How can you tell if your cat is in heat? How long does a cat's heat last?


How to calm a cat that is walking

Cats are one of the most lovable pets.
They are moderately affectionate, pleasant to talk to and do not require complex care. Many novice owners prefer to take a girl into the house, believing that she will be more flexible and calm. But in this case, they risk facing the problem of how to calm a cat that is walking at home. The ability to reproduce offspring in an animal can appear as early as six months of age

A few days before estrus, the cat changes behavior, it becomes difficult to calm her down, she rubs against her owners and surrounding objects, she can roll on her back and attract attention with plaintive cries.

During estrus, the animal develops specific discharge from the vulva, the animal begins to purr gutturally and in every possible way seeks opportunities to satisfy the sexual instinct.

Externally, this manifests itself in walking on half-bent legs with a raised rear part of the body, the desire to leave the room (the animal will not stop even in the face of heights). Also, the pet, if not calmed, begins to leave odorous marks throughout the house.

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This condition, when the animal is walking, not only greatly interferes with the normal life of the owners, but can also threaten the animal, which can get injured, for example, by jumping out of a window, or get lost after leaving the room.

Naturally, any adequate owner will want to make life easier for his pet and calm down a cat that has been on a spree at home.

How to understand that a cat has gone on a spree?

A small kitten becomes sexually mature quite quickly, and this happens much earlier than their physical growth. Basically, a cat can walk already at 5–6 months , but this period also depends on some external factors, for example, on diet, climate, the animal’s habitat and others. Therefore, some female representatives can go on a spree for the first time only by the 14–15th month of life. The estrus itself in cats can last from three to seven days, several times a year. But if Murka does not become pregnant, then after about two weeks she may start asking for a cat again.

Since these animals do not have any bleeding during estrus, its onset can only be determined by changes in the behavior of the pet itself. Before the start of the “mating season,” the cat begins to meow pitifully, rub against many objects and owners (they especially prefer to pester representatives of the stronger sex). Their appetite may also increase, their genitals may swell a little, sometimes they sway on their backs and try to attract attention . But now she won’t let the cat near her yet. But after a few days, she will begin to meow constantly and loudly, placing her marks around the apartment, calling the cat to her. And of course, she will strive with all her might to break free.

To castrate or not


Owners must understand that life in an apartment is very different from their natural habitat.
Therefore, you must be prepared for all the hardships that a pet will bring with you. A cat must mate with a cat at least 9 times a year, while hormones can “play” at any time, and the cat will mark the territory. This method of protection from enemies in the natural environment does not bother anyone, but in the apartment there will be a persistent smell of urine. It is necessary to think in advance about how life with a pet might turn out and decide to castrate it. During the heat period, cats cause a lot of trouble to their owners. They can walk around the apartment day and night and meow heart-rendingly. They may start rushing from room to room, knocking on doors and tearing upholstery. Cats, on the other hand, are very affectionate during sexual activity.

They wriggle, rub themselves on everything that gets in their way, climb into the arms of their owners, and try in every possible way to attract attention to themselves.

When to expect your first heat

The most common answer to this question is 7 months. This period is typical for many breeds; the British feline is no exception. Indeed, on average, within the specified period, a cat goes through puberty and begins to want to go for walks. However, not all so simple.

If a British pet was purchased, among other things, for the purpose of breeding, it is recommended to wait some more time. A cat can get pregnant after partying at 7 months, but the body is not fully adapted to bearing offspring at this time.

IMPORTANT: Therefore, the first heat, which can be considered the beginning of sexual activity, should be considered the one that begins at the age of one year.

It should also be noted that 7 months is an approximate date. Often this is when the animal feels the first urge to go for a walk. However, the cat's body is as individual as the human body. You can meet ladies who mature both a little earlier and a little later.

It happens that if a British or any other male lives nearby, the young lady matures earlier. There is also an observation that in individuals born in the spring, estrus may begin somewhat later than in those born in the summer-autumn. Different temperaments also sometimes take their toll: an active British pet can mature faster than a melancholic one.

Can a cat walk after sterilization?

There are 3 types of surgery: tubal retraction, removal of the ovaries, and simultaneous removal of the ovaries and uterus. The latter type of operation prevents recurrent estrus and unwanted pregnancy.

After sterilization, the cat can begin to “hunt” again.

This happens for several reasons:

The ovaries were not removed and continue to produce hormones

It is important to know what type of surgery has been chosen. Before the procedure, veterinarians ask the owners in advance which type should be used.

Poorly excised ovaries

If a piece of the organ remains inside, it can produce hormones. If estrus begins after the operation, and the owner knows for sure that the ovaries were removed, it is necessary to contact a veterinarian and have an ultrasound done.

The older the animal is at the time of surgery, the higher the likelihood of coming into heat again. Hormones can be produced by the adrenal glands.

Heredity. The animal may have a congenital pathology - ectopic ovarian tissue syndrome. In this case, the ovarian cells end up in other places and cannot be detected. After the organs are removed, tissue particles remain inside and continue to produce hormones, which is why estrus begins. This pathology is rare in cats.

Only 60% of individuals can walk after sterilization (poor health, improperly performed surgery, etc.). Sometimes the hormones that were produced before the operation “play” in the body, then after 30 days the desire to “walk” with the cat should go away.

The cat went on a spree for the first time: ways to solve the problem

If you want to prevent the appearance of unwanted offspring, it is better to resort to contraceptive methods. When your pet has gone on a spree, you need to give her hormonal drugs that dull sexual desire. You can buy such products at any veterinary pharmacy. Hormonal contraceptives temporarily block the activity of the reproductive system and preserve the chances of further motherhood.

If your domestic cat has gone on a spree, but you do not plan to ever get offspring from it, you can resort to radical methods such as sterilization. The operation involves ligation of the fallopian tubes, which completely deprives the cat of the ability to reproduce. In this case, the hormonal background and reproductive organs of the animal are preserved. If you decide to have surgery, immediately after the end of the first heat, your pet should be taken to the veterinarian.

How can you calm a cat during heat?

If you go to a veterinary clinic, they will, of course, advise that the easiest way to calm the animal is to sterilize it. After all, after such a procedure, she will become much more affectionate, calm and obedient, and during the “mating season” there will be no chants. She will also relieve her needs only in the place allotted to her and will stop marking her territory and things. But this is a serious decision and must be approached with all responsibility, because there are also contraindications for sterilization. If the above method is not suitable, then you can resort to other methods of calming cats.

Feline contraceptives

Today, veterinary pharmacies offer a fairly large assortment of various medications for cats and cats that walk. Let's look at their types:

  • Contraceptive drops. A fairly simple and common method for calming a pet. It’s enough just to drop a couple of drops under the cat’s tongue or on the food, but then you should make sure that she eats everything. After 3-4 hours, you can safely take the cat to the cat to satisfy their needs, without being afraid of the consequences of such “communication”. But it is worth considering that these drops are hormonal and you should consult a veterinarian before using them, and they are not suitable for constant use.
  • Hormonal medications. They are very strong and prevent estrus. You can give them to your cat only by strictly following the instructions for use and no more than twice a year. These can be, for example, “Stop Sex”, “Ex-5”, “Sex Barrier”, “Gestrenol”, “Counter Sex”, “Stop Intim” and others. But we must remember that such drugs have a very bad effect on the animal’s body, causing severe hormonal imbalance. Therefore, a good veterinarian will advise resorting to this method of calming your pet as little as possible.

Just as for humans, in animals the use of various kinds of hormonal drugs can cause diseases such as cancer of the uterus and mammary glands (cats that have taken at least one walk are especially at risk), pyometra and other ailments.

Homemade ways to calm a runaway cat

There are still several ways that are safe for the pet’s health that will help the cat to be good on “days like this” and the owners to sleep peacefully. You can try these simple tricks:

Play with the cat

A great way to distract her from annoying meowing while still giving her your attention. On such days they have additional energy and need to spend it on something.

You can buy your pet new toys (balls, ivy animals, sticks). Do not overfeed. During this period, their appetite increases, so you should make sure that the cat does not overeat. You need to give her food regularly, but at the same time reduce the portion size. Play classical music. This music has a calming effect on both people and cats. Therefore, you can include calm works by Bach, Mozart, Glinka, and Chopin for your pet. Pheromones. This could be, for example, Feliway. But, alas, they do not work on all cats. Sedatives. These can be the most common decoctions of chamomile, thyme, valerian, or special preparations for cats “Cat Bayun”, “Anti Stress”. They are completely harmless and act gently, but you should give them according to the attached instructions. Special massage. You need to take the cat by the withers with your left hand and press it to the floor, and press with your right hand (palm) in the area where the tail begins, there may be a small depression there. You should press well, without fear of the cat's roars. This massage should be done several times a day. A couple of days will be enough for the pet to calm down. Induce ovulation. To do this, you need to start by stroking the cat on the back (from behind), then rub the vulva a little and only then insert a stick with cotton wool at the end into its vagina (about 2–2.5 cm). If everything is done correctly, the cat will caress and meow. Such manipulations should be repeated every 20 minutes for an hour, and then only after a 12-hour break. This is a completely safe and effective procedure.

Plain water will help get rid of annoying screams for a while (short-term). You just have to wet the cat a little with it, and she will be busy licking herself thoroughly. But this method does not work with all pets.

You can’t leave your animal unattended, but you should help him cope with this problem. Each owner independently chooses the appropriate method to calm a roaming cat, because not all of them can be safe for the pet’s health. If none of the methods is suitable or helps, then you just need to let the animal go for a walk without torturing it or yourself.

Medicines against estrus

Manufacturers of veterinary drugs have developed a number of products that affect sexual heat in cats.

Hormonal veterinary medications are used to interrupt sexual heat.

Attention! Veterinarians warn that none of these drugs are completely safe. To one degree or another, they harm the animal.

  • Covinan . The medicine is produced by the Dutch company Intervet International BV. The formula is based on an artificially created analogue of progesterone - the substance prolygestone. It reduces the production of gonadotropic hormones, thereby preventing the development of estrus. If the drug is used during the anestrus phase, a contraceptive effect is achieved. The product is available in the form of a solution for subcutaneous injection. The recommended dosage is 1-1.5 ml (depending on the size of the cat) once or repeatedly, depending on the desired result. Before using the product, you should consult a veterinarian. The drug does not exhibit androgenic effects and is indicated for animals over 5 years of age.

Covinan

  • CounterSex Neo. The active ingredients of the product are acetobumedone and ethinyl estradiol. The drug works similar to Covinan, but is available in tablet form. They begin to give it at the first symptoms of excitement. Dosage: 1 tablet for 3–5 days.

CounterSex Neo

  • Stop-Intim drops 2 . Due to the content of megestrol acetate, estrogen production is inhibited, which prevents morphological and psychophysical changes in cats. Stop-Intim is a low-hazard substance and does not produce a mutagenic effect. It is given during the period between heats or to interrupt sexual heat.

Stop-Intim drops 2

  • Suprastin . The direct purpose of the drug is the treatment of allergies in people. However, it is also used to calm a cat during sexual arousal. Dosage - ¼ tablet for every 5 kg of weight. However, when using Suprastin, extreme caution should be used: even the slightest overdose will cause the death of the pet. The drug is hormonal and also leads to disturbances in the body. Veterinarians do not recommend the use of human treatments for pets.

Suprastin

Attention! The constant use of hormonal drugs to interrupt sexual heat in cats causes serious diseases of the genitourinary system - pyometritis, ovarian cysts, endometritis, cancer and others.

Did your cat go on a spree for the first time? what to do?

Please advise: Should I be patient and give her the opportunity to go through this period on her own, or should I “help” her and give her calming drops?

If a cat is valuable to you, not only as a piece of furniture, then it’s better to give it a walk. I have two cats (more precisely, one has already left for the happy world of “Whiskas”), and I can say for sure that any violence against a cat’s psychology changes its character, and far from for the better. We tried with our first cat. They gave me medicine, on the advice of one grandmother, they soaked me in cold water, and in the end they operated on me. You know, it turned out to be a different cat. Of course we didn't throw it away. She lived with us all her cat life, but she never became our friend. But the second one. And he will take a walk, and give birth (we always place kittens), and he is a rare friend. Can we talk. Something hurts, he will do murotherapy. She loves us. A

I have heard a lot about the suffering of animals after sterilization - to the point of death. Therefore, we gave the cat the opportunity to give birth for the first time. No one noticed how she went on a spree. Missed it. She gave birth to three lovely children. A couple of months later they placed an advertisement in two newspapers and the kittens were taken away. And even then they called again for half a month.

But if you don’t need kittens, you can try drops. I have several friends who have had positive experiences. The neighbor has two cats - they have been living on drops for seven years now. they purr a little - they get a dose)) The Siamese is nervous there, yes, but Siamese themselves are more irritable than others. And the second ordinary Siberian does not suffer at all. And this despite the fact that you have your own house and there are plenty of cats in the area.

Do not give any drops under any circumstances! Wait until the cat “takes a walk” and run to the vet. clinic for sterilization. It costs little (in Omsk it starts from 800 rubles), but the animal will no longer cause inconvenience, will never give birth, will never go on sprees, and will not mark a house or apartment.

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Do spayed cats go into heat?


Do spayed cats go into heat?
As a rule, after a cat is spayed, she will no longer show obvious symptoms of estrus. She doesn't scream at night and doesn't rub herself against men. And that's okay.

However, it also happens that all of the above signs of estrus are present even after the process of removing part of the genital organs. It's very difficult to explain, but it happens.

In this case, you can let the cat surrender to the call of nature and take her to the cat. Such mating will certainly not give any result, and there will be no kittens.

How often does heat occur?

Factors that influence the frequency of estrus include age, health, and cat breed.

The range is from twice a month to twice a year. The estrus itself usually lasts 5-6 days. As cats age, estrus becomes less frequent and shorter in duration.

In adults, estrus occurs regularly once every three months. In young cats that have never bred, this may take place once a month or every two weeks.

At the first time, estrus is usually short-lived, but don’t be fooled, subsequently it can last up to 10 days. If a cat gives birth regularly, the interval between estrus can be up to 5-6 months.

Sterilization

One of the safest ways to stop estrus is sterilization, after which sexual desire and the ability to breed disappear. It is carried out using medication, radiation or surgery. The latter has proven itself to be the most reliable.

Sterilization will relieve the inconvenience associated with estrus

The most appropriate age for the operation is 5–8 months, before the onset of the first estrus. Previously, surgery was not performed because the body was not developed enough.

Video - Sterilizing a cat

What should you do to avoid using medications?

The option when the fluffy one is isolated in a room is controversial. For a pet that is constantly indoors, such an exit will not bring significant inconvenience. In the absence of attention, she begins to behave more calmly. If a cat is used to constant walks outside, this is a rather stressful situation.

Many owners try to help the cat when she wants a cat by involving her in outdoor games. Fluffy beauties are distracted from the problem and spend excess energy. Children take part in such games. The pleasure is mutual.

Don't discount hygiene factors. Cats, being naturally neat animals, during the period of heat become even more demanding of external conditions. Not cleaning the toilet on time can provoke irritation and aggression in pets. She can find a place for the toilet not in the usual place, but where she sees fit. To avoid creating additional problems, you should clean the tray more often.

We recommend reading: Heart Failure Symptoms Treatment in Dogs

For breeders, the issue of estrus is resolved at a professional level. A cat of the same breed is selected, an acquaintance takes place, and after the allotted time, cute purebred babies are born.

Duration

What exactly is estrus? This is the period when the cat is ready to give birth, and at this time she is looking for a suitable partner. If this does not happen in the first days of the “walk,” such a languid state of the cat may drag on somewhat and take from several days to two weeks. Here is the answer to the question of how many days cats walk. It should be noted that an animal may not become pregnant during this entire period. The ability to breed lasts only a few days (about 2-4). If you need to find out how long a cat walks for the first time, the timing will be the same, and everything will depend on the animal itself.

The cat went on a spree: methods of dealing with pet screams

Many inexperienced cat owners are faced with the problem that their cat has gone on a spree. More precisely, he really wants a sexual partner - a cat, even if he is not nearby at all. This is a physiological state provided by nature for the continuation of offspring.

However, modern mustachioed-striped animals do not at all fight in harsh natural conditions for the duration of their genus, but stay in human homes in the form of ornamental animals. Therefore, this state of a four-legged pet can somewhat irritate a person.

Let's think about how to deal with this.

How to understand that a cat has gone on a spree

A cat's first heat occurs between 6 months and a year.

You can determine it very simply, just pay attention to the behavior of your four-legged pet: The animal begins to demand any more affection - to rub against the legs, purr, and in every possible way attract the attention of the owner.

Or, on the contrary, she will be unsociable, periodically show aggression, and hide. It all depends on the breed and character. As a rule, decorative breeds such as the Persian and exotic tolerate this period of life more peacefully than, say, the same Ocicat or Siamese

The animal begins to demand any more affection - to rub against the legs, purr, and in every possible way attract the attention of the owner. Or, on the contrary, she will be unsociable, periodically show aggression, hide

It all depends on the breed and character. As a rule, decorative breeds such as Persians and exotics tolerate this period of life more peacefully than, say, the same Ocicat or Siamese.

Some four-legged animals are looking for an opportune moment to leave their home in search of love. Accordingly, they are interested in vents, window openings, balconies, and open doors.

Urine marking is the most effective way to attract a cat.

Postures while stroking: The pet falls on its front paws and lifts the back of its body up, while moving its tail to the side.

Animal conversations. During this period, females begin to scream heart-rendingly - and this scream occurs both day and night. This is the main distinguishing sign that the cat has gone on a spree.

How to help your pet survive this time and what to do in the future?

There are several ways to solve the problem:

1) Help the cat cope with this condition with the help of medications. This decision has a positive side and a negative side. The advantage is that the animal comes to its senses in a short time and endures this condition less painfully.

The other side, the negative one, is that most of the drugs used have a very strong effect on hormonal levels, therefore, if these drugs are used regularly, it is possible to provoke various oncological diseases in the animal.

2) Castrate the animal - remove the uterus and ovaries. Accordingly, the animal will stop “walking” for the rest of its life. The negative side of the issue is the risks associated with the operation and the postoperative period. There are often cases when cat castration surgery ends in death.

4) Combined method - when hormonal drugs alternate with natural mating with a cat

Here, each owner needs to decide for himself whether he will engage in mating cats, raise and sell the resulting offspring, or, through surgical intervention, deprive both himself and his pet of suffering. It is worth noting that castration through surgery is considered a more humane method than the use of hormonal drugs.

On what day of heat can a cat be bred?


When can you breed a cat?
Firstly , it is worth saying that

Experienced cat breeders recommend skipping the first two heats and breeding the cat for the third.

Many people ignore this rule and end up with animals already in their second estrus. However, this only happens if the pussy has grown enough, meets the necessary parameters and is ready to bear good offspring.

The second rule for a successful mating is that the female cat must be delivered to the cat on the second day of estrus. At the same time, it is recommended to leave her with the groom for about three days. This time should be enough for fertilization.

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