Content
- When does the first heat of cats occur and how often?
- How long does the heat from a cat
- Symptoms of a cat in heat
- How to calm a cat in heat?
- Sterilization to prevent heat in cats
When living with a cat, it is inevitable that caregivers worry about their heat period. Due to the specific characteristics that the estrus of cats presents, which we will explain in this article by PeritoAnimal, this is always a subject of conversation and, due to the problems it produces, most caregivers choose, with common sense, sterilization. So that you can make this decision, we will review below. how long is the heat of the cats, what symptoms it presents and when it starts.
When does the first heat of cats occur and how often?
We call heat the period when the cat is fertile and therefore you can get pregnant. There may be variations, but in general, cats start their first heat at 6 months of age. However, this also depends on the time of year, as heat is influenced by sunlight, which means that more than just talking about how often a cat goes into heat, we must realize that the heat will last for months, usually from late winter, spring, summer and early autumn. It can continue throughout the year in female cats that live indoors and are affected by artificial light, as well as in tropical climates with more than 12 hours of light per day.
This does not mean that the cat will spend all this time showing signs of heat, but that, during those months, she can go into heat at any time.
How long does the heat from a cat
cats are considered seasonal polyestric, that is, they have several estrus during their reproductive period. Likewise, the answer to how long a cat's heat lasts is not unique, as she can show symptoms for days or even weeks continuously, although usually the heat lasts 7 days and repeats every 10.
If a male has access to it and copulation occurs, upon completion, the cat removes its spike-covered penis, causing pain in the female and triggering ovulation. This process is called induced ovulation. If fertilization does not occur, heat is not interrupted.
Symptoms of a cat in heat
Due to the peculiarities of her cycle, rather than the length of a cat's heat, we should focus on identifying her symptoms, which will be unmistakable, although you should know that they are not noticeable in all cats. a cat in heat usually will be nervous, very restless, demanding your attention and issuing a very high-pitched meow, strident and continuous, which may appear more intense at night. It is also possible that she will direct you to the windows or doors and try to get out.
These manifestations can be answered by the neighborhood cats, if any, with the risk of incidents occurring among them as they approach. The pheromones that cats produce during heat also can induce heat in other nearby cats. Obviously, if the cat has access to the outside, she will likely return to the state. You may also notice that your cat is rub against your body or against objects, it is more affectionate (although some cats are aggressive), it lifts its tail and shows its genitals. Your appetite may increase at the beginning of heat and decrease towards the end. Some female cats urinate more often and can mark territory with their urine.
How to calm a cat in heat?
The only way to calm a cat in heat is avoid himOtherwise, you will have to live with the symptoms that heat produces throughout its duration. To stop heat, there are medications that can be administered by the veterinarian, but it is important to know that, although they can be the solution for a specific time, in the long term they have serious side effects, such as breast tumors or uterine infection.
For all that, and also adding to the health benefits it brings, we can only recommend the sterilization, which usually involves removing the uterus and ovaries. With that, the cat will not have the heat again and, therefore, will not be able to reproduce.
Sterilization to prevent heat in cats
In order not to have to worry about the duration of a cat's heat, the symptoms it produces or whether she became pregnant or not, we recommend a ovary-hysterectomy, always performed by trusted veterinarians. It is recommended that this operation be performed before the first heat, so you can enjoy all its health benefits, such as avoiding the appearance of breast tumors.
Is it possible to spay a cat in heat?
It is better that the cat is not in heat when the intervention is carried out. Although a cat can be spayed when in heat, if there is no other choice, it is preferable that it is not, to prevent the increased blood supply in the area from complicating the procedure with possible bleeding.
Learn more about cat heat in the following video on the subject: