she kills them in a futile attempt at protecting them.
Inexperienced mother cats are more likely to do this. They get frightened and take the kittens into their mouths to protect them, inadvertently swallowing them.
Theres also the myth that cats will kill their kittens if humans handle them. Disregard it. Mother cats will move their kittens if this happens, yes kill them, no.
Handling kittens as soon as their eyes are open is actually a good idea it helps with their socialization. But dont let children handle the kittens. They may not realize how fragile the babies are.
How To Build Your Own Cat Feeding Station
Rather than just putting out some bowls of food, setting up an actual feeding station can help entice your outdoor cats and feral ones to stop by for some tasty meals. The video below provides a super easy tutorial on making a simple but effective feeding station. And if you’re looking for something a little different, take a look at Alley Cat Allies’cool little gallery of various feeding station designs.
Here are just a few tips to keep in mind once you get to work on making your own:
Also Check: Are Zebra Plants Toxic To Cats
Postpartum Depression In A Cat
Theres not much written on the subject.
As someone pointed out in an online discussion, we still dont really understand it in humans. Whether animals can suffer postpartum depression depends on how you define postpartum depression. Technically speaking, the current clinical definition only applies to humans, so a clinicians answer would be no.
But one woman in the same forum talked about how her affectionate young female cat turned into a little ghost-cat after her kittens were born: I cant give her a cuddle now, she just walks away or hear her purr, just feel it in her chest.
Another person who worked in a shelter had dealt with a mother cat who went from very sweet to psycho kitty in nanoseconds, and this was after her kittens had been taken away so that they could be socialized. The cats hormones finally settled down after spaying, and she reverted to her sweet self.
After losing her own babies, this cat adopted rescued kittens:
Dr. Thomas Morganti, DVM, of the Avon Veterinary Clinic in Connecticut doesnt see why postpartum depression should apply only to humans.
As the kittens are weaned, the oxytocin levels drop because the mothers not nursing anymore. And oxytocin is the hormone of love, he says.
He believes that postpartum depression happens in all species. Its just that the changes are subtle. Somebody else might not notice it, but you might in your own cat.
It would also explain Rivers behavior, Kathie feels.
How Long Do Cats Stay In Heat
Have you been observing your little fluff ball behave strangely? If so, the chances are your little cat is not so little anymore! She is in heat and is biologically ready to bring in more adorable fluff balls into the world.
How does being in heat affect them? What can you do? How canyou make your felines life easier?
We have put together the answers to all possible questionsyou may have about your cats reproductive cycle. If you have a female cat or considering adopting one, these are things you need to know.
You May Like: Why Does My Cat Put Her Butt In My Face
Reason 1: Your Cat Gets Stuck While Wandering Through The Neighborhood
If you have an outdoor cat, itâs normal behaviour that your cat wanders through the area and takes her daily walks outside. What you might also know, is that cats are very curious pets.
Good to know: While theyâre trying to discover new places, be they distracted or just curious, many cats get stuck in various narrow places, such as fences, tubs, etc.
This is when a GPS tracker for cats proves very useful! This way, you will always know where kitty is and can help her immediately, in case you notice that she may be in trouble. The LIVE Tracking feature can tell you where your cat is at all times. Afraid that a tracking collar will create trouble to your curious feline? Worry no longer! Due to the breakaway mechanism of the Tractive GPS CAT Tracker, the collar will immediately âbreakâ apart in case of pressure and it can then be easily re-attached to your feline.