How Can You Keep Your Cat From Going Into Heat
Clearly, some of these behaviors can be problematic for a pet parent. Not to mention that if your cat gets pregnant, youll have a whole other issue to tackle. So, the question is, how can you keep your cat from going into heat?
The only way to keep your cat from going into heat is to get them spayed. According to the ASPCA, you can spay kittens as early as eight weeks. Ideally, youll have them spayed before their first heat, which happens around five months.
Spaying will not only keep your cat from going into heat , but it can also support their long-term health. Spaying your cat before her first heat can help lower her risk for both uterine cancers and breast tumors, according to the ASPCA.
When Do Sphynx Cats Go Into Heat What To Do
Adopt a Sphynx cat that is not spayed or neutered, and you may begin to wonder, When do Sphynx cats go into heat? and the answer is, about 5 or 6 months old.
When do Sphynx cats go into heat? Female kittens will enter their first heat at about 5 to 6 months old. Males do not go into heat regularly like females, but sexual maturity occurs at 6 months old. They will always be ready for reproductive activities if a female is around.
This is the quick answer, but to really know more about the Sphynx and heat, please continue reading.
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When Do Male Cats Become Sexually Mature
The male kitten receives a surge of testosterone as he nears the time of birth. Sufficient testosterone levels in a 3-month old male kitten prompt the growth of its penile spineswhich will be necessary to induce ovulation when mating.
At 5 months, its testes will have matured and by 6 to 7 months, its penile spines should reach its full size. Finally, sperm can be detected in its seminal tubes at around 9 to 12 months.
While some male cats reach sexual maturity at 6 months, most have to wait until they reach 9 to 12 months of age to complete copulations. Cats in the wild reach sexual maturity a little later at around 18 months of age.
- Toms ages 1 to 3 years old will try to run away.
- Male cats will continue to show sexual interest throughout their lifetime, although desire may decrease with age.
- Male cat in heat meowing problems
So if male cats dont go into heat, then why do they cry, meow, or yowl when they want to copulate? Mating calls or vocalization are triggered by a female cat in heat.
The queen may call out first or the tom will smell the trail she left for him by rubbing or spraying. Meowing loudly is the toms signal that he got the message and that he will find a way to get to her.
If you want to avoid getting your sleep disrupted by a household tom, he should not be able to smell or hear an estrous cats signs. It would be difficult to distract a determined tom who knows nothing about self-control and everything about following the queens call.
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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.
What Do Cats Do When They Are In Heat
Cats in heat will spend most of their time searching for a nearby mate. If you dont want your cat to get pregnant, you will have to keep her indoors. She may be frustrated for a few days, as the female heat period lasts an average of six days. However, its imperative to keep her away from and unneutered male cats, or the chance of her getting pregnant is very high.
While your cat is stuck indoors, she will likely pace by entryways and windows, mewling loudly and calling to the males outside as if asking them to rescue her. She may spray in areas around the house as well, which will be messy and annoying. You can put her in cat diapers, for the time being, to stop the spraying. These diapers will also stop any bleeding that may occur, though its uncommon to see spotting or bleeding from your cat.
If your cat is allowed outside when shes in heat, then you may not see her for nearly a week. She will likely be out and about, spreading her scent and spending all of her time calling for a mate. She may lay out in the middle of your property, meowing loudly and strutting or rolling around. Her entire existence will be dedicated to finding a physical partner during this time.
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Neuter Home Recovery Kit
There are things you can do to prepare for your cats neuter, like creating a neuter home recovery kit. You will need:
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A quiet room with clean, dry bedding
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Elizabethan collar
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Litter box with the right kind of litter
Containing cats is notoriously tricky. So if possible, confine your cat to a room while he recovers from his neuter. This allows you to keep a close eye on him for signs of complications, and also helps ensure that he doesnt make a break for the outdoors. Provide him with clean, dry bedding and plenty of food and water.
Veterinarians recommend avoiding granular, clay, or clumping litter until the scrotal incisions have healedusually several days. Remember to spend some time with him throughout the day so he doesnt get lonely.
When Do Kittens Go Into Heat
A heat is part of your kittys estrus cycle a reproductive cycle that shares some similarities to a humans menstrual cycle. If your female cat hasnt been spayed, shell go into heat by six months of age .
Here are some things you should know about your cats estrus cycle:
- A cat can go into heat as often as every 2-3 weeks, year round.
- Pregnancy can occur as early as the first heat.
- Cats dont experience menopause, so they continue to go into heat well into their senior years.
- A cats heat may be identified through tests at your veterinarians office, but most commonly, its identified because of a cats behavior.
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How To Deal With A Cat In Heat
Cats in heat can exhibit behaviors that often make them less enjoyable as pets. Cats that are unspayed will go through multiple heat cycles every year and run the risk of becoming pregnant every time.
Spaying your female cat will ensure she doesnt have an unwanted pregnancy and eliminate the unpleasant side effects of going into heat.
What Happens During A Normal Cat Birth
Just before the birth, the female cat may become restless or meow or purr or pant She will clean around the birth passage and the teats. Its thought that she lays a trail of saliva for the kittens to follow to find a teat after theyre born. She will go through several different stages of labour . Each kitten is born in a sac of amniotic fluid that the mother licks and nibbles to free the kitten. She bites through the umbilical cord and eats the kittens placenta, and using her rough tongue she cleans the kitten and stimulates it to breathe. Most cats , will give birth without a problem and will need no human intervention.
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Do Cats Bleed While In Heat
No, cats shouldnât bleed when in heat. If that, or anything else odd or worrisome happens, contact your veterinarian.
Vahrenwald says that unless you want kittens, you should keep your cat insideaway from potential matesduring her heat cycle. But her best recommendation is to spay your cat and avoid heat cycles all together.
Male Cats Spray Urine
Probably the worst offense attributed to male cats is the habit of urine spraying. Males spray their territory as a warning of the boundaries to other cats. Toms also spray as an advertisement of their sexual prowess when seeking females to mate with. An anxious cat may also spray to comfort himself by spreading his own scent.
That said, urine spraying is not always behavioral by nature. A case of kidney stones can drive a cat to spray in an effort to pass the blockage and gain a little relief. Likewise, a urinary tract infection can also lead to disturbing urinary behaviors.
If your cat is spraying, get him checked out by a vet to rule out medical problems and clean up after him with a product like NOse Offense to help remove his scent. Neutering may also help if the spraying is related to mating behaviors. Some owners also find pheromone diffusers and sprays like Feliway can help reduce spraying.
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Is Your Cat In Heat Heres What You Need To Know
Cat in heat? Uh oh! Follow our tips to be prepared for your cat’s mating behavior and know what you can do to best help your feline friend.
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of raising two adorable baby kittens from infancy we fed them with a bottle and helped them grow into big healthy, teenage cats. But at some point, my young cats started acting funny and I soon realized it was because they had reached the age of sexual maturity. Hello, cat in heat! But what to do when you are presented with this funny behavior, and the new mating rituals of your feline furry friend? How do you recognize the signs of a cat in heat?And how to best handle a cat in heat ? Well cover all that and more, in the article below. Plus, discover the best way to keep track of your cat at all times.
Male Feline Sexual Behavior
Chapter 5 Male Feline Sexual Behavior
After the initial intermale encounter, subsequent meetings usually do not involve fights, and courting males do not fight around estrous females.82 This system generally allows all healthy males a chance to mate an estrous female, with territorial males having the best opportunity, especially for the first mating. Certain territorial males do not permit other males to mate within their area or in their presence, which causes the intruder to flee or become a psychologic castrate. An occasional male does not leave home at sexual maturity but is usually restless in the presence of the resident tomcat.63 Under controlled conditions, one tomcat is usually sufficient for 20 females.32
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What It Means For A Cat To Be In Heat
The term in heat refers to the time period during a cats reproductive cycle when she is able to become pregnant. Cats only experience being in heat when they reach sexual maturitywhich is typically around the six-month mark. Depending on the cat, they may hit sexual maturity slightly earlier or later.
What To Do When A Cat Is In Heat
If you have a cat that is in heat, the attention-seeking behavior can be annoying and persistent. Breeding a cat in heat will, of course, stop the cycle but then pregnancy is likely to result which will potentially leave you with even more cats that will come into heat. Getting a cat spayed is the best way to prevent or eliminate these unwanted behaviors. This will of course also ensure the cat never goes into heat again and avoids the unwanted behaviors that go along with it. Some veterinarians will want to wait until the current heat cycle has finished due to the increased risk of surgical bleeding while others will spay a cat while actively in heat.
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What Happens When Cats Go Into Heat
Heat cycles occur when a catâs body is hormonally ready and receptive to becoming pregnant. During the cycle, your cat may be more vocal in the evening if she smells potential mates outside and wants to go out to them. Vahrenwald says she might also be more willing to have her rear end petted and may even rub it on her owners.
Some cats who are in heat will urinate more often or spray it onto vertical obstacles. This is because their pee contains hormones and pheromones that actually help attract male cats. Feline dating habits are weird, but effective. You might even see unfamiliar male cats start appearing in your yard.
Outside of the strange bathroom habits and the presence of tomcats, Vahrenwald says it might be hard to tell if your cat is in heat.
âItâs not super obvious,â Vahrenwald says.
What Are The Basics Of Cat Reproduction
Cats reach sexual maturity from around 4 months of age. Hence current advice to have your cat neutered around 4 months old to prevent unwanted pregnancies .
The timing of reproductive activity is probably triggered by an increase in day length which signals that better weather is on the way bringing with it an availability of food animals for the cat so that when the kittens are born after a 9-week pregnancy the mother and kittens will have sufficient food. In the northern hemisphere, therefore, cat pregnancies and births increase in March, April and May and decrease from October to January, while in the southern hemisphere the reverse is found. Cats on the equator probably dont have a great deal of change in their reproductivity throughout the year.
However, for female cats, this time of heat or coming into season, or oestrus, isnt one long period but many short periods . During these periods the cat will exhibit what could be described as flirtatious behaviour, rubbing and rolling on the floor, marking, and making a plaintive yet demanding rising and falling pitch known as calling. Owners who havent previously owned an unneutered female cat sometimes think that their pet is in pain and that these behaviours are signs of illness, whereas in fact, theyre quite normal for a female cat in search of a mate.
If mating does not occur the eggs are not released and the cycle is repeated again about two weeks later.
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What Does A Cat In Heat Act Like
If your cat is in heat, youll know it. They experience some big behavioral changes, such as:
- Vocalization. Your cat will make very loud meowing and yowling noises, in the hopes of attracting a mate.
- Affectionate or clingy behavior.
- Elevating their backside in the air.
- Increased urination and urine odor, and possibly urine marking outside their litter box.
- Attempts to escape home to find a mate.
Heat symptoms can last from a few days to two weeks.
Vaginal discharge or bleeding can also occur, but its unusual to see, especially since kitties are so good at keeping themselves clean.
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.
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