Owners of domestic cats know very well that when their pet starts asking for a cat, they can forget about peace in the house. If a cat goes into heat, then she is capable of making very loud and shrill sounds all day long, which interfere with the rest of both all family members and the animal itself. So, your furry pet meows all day long - what to do in this case, how many days does the cat ask the cat and how to calm the pet during this period? All these questions will be answered in this article.
When does a cat start begging for the first time?
The majority of owners of furry pets are interested in the answer to the question - at how many months does a cat begin to ask for a cat, and what are the signs of the appearance of a desire to procreate. Typically, a cat's first heat begins to occur when the process of puberty is completed. In all animals, this process begins at different periods of their life; in a cat, this phenomenon usually occurs after the first six months of life and no later than 10 months.
If a cat wants a cat, the owner will undoubtedly be the first to know about it. It will be possible to determine immediately that this period has arrived and it is simply impossible to confuse this phenomenon with something else. Any owner of a domestic cat knows about the difficulties that arise during this period of the pet’s life. You can determine that a cat wants a cat for the first time by some signs that will be listed below.
At what age does estrus begin and in what case does a cat yell have been described, now it is necessary to indicate the signs of the animal’s sexual desire. Basically, at the age of 6-7 months, the cat shows the following signs of desire for a cat:
- During the period of heat, the cat screams wildly. For the first time it looks quite unusual and strange. However, all this is a natural instinct. The animal meows and screams loudly to attract a potential partner for mating.
- Marks appear throughout the apartment. It is not known for sure whether the cat does this on purpose, since during estrus the animal actively produces discharge. Maybe they appear on the floor involuntarily. However, there is a version according to which the cat leaves marks for the male in this way in order to attract him.
- After 6-7 months of life, when the cat begins the mating period, it takes on characteristic poses. The cat raises the back of its body while lowering itself onto its front paws. At the same time, she moves her tail to the side. This position is aimed at calling the male to mate.
- The animal's appetite decreases or completely disappears.
- The pet goes to the toilet very often.
- Also a characteristic sign of the onset of estrus is excessive petting of the animal. The cat purrs loudly and rubs against its owner's legs. However, a reverse reaction also occurs, accompanied by aggression.
Sterilization
Only sterilization will help you get rid of estrus forever and without consequences. Sterilization is an operation to remove organs responsible for reproduction. Sterilization is not carried out at home; you need to go to a veterinary clinic.
Previously, only cats had their ovaries removed. With the removal of the ovaries, the production of hormones that cause estrus stops. Now the uterus is also being removed to prevent the development of a tumor in it. You cannot sterilize a cat during heat; you should wait until it is over.
After sterilization, the cat does not ask for a cat for the rest of its life. Neutered cats are less aggressive and remain playful. The life expectancy of such pets is longer than their “full-fledged” relatives, since they are deprived of the risk of getting sick from “empty” heats and the drugs used by the owners to suppress them.
Duration of a cat's heat
If a cat asks a cat, how long it lasts the first time is difficult to say. It will be possible to accurately determine the duration of this period for each individual pet only after it begins, since the duration of estrus in time is individual for each animal, but usually the estrus process takes 5-6 days. You should also know that it is also impossible to give an exact answer to the question - how much does a cat ask for during the whole year; for example, one pet can shed 1-2 times a year, and another almost every month.
This phenomenon depends mainly on the health of the animal, the breed, the time of year, the presence of other cats, as well as factors that influence the environment. Of great importance in finding the answer to the question is how long the cat asks the cat to play and the breed: for example, in a British cat, estrus does not occur as often as in most other breeds (this is due to the hormonal background, its character and level).
With age, the period of time for estrus decreases, it does not happen regularly, and more often without ovulation. The specific spread varies from twice a month to twice a year, lasting from three to ten days. Having answered the question: how long does a cat ask for a cat, you should talk about the frequency of this phenomenon.
How much will the cat require?
How many days does this period last? However, there is no exact answer, since it depends on the body of each pet. To find out the time limit in your case, you just need to observe. The minimum period for this process is 7 days. If you agreed to the mating, but she does not allow the cat to approach, then you should try again.
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In most cases the period ends within 10 days , but exceptions are possible. Not every owner is ready to rejoice in their offspring. Therefore, in order to calm the animal, you can use special drugs or traditional methods. After all, she wants a cat, demanding satisfaction of physiological needs every month, and it is simply impossible to constantly live in such an environment.
How often does a cat go into heat?
If everything is clear about the duration of estrus, then you need to find out how often the cat asks for a cat and what it depends on. Usually, if a cat has already bred at least once, then the frequency will be once every three months. However, if the animal has not yet mated, most likely, the pet will be bothered by more frequent, regular estrus: monthly, and sometimes once every two weeks.
If the owner of a furry pet does not intend to breed cats, then the best option would be to sterilize the animal. But if the cat has the opportunity to constantly reproduce, then the regularity of estrus will stretch out: once every 5-6 months.
However, it should be noted that a cat after giving birth can be disturbed by her first heat even after one month.
There is also a situation when a cat continues to scream after mating and the owner of the animal doubts whether the mating process went well and maybe the cat is needed again? No, the cat is no longer needed, it still won’t stop the heat. It happens that even after a successful mating, calling calls continue to sound for 3-4 days - this is normal.
If the mating was successful, then the cat owner will enjoy several months of silence, but if something went wrong, then the animal will ask to be with the cat during a scheduled heat. To get pregnant next time, it is necessary to take another cat, since the cat may not have agreed with the previous chosen one at the genetic level.
What should the owner do?
It all depends on whether he intends to have offspring from his cat or categorically does not want this. In the latter case, the best option would be to sterilize the animal. It will also be an excellent method for preventing screams, agitation and reducing the female’s appetite. Today this procedure is carried out in all veterinary clinics. Veterinarians use safe drugs for sterilization. The stitches usually do not need to be processed and removed, which is convenient for the owners. The only “minus” and difficulty will be the period during which the animal recovers from anesthesia. At this time, the owner must be close to his pet and monitor its movement, which in the first hours will be chaotic and uncoordinated. Literally 3-5 days after the deprivation of reproductive organs, the pet will begin to run, the appetite will be restored, and the behavior will be the same as before sterilization. But there won’t be any problems with the animal’s constant yelling. Some owners decide to sterilize their cat after the birth of the first litter. By the way, sterilized females live longer. They are calmer, and, importantly, these cats have a reduced risk of developing cancer.
There is a category of owners who are categorically against sterilization of their pets. In such cases, we can recommend sedatives during the period when the pet asks for the cat. Among them, for example, are the following:
- Cat Baiyun. The product is sold in the form of pills and solution. It facilitates the condition of animals during estrus. The drug can also be used for stress.
- Cat mint. You can buy it in the form of a spray or in sachets. This product is not for internal use. You just need to spray the spray on the place where your pet spends the most time, or put sachets there. The herb has calming properties. Most often, the product is used during exhibitions. It helps during estrus.
- Fitex drops. The veterinary drug is also used to calm pets of both sexes during times of stress and during heat. The components of the drug are purely natural substances. Therefore, it is completely safe to use.
- Stop stress. Available in drops and pills. A veterinary drug during the heat period should be given when the cat screams loudly. After all, it is characterized by a strong calming effect. The drug is not addictive.
Calming a cat in heat
In one of the sections of the article, signs were described by which one can determine whether a cat is in heat or not. However, there are also furry pets whose estrus is either not accompanied by such signs at all, or they pass completely unnoticed. By the way, there are also cat owners who manage to ignore these signs.
However, if the animal is in mating season, there are sedatives for cats in heat, which are listed below:
- Isolate the cat in a room with food and water, a tray and a bed, and let it out only in the evening.
- Turn on classical music (Beethoven, Bach), since a number of studies have proven the calming effect of certain melodies on both humans and animals.
- Apply pheromones. While they may not help most cats, they do have a positive effect on some furry pets.
- Homeopathic remedies may help.
- Suprastin, which is a hormonal agent, has proven itself well.
- The most effective and harmless remedy is the use of herbal sedatives.
- Other hormonal drugs that can be purchased at pet stores and veterinary pharmacies. However, before doing this, you should definitely consult a specialist to know their correct dosage and method of use.
Let's move on to consider medications that prevent cats from going into heat.
Signs that a cat is wandering
Often the signs are pronounced, reserved individuals are found, and it is possible to find out about puberty only after pregnancy.
So, during estrus characteristic behavior appears:
- rubbing against objects more often and longer than usual;
- frequent urination, especially when the cat approaches;
- clear vaginal discharge, left not only in the tray;
- the desire to get outside;
- loud screams with uncharacteristic howls;
- refusal to eat;
- unusually persistent affection towards the owner;
- unusual rolling on the floor, moving the tail to the side, tucking the paws.
How to behave if kittens are not in your plans
Medicine today offers different techniques to combat her desires. To do this, you should use contraception for animals. Asking a cat is inherent in nature.
Not every owner is ready to give their pet for surgery. But sterilization is one of the methods to combat the problem . If you categorically do not want offspring, and constant screaming depresses you, then eventually you will have to undergo surgery. This method will definitely solve the issue.
If you are not against offspring, then sterilization can be done after she gives birth to kittens. Veterinarians advise doing just that. This is due to the fact that the hormonal background of the animal will change, and this will inevitably affect the health and condition of the pet.
But as practice shows, the operation does not lead to serious consequences. Moreover, sterilized animals live longer. They become calmer and their risk of cancer decreases.
Methods for regulating sexual estrus
Sterilization and castration
These are the most radical methods of solving the problem. After sterilization surgery, the cat will have ovaries forever, and castration will have ovaries and a uterus. Sex hormones will cease to be produced and estrus will cease for life.
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This procedure is recommended for females aged 7 months to 10 years.
During this period, the body will tolerate the operation well and no complications will occur. All that is required from the owner is minimal care for the animal and a visit to the clinic for the final removal of stitches. After 10 years, sterilization and castration can cause complications and even cause the death of the animal. If the cat asks for a cat, then it is best to carry out the procedure before the first mating, in which case the success rate is higher.
Contrary to popular belief, castration and sterilization do not negatively affect the health or character of your pet. On the contrary, the body is not tired of numerous hormonal surges and exhausting childbirth. In addition, uterine cancer and other diseases of the reproductive system are completely excluded.
Mating
If the prospect of distributing kittens into good hands does not frighten you (or you are planning to engage in breeding), you can organize mating. The main thing is to select the healthiest candidate for the “groom”. In no case should you use a male who is a relative of your pet for this purpose - their children may be born weakened, with abnormalities, or even dead.
You can calm a cat down when she asks for a cat with the help of mating. It should occur no earlier than after 3 heats (the optimal age of partners is one and a half years). During this time, the animal’s body will fully strengthen and prepare for subsequent fertilization and childbirth. Before mating, it is recommended to check animals for the presence of fungal, viral and other diseases.
It is very desirable that at least one of them is already “untied”, that is, mated earlier.
Sedatives
The cat asks the cat what to do at home? This is a question often asked by owners of furry pets. A good way out of the situation is to take special sedative drops. Most often they are made on a homeopathic basis - herbs and plants that have a calming (sedative) effect. It is recommended to give such drugs a few days before the start of the estrus period , or at the very beginning. Otherwise, their action simply will not have the desired effect on the animal. These herbal infusions are considered relatively safe, as they suppress not only the sexual desire in animals, but also alleviate their stress caused by the unrealized reproductive instinct. In order not to ask the cat, you need to give the cat “Cat Bayun” or “Stop Stress” drops.
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Hormonal drugs
Often, would-be veterinarians recommend hormones - medicine for the cat so that the cat does not ask for it. This is the most dangerous category of drugs that reduce sexual desire. They are available in the form of injections, tablets and drops. They are not recommended for use, as they can provoke serious diseases of the genitourinary system - tumors of the mammary glands, pyometra of the uterus, deterioration of the adrenal glands and even diabetes. Their “secret” is simple - large doses of hormones are introduced into the pet’s body, which suppress sexual instincts.
However, due to such stress, your pet may soon develop serious health problems that require veterinary intervention.
This category includes the drugs “Anti Sex”, “Sex Barrier”, “Anti Meow”, etc.
Emergency measures
Sometimes this happens when heat takes you by surprise, and an important event is at stake, before which the owner needs to get a good night's sleep. To prevent your cat from yelling, you can use the following techniques:
- swimming (only when the room is warm and there is no draft);
- long active games with a pet;
- increased attention from the owner (avoid stroking the back and tail);
- reducing the level of bright lighting in the room;
- communication with a castrated male who has retained his sexual instincts.