Cats in Heat: Everything You Need to Know

A cat going into heat is what is known as the estrus cycle. The estrus cycle begins when cats hit maturity and are able to start to reproduce. Outside of this period, cats will not become pregnant so you don’t have to worry about not letting your cat out when they are not in heat. There are different stages to a cat’s heat cycle, these include:

●      Aneostrous

Anoestrous is the period when your cat is not in heat. This is usually during the colder months when the days are shorter and daylight is lacking. Cold weather and low light will suppress a cat coming into heat to make sure they only have a litter during the optimal months to try and guarantee survival. Cats who don’t go outside may have their cycle in the winter due to the house being kept nice and warm along with the artificial lighting!

●      Proestrus

Proestrus is the period just before a cat comes into heat over the course of three days to a week where you might notice they’re becoming more affectionate with you. They can be a little more vocal as they get closer to their heat.

●      Estrus

Estrust is the period in the cycle where a cat can become pregnant, during this period they will be actively calling for a mate.

●      Metestrus

Metestrus is right after their heat period where they will begin to return to normal behaviour and start rejecting any male attention. They’ll still be attracting males with their scent but this will reduce until they return to anoestrous. A cat needs to be mated to ovulate so they will come in and out of estrus every few weeks, usually in the spring if they are not actively breeding.

Dogs are very obvious when they experience their seasons as they tend to leave a bloody discharge around the house in resting areas or just as they walk. Cats are a lot more discreet so most of the signs of them being in heat are more behavioural. One of the most common signs of a cat being in heat that is hard to miss is how vocal they become. It won’t be like their normal meow, in fact, many pet parents believe their beloved pet is in pain the first time they hear them call for a mate. When a cat calls for a mate, it will sound more like wailing or yowling, not the usual happy chirp they might give when you get home from work.

A cat in heat will usually be very reactive to being handled so when you go to stroke them, they will really push back against your hand. They might curl up on your lap more and brush against your legs more. Cats in heat can also become more sensitive from all of the hormones that are rushing through her. It’s harder to settle and get comfortable when they’re in heat so they might have less patience for being picked up and held.

Every cat is different, they can be in heat for up to 21 days but the average is about a week. If they aren’t mated during this week then they usually go into metestrus before returning into estrus after another week or so of not being in heat. This will usually last anywhere from three weeks up to six weeks before they complete their cycle and return to anestrus.

Cats will only start to go into heat when they reach maturity. This usually occurs around six months of age but can start as young as four months if they are larger and mature faster. As they get older, they may come into heat less and less but even senior cats still experience estrus and can continue to mate into quite an old age.

There are a range of other symptoms that your moggy is in heat, including:

●      Arching their back when you stroke them

●      Restlessness

●      Increased grooming

●      Excessive affection

●      General discomfort

●      Holding her tail to the side

Try keeping your kitty distracted and entertained whilst they’re on heat, whether it’s with new toys and games. Warmth also offers your feline friend extra comfort, so look to blankets, heat packs and warm towels to soothe your kitty. It’s really important to keep your moggy inside and not near any other male cats if you want to avoid any accidental encounters.

While cats are not in pain when they are in heat, they can appear uncomfortable and a little under the weather. Being flooded with hormones can cause them to become unsettled along with the stress that comes with searching for a mate. They can be more sensitive and not quite themselves but a heat cycle should not cause any major issues like pain. Unlike dogs, you will rarely see a cat bleed from their vulva during their heat so if they do appear to be in pain or are passing blood, there may be another issue and you should get in touch with your vet.

Cats don’t shed their uterus lining so vaginal bleeding shouldn’t happen; there may be light discharge which is alike to mucus in appearance. If your feline friend bleeds, it’s a sign of a health issue like a uterine infection or a UTI so speak to your local vet as soon as possible today.

This is another way in which cats are different from dogs. While in season you can just keep your dog on lead to make sure she’s not bothered by other dogs at the park, however cats who venture outside are a different story. Male cats will be able to smell a female in heat from a surprising distance as well as hear her loud calls.

Letting a cat out while she is in heat is an almost surefire way to find yourself with a number of kittens to rehome further down the line! The best way to keep her away from male cats is by keeping her indoors and even then you may still find that they will gravitate towards the house. Be sure to have windows closed and cats in heat become little escape artists when they have the need to breed. If you are looking for a solution to prevent your beloved pet from having kittens then neutering is the best option. Neutering your cat will stop them ever going into estrus so they can’t ever have any accidental kittens and her behaviour will remain the same all year round!

The correct age to spay your kitten is when they’re around 4 months old, as cats become sexually mature at 5 months old. Your kitten’s primary vaccinations will have already been completed before they can be neutered.

If you need to keep your feline friend occupied indoors while you wait for her estrus cycle to finish, find all of your cat necessities in store and online.