In The Animal World, What Does It Mean To Be "In Heat"?

True cat Health Care

Cats in Heat: What Exactly Happens?

What exactly is a cat "in heat," what are the signs of cats in heat and how long are cats in heat? Here'due south what you lot need to know about cats in heat.

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, July 29, 2019

The symptoms of cats in heat can effort the patience of even the most loving pet owners, which is why veterinarians recommend having female cats spayed before the first heat cycle occurs. Cats in heat have entered the phase of the feline reproduction bike that's characterized by her receptiveness to males and to mating. This phase is too known as estrus. In the world of cat breeding, unspayed females are known as "queens."

What is cat estrus? When practise cats beginning go into rut?

A gray cat kissing an orange cat. — When do cats first go into heat? Photography ©Voren1 | Thinkstock.

True cat oestrus begins as animals reach sexual maturity, usually at near six months of historic period, although some cats volition go into heat as early as 4 months and others as late every bit 10 to 12 months.

Cats are considered to be polyestrous, meaning they have several heat cycles a year (in dissimilarity to dogs, which are diestrous and typically have two heat cycles a yr). This means that breeding cats tin produce a litter at whatever time of the year, even though springtime is often considered to be "kitten season."

Signs of heat or cats in heat:

Even if you've never been effectually cats in oestrus earlier, you're very likely to know something is going on with your pet — the behaviors she uses to go the attending of a potential mate volition no doubt get your attention also. The signs of cats in heat or cats experiencing oestrus can mimic signs of pain or distress in your true cat, and include the following:

Your cat is likely to go extremely affectionate, constantly rubbing up against y'all, other animals in the household or even the furniture.
When you stroke or pet your cat, she may instinctively assume the mating position, with her head down low and hindquarters raised high.
She'll become noticeably more vocal, and her vocalizations will include unusually loud yowls that are designed to gain the attention of a mate.
She may spray a fine stream of urine effectually your home as she marks her territory in an attempt to lure in a mate.
Your cat may exhibit restless pacing, or may roll back and forth on the floor constantly.
Cats in rut may lose their appetites completely.
In some cases, cats in heat may persistently lick their genitals, which are likely to exist engorged and swollen. You lot may also notice a bloody discharge.
Your cat may make connected attempts to escape from your domicile in her efforts to detect a mate. This may include clawing at window screens or dashing out the door when it opens.

How to handle cats in oestrus:

If you don't want kittens, keep cats in heat indoors. If cats in heat do get out, they're more at risk for contracting infectious diseases, such every bit feline leukemia, from any infected male cats that they try to breed with.

Remember that responsible cat breeders carefully screen and select the male cats they breed with their queens, not only to ensure a purebred pedigree, only also to prevent such manual of disease.

How long are cats in heat?

And so, how long are cats in heat? Typically, the estrous stage will last between a week and 10 days. Withal, if your true cat isn't able to mate and become pregnant, she'll very probable go into oestrus again former inside the next three weeks. Some cats who aren't immune to brood may seem to be more or less constantly in heat.

How can you lot prevent a cat from going into heat?

The only mode to prevent the heat cycle from repeating over and over again, along with the distress it causes both you and your pet, is to have your female person true cat spayed. It is a myth that cats should exist allowed to become through one heat cycle or fifty-fifty to have ane litter before spaying. Early spaying is widely regarded equally the about ethical course for pet owners to take, in light of the millions of animals who are euthanized at pet shelters each year. It's but irresponsible to bring another litter of kittens into the globe when there are already too few homes for existing animals.

Spaying is considered major surgery considering it involves entering the abdomen to remove both ovaries and the uterus, yet the procedure is safety and routine when performed past a qualified vet. And although information technology's possible to perform the surgery at any time of the estrous wheel, nearly veterinarians decline to spay cats in heat because the engorged blood vessels in the reproductive organs create an increased risk of heavy bleeding.

Thumbnail: Photography by karamysh / Shutterstock.

This slice was originally published in 2012.

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