Content
- Differences in heat between cats and females
- cat in heat
- cat in heat
- Because the cat's meow in heat is more intense
- Cat in heat: what to do to calm down?
- Can you neuter cat in heat?
- Home remedies to calm cat in heat
Meowing is the sound that cats use most often to communicate with people and also with other cats. However, there are many types of meowing that can have different meanings, depending on the context and the emotions that the pussy feels at each moment of her daily life.
Generally, the meowing of a cat in heat becomes more intense and constant, and it can even be a reason for problems with the neighborhood. In addition to these external conflicts, knowing how to calm a cat in heat is also important to maintain a good relationship inside your home, especially if you have two or more pets that share the same territory.
With that in mind, in this article by PeritoAnimal, we will explain to you how to avoid cat meowing in heat safely and effectively. Even so, remember to always consult a veterinarian if you notice your pet's behavior is suddenly changing.
Differences in heat between cats and females
Before learning how to avoid the meowing of a cat in heat, it is important to understand the role that this vocal emission plays in the reproductive dynamics of these cats. To do this, you must first understand the difference between heat in female cats and in cats.
cat in heat
The heat in cats happens in certain times of the year during which they will be receptive and willing to be fertilized by males. Generally, a cat has its first heat between the sixth and ninth month of life and, thereafter, this fertile period will repeat periodically.
The periodicity or frequency of heat in cats can vary greatly according to some aspects inherent to the organism of each female, such as genetic inheritance, race, age and health status. They are also influenced by external or environmental variables, such as the weather, the availability of sunlight and even living with other cats.
cat in heat
On the other hand, male cats remain in a kind of constant heat, in which they can register peaks of greater and lesser intensity. In other words, males are always prepared to reproduce and are fertile throughout the year, not showing periods of fertility and receptivity as in the case of female cats.
These peaks of greater and lesser intensity of sexual desire tend to vary according to aspects very similar to those that influence the females' heat. For example, a healthy young cat that lives in a neighborhood with many unneutered females is likely to be more excited than an elderly pussy or a cat with a health problem.
Because the cat's meow in heat is more intense
In the wild, virtually all animals issue a sex call when breeding season arrives. Each species has a characteristic sound that serves, mainly, to call or attract possible sexual partners. In most cases, males issue the sexual call more intensely than females and this issue also announces their presence in a certain territory to other males.
So a cat in heat, meowing particularly intensely and insistently, is actually making a sex call. This is completely normal and part of the behavior related to sexual desire and the survival instinct that is present in all animals. However, excessive meowing isn't the only symptom of heat in cats that can turn out to be a warning sign for guardians.
During the cat's period in heat, both females and males tend to show more skittish and hyperactive behavior. Normally, you will notice that the pussy is anxious and even nervous because it feels the need to find a partner to reproduce. Therefore, many cats in heat end up running away from home and run the risk of getting lost, in addition to being involved in street fights and infecting themselves with serious diseases.
For all these reasons, it is essential that a tutor knows how to avoid the cat's meowing in heat and also understands the importance of calming the pussy, preventing the risks of escape attempts and some behavior problems such as the sudden development of aggression.
Cat in heat: what to do to calm down?
You can find many home remedies and palliatives to help a cat in heat and calm males when they notice the presence of fertile females around them. However, the castration is the only 100% effective method to avoid cat meowing in heat and other behavioral changes related to sexual desire. At this point, it is important to understand the difference between neutering and neutering procedures.
Sterilization consists, in very basic terms, of “interrupting” the natural pathways that carry the sexual gametes within the reproductive system, not allowing the female's eggs to meet the male's sperm. Although they are not identical procedures, we could compare sterilization to vasectomy in men and to fallopian tube ligation in women.
On the other hand, castration is a more complex and irreversible surgical procedure, in which the animal's internal reproductive organs are extracted. In the case of males, the testicles are extracted, leaving only the scrotum. And in the case of females, it is possible to extract only the ovaries or the uterus and ovaries. Therefore, only castration is effective to prevent and control behaviors related to sexual desire.
Unfortunately, some owners have even realized the benefits of spaying a cat, which are not limited to achieving more stable behavior, but also include the possibility of preventing several serious diseases in pussies, such as inflammation and uterine cancer in females and prostate cancer in male cats.
Also, adopt a safe and effective reproductive control it is essential to avoid unplanned litters that may end up contributing, directly or indirectly, to the increase in the population of cats abandoned on the streets in situations of total vulnerability.
Can you neuter cat in heat?
Theoretically it is possible to neuter a cat in heat however this is not the best time.o to perform this operation. During the fertile period, the female's body is particularly sensitive, which can increase the risks involved in any surgery that requires general anesthesia.
Therefore, if your kitten has already had her first heat, it is best to wait for her to enter the anestrus to perform the operation. It is also possible to neuter a female in the pre-puberty stage, that is, before she reaches sexual maturity. In both cases, it is essential to consult a veterinarian to confirm the best age to neuter your cat.
The same advice applies to male cat owners, even if they do not have alternating fertile cycles like females, the veterinarian's guidance is essential to choose the best time to neuter a male cat.
Home remedies to calm cat in heat
We have already explained that neutering is the only 100% effective way to prevent behavior changes in cats in heat. However, it is also possible to apply some homemade solutions to try to alleviate the hyperactivity and nervousness that males and females develop due to increased sexual desire. These alternatives can be extremely useful while you wait for your pet's heat to pass before you can neuter it.
Depending on your pet's organism and personality, a cat-calming home remedy can be more or less effective. For example, the chamomile or valerian teas are quite common natural tranquilizers that tend to alleviate the pussy's nervousness and help you sleep better.
Catnip or catweed can have a stimulating or tranquilizing effect, depending on the body of each cat, as well as the form or amount offered by the guardians. Another alternative to calm a cat in heat is to use sprays of feline pheromones that release artificial hormones and serve both to stimulate the pet's mind and keep it entertained, as well as to convey a sense of well-being and security.
However, all of these alternatives should be evaluated and discussed with a veterinarian before being applied. Especially in the case of pheromones and catnip, as an incorrect or unbalanced administration can lead to complications and adverse effects on your pet's health.
Last but not least, it is essential to prevent the pussy from running away from home during heat. You must also provide an enriched and positive environment, remember to take the necessary steps so that the cat does not escape, such as keeping windows and doors closed, installing safety nets on balconies or open spaces and restricting access to the streets (at cats that are used to taking trips abroad).