Cats are very gentle, affectionate and sweet animals that everyone loves - from small children to old grandparents. But when getting a female kitten, you should also be aware of its significant drawbacks. Namely, that during heat, cats become real domestic tyrants, because not everyone can endure their loud and plaintive meowing and various antics, and the neighbors will not really like these numbers. Therefore, you need to know several available methods and means that can be easily used at home to calm roaming cats.
Pros and cons of oral contraception for cats
Hormonal drugs have many side effects, which not all owners are aware of.
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These drugs inhibit the course of hunting, but can cause serious complications:
- formation of cysts and neoplasms;
- pyometra;
- endometritis;
- breast cancer;
- infertility.
The advantages of using oral contraceptives include their low cost and availability. But this method also has disadvantages: risks of complications, the need to increase the dose to achieve the desired effect, and age restrictions.
Tablets for calming the pet and owner
Owners of purebred animals usually look forward to the moment when their pet is ready to continue the family. If you wish, you can even look for candidates for the cat’s bride in advance, if he has a good pedigree. You can try to offer your cat as a groom to one of the cat owners you know, if he doesn’t have a breed, but is also handsome.
And yet this is not a solution to the problem, but only a way to survive one of the pet’s mating periods. Some cat owners prefer to train their pet to “love” something inanimate. Try offering your tailed don Juan a soft toy or his bedding. However, this method of correcting sexual activity also has disadvantages.
Any pet store or veterinary pharmacy has an impressive range of special medications for “cat love”. Drugs of this type are divided into two categories: sedatives and hormonal. The first ones are safer. They do not affect hormonal levels, but at the same time stabilize the functioning of the central nervous system.
What are the signs to tell if you're in heat?
Unlike dogs, cats do not experience visible physiological changes. However, there are several signs that would clearly indicate that furry pets are in heat:
- Swelling of the genital organs occurs, from which discharge appears in the form of a clear liquid. This indicates that the cats' reproductive system is prepared for copulation.
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- The animal's behavior takes on an unusual character. If previously the cat showed aggression, biting and scratching, then at the time of heat she begins to behave affectionately and playfully. You can often find your pet rubbing against all corners and rolling on the carpet.
- Loud meowing is another characteristic sign that the cat has begun to walk. And this happens not only during the day, but also at night. And it is precisely such nightly serenades that bring particular inconvenience to the owners.
- Pets' appetite worsens. When cats are in heat, they eat less than usual.
- The urge to go to the toilet becomes more frequent, so owners will have to clean the litter box more often throughout the day.
- When stroking a cat during heat on the back (its lower part), it experiences a spasm, during which the animal reflexively raises the rear part of its body.
However, each animal has its own set of symptoms. Therefore, if the cat was previously quite loud, then frequent meowing during heat will not be too annoying. In more complex cases, simple advice from experienced breeders and experienced veterinarians can help your four-legged friend.
Castration: pros and cons
The most radical and effective way to calm a cat is to have surgery. There are two options for the operation: complete removal of the testicles or ligation of the spermatic cords. Both interventions are performed under full anesthesia. These operations are relatively simple, and if performed by an experienced doctor, the risks are minimal.
The cat will never lose his head in love again in his life. Pet owners claim that their pets often become calmer after the operation. Still, any surgery carries risks. Remember that even during the simplest operation you can lose your pet. Now you know what to do if the cat goes on a spree. How to calm your pet at home
It's up to you to decide. Sometimes it's enough to just be patient for a while. If you don’t like this option, use one of the methods described above.
Traditional methods of calming down during estrus
If it so happens that the cat is in heat, about which she notified her owner with a heart-rending cry, and there is no medicine at hand and no way to get it, you can use various folk methods. These methods are safe and give good results, albeit short-term. Therefore, they are used as an emergency measure. Recipes for calming a cat:
- Give your pet a decoction based on medicinal herbs that have a sedative effect. To prepare a decoction, you can use chamomile, mint or linden. Prepare a decoction according to one recipe - 1 tbsp. Pour a glass of boiling water over the crushed, pre-dried ingredient and leave the drink to steep until it cools, strain. You can give the decoction to your cat in its pure form or add it to food or water. It is especially effective to pour the decoction into the animal’s mouth at night; the soothing effect of the herbs will help the cat fall asleep.
- When the cat begins to have another attack of strong screaming, you can dip its butt in cool water and hold it in it for several minutes. Albeit not for long, but this measure will help calm down the wandering murka.
- You can bathe your cat in the shower. After the water procedure, your pet will be busy only licking its fur for 4-5 hours and will simply not have time to meow. It is best to carry out the water procedure late in the evening, then the owners will have the opportunity to get a good night's sleep.
- A weak solution of vinegar is an effective, proven way to calm a walking cat to rest for a while. Dilute the vinegar with water to make a slightly sour-tasting liquid, and pour a small amount into the animal’s mouth.
- To distract your cat from her heat, you can apply a small amount of butter to her face. As with the shower, the animal will be busy cleaning itself up for a long time afterward.
- You can calm your pet with a drink of milk and soda. There should be a little soda: no more than on the tip of a knife.
- If a cat keeps you awake all night with its heart-rending screams, it is recommended that you forcefully pour 50 g of vodka into its mouth in the evening. An intoxicated and calm animal will sleep all night.
- For a day, a walking animal will be calmed by this recipe - crush ¼ tablet of Diphenhydramine and a whole tablet of valerian, mix the powders together and give to the cat. You can add a mixture of crushed drugs to food.
- Another way to distract an animal in pain is to give a closed jar of valerian; such a toy will amuse the cat for a long time.
- Experienced cat owners recommend putting a copper plate in a bowl of water; it should lie in the water until the estrus period passes.
There are plenty of ways to calm a screaming pet during heat. Each owner can choose the most suitable and acceptable option for himself. During the period of heat, it is important to give the cat maximum attention, constantly walk with her, play, and frolic. The more exhausted a cat is from outdoor games during the evening, the better she will sleep, and with her, her owners will be able to relax in silence.
How to help a cat with folk remedies during the period of wanting a cat?
After giving birth, some pets ask for a cat within a month and a half
The first heat in cats occurs at the age of 6-7 months.
If the cat has already been in heat, then she walks once every three months. But an animal that didn’t have a cat walks more often. After giving birth, some pets ask for a cat within a month and a half.
The process of “spring” in a cat is divided into three periods:
- proestrus;
- estrus;
- metestrus.
The beginning of estrus is proestrus. This period lasts 4 days. Already at this time, the cat’s genitals secrete a clear liquid, the cat is not yet accepting the cat, but external signs of hunting are present.
The first symptom of approaching heat is increased tenderness towards the owner and others.
Duration is on average 7 days. The older the animal, the longer the hunting period lasts.
During a period of hormonal rebellion, most cats extremely favorably accept the attention of their owners. Try playing with your cat more often, picking him up and petting him. The most important thing is not to scold the animal or show aggression. Remember that your pet has little to no control over himself. His behavior is an external manifestation of an excess of hormones in his blood.
Calming a cat at home is not at all easy if he is constantly yelling and marking the apartment. One of the folk tricks that helps distract the animal for a while is to spray it with water. If you use this method, the cat will actually become silent for a while as it begins to lick itself. Still, water is not an effective remedy against cat tantrums, since very soon the screaming will resume. This method is not suitable for animals that are afraid of splashing water. A few minutes of silence for the owner will result in additional stress for the cat.
Often traditional methods of treatment alleviate the condition, but not for long. In addition, some of the products may be harmful to the health of the animal:
- Butter - spread it on the face. Instinctively, the cat will begin to lick the substance that it feels on the fur, and will do this until it calms down.
- Take baking soda on the tip of a knife and add it to the milk, then pour it into a bowl.
- Pharmaceutical herbs: chamomile, lemon balm, mint, also have a beneficial effect on restoring the pet’s nervous system. Methods for preparing each of them are written on the packaging.
- Diphenhydramine and valerian are popular remedies in the past. This combination can have a calming effect. However, valerian can be harmful! It is not recommended to give it.
The first recommendation is to wait out the manifestations of the entire “set” of the mating season, not to let the animal out to its relatives or for walks, to be as patient and attentive as possible to the cat. Use contraceptives that can delay or interrupt estrus, as well as sedatives that can only be prescribed by a doctor.
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 you need to approach it with all responsibility, because
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. If the above method is not suitable, then you can resort to other methods of calming cats.
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.
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.
As noted above, there are sedatives that help cope with desire, but do not completely eliminate it. These include: “Fitex”, “Cot-Bayun”, which contain herbal extracts, as well as “Stop-stress”, which contains various chemical components. Regardless of which drug you choose, the effect will be the same - the cat will become passive, lethargic, and sleep a lot.
Fitex helps a cat cope with desire
It is also appropriate to use drugs that are sold in a regular pharmacy. For example, tablets with valerian extract, which, although they cannot stop the release of hormones in an animal, are quite capable of calming it down. Taking one tablet twice a day will make your cat want to sleep, which means it will make much less noise.
You can try using birth control drops. To do this, you need to put 2 drops under your pet’s tongue or into her food, and after making sure that she has eaten everything, take her for mating after 4 hours. This way you can satisfy the cat's needs and avoid the cat bearing offspring. However, you should give such drops to your pet strictly on the recommendation of a veterinarian, who will indicate how to use them correctly. It is also worth noting that it is not recommended to abuse funds of this kind.
The Sex Barrier will help prevent your cat from going into heat.
Hormonal agents such as “Stop-Sex”, “Ex-5”, “Sex Barrier” and others, which are given to the animal strictly according to the regimen recommended by the veterinarian, will help prevent a cat from going into heat. Often, taking such medications is not without consequences, and as a result, severe hormonal imbalance.
In addition, it makes sense to consult a veterinarian about what to do if a domestic cat wants a cat, and which of the above methods he will recommend using. Typically, veterinarians are supporters of sterilization, which helps to forget forever about the question of what to do during the period of heat when the cat screams and wants a cat. However, only you can decide which method will be the most acceptable and humane for your pet.
There are folk remedies that can be used when a cat wants a cat, in order to use them you need to know what, you need to prepare and how to do everything.
The most well-known methods are the following:
- Place the cat's rump in the water for a few minutes, keeping the water temperature relatively low. This will calm the cat for a while.
- It’s good to wet the cat so that after that she can divert her attention to licking herself. This procedure will take about 4 hours, so the cat will spend a lot of energy and will probably want to sleep. It is better if this action is carried out closer to night.
- An effective remedy is a weak vinegar solution that should be given to your pet.
- Veterinarians recommend masturbating the animal, imitating the cat's grip on the cat's withers.
- Lubricate the face with butter, which will give it the opportunity to be distracted by washing, which will also take a lot of time.
- Give your pet milk to drink, to which you should add soda at the tip of a teaspoon.
- Place a large copper plate in the container of water from which the pet drinks for the entire period.
- Give a closed bottle of valerian.
You can dip your cat in water to calm him down.
Folk ways to help an animal
Long experience of cats and people living together has made it possible to identify folk remedies for calming cats. Herbs that help your pet calm down during a difficult period include :
- Mint;
- Chamomile;
- Melissa;
- Motherwort.
Some experts recommend using valerian in such situations. However, this question is quite ambiguous. Considering the effect this plant has on the animal, such a remedy is unlikely to help calm the cat.
How to understand that a cat is “walking”
The cat's behavior changes dramatically. The pet becomes annoyingly friendly, rubs against people and furniture, rolls around on the floor, and constantly demands attention.
Characteristic signs of estrus:
- A prolonged inviting meow, a cat can scream for days;
- Irregularities or complete lack of appetite;
- In response to stroking the back or rump, the cat invitingly arches its back, raises its butt, moves its tail to the side and tramples with its hind legs;
- Allows males to mate with her.
Cat in heat
Unpleasant manifestations of sexual heat include the desire to mark territory: the cat may begin to urinate in inappropriate places.
There is no point in examining a cat's genitals to determine estrus. The cat will not have any obvious changes to the vulva or any discharge.
Behavior during estrus is largely determined by the breed, and in the case of barn cats, by the temperament of the animal. There are cats that walk quietly and a little, meowing modestly and caressing. Others literally climb the wall, and their screams are heard by all the neighbors.
A Bengal in heat is desperately trying to get out of the house
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.
Use of medications
Herbal products are also used to suppress estrus in cats. The drugs are produced in various forms - tablets, sprays or solution.
These products are highly effective. They help eliminate the main symptoms of estrus and have a calming effect on the animal’s nervous system. Products based on plant materials help quickly eliminate anxiety and increased activity in cats.
The most common drugs include:
- Cat "Bayun" (tablets or solution). The main advantage is that the product is suitable even for a pregnant animal. Suppresses feelings of fear and excitement;
- Feliway;
- Fitex;
- Relax Easy Travel.
Changing the conditions of detention
The onset of estrus in cats depends on the season and the production of the hormone melatonin. In winter and autumn, when there is little light, more melatonin is produced, which suppresses sexual desire. In spring, there is more light, and less melatonin is synthesized. Therefore, it is with the arrival of spring that cats and kittens show their sexual activity. To calm a cat during heat at home, you can try changing her “lifestyle,” namely the lighting.
Estrus will pass faster if the animal is kept in a dimly lit room during this period (at least 9-10 hours a day). Because more melatonin will be produced. However, the method only works on calm and not too temperamental animals. And this can be a difficult task.
By darkening it is easier not to stop hunting, but to prolong the state of rest (anestrus), provided that the cat spends no more than 8-10 hours in the light.
How to help a cat during sexual activity?
During this period, you can observe how the animal rubs against the legs of its owners, as well as against various objects, meows and rolls on its back. In addition, you can notice how the cat begins to mark its home. Of course, this cannot but cause certain inconveniences, so what should you do if the cat wants a cat? There are several options here:
- sterilization;
- use of special drugs;
- patience;
- knitting
Sterilization is a surgical operation to deprive an animal of reproductive function.
It is a simple procedure that causes almost no complications. It is carried out in a veterinary clinic or at home from the age of five months. The rehabilitation period passes quite quickly and does not cause any difficulties in care, which involves the treatment of stitches, and they are usually removed on the 10th day. In addition, by spaying your cat, you eliminate the risk of her developing ovarian cancer.
There are sedatives to reduce sexual activity in animals. They can be purchased at any pet store, but you should first consult with a veterinarian so as not to harm the cat.
In the case where the cat is purebred, and mating or taking medications is excluded due to health problems, you will have to endure the time of its sexual heat. Moreover, it does not last long - only a couple of days. Caress the animal, it especially needs it during the period of its sexual activity.
Mating is the easiest way to calm a cat
And finally, mating is the easiest way to help your cat, but to do this, you must first find a suitable cat, and if the animal is purebred, then also register the mating through the club for the subsequent sale of kittens and paperwork. But the difficulties do not end there - you may need the help of a veterinarian during childbirth.
And after the kittens are born, they will need some care. Therefore, this method also imposes some obligations and sometimes creates certain problems that not everyone is able to solve; moreover, it is not appropriate for everyone, especially if kittens are not part of your plans.
Veterinary contraceptives
Synthetic hormonal drugs are used to control sexual behavior in cats. Medicines are available in the form of tablets, drops, and injections. Such remedies require regular use - once a week or once every two weeks without skipping. Drops on the withers are used at longer intervals.
There are many contraindications for using contraceptives:
- diabetes;
- liver and kidney diseases;
- breast tumors, etc.
- Not for pregnant and lactating women.
There are many more contraindications than listed, and only a doctor will identify them after examining the animal. Therefore, you absolutely cannot select a drug for your cat on your own.
Among the widely advertised ones are Contra-sex, Stop-Intim, Sex-barrier, Gestrenol, Pillcan, Ovostop. All of them contain hormones that suppress sexual arousal and accordingly change the behavior of cats and prevent pregnancy. The price of the products is low and they are easy to use. But such drugs have a mixed reputation. Because they work effectively, but have too many side effects.
Receptors that respond to sex hormones are located throughout the cat’s body, so antisex drugs have an effect on the entire body.
The most common consequences of use:
- pyometra;
- ovarian cysts;
- uterine tumors;
- diabetes.
One of the most dangerous diseases in cats is pyometra - purulent inflammation of the uterus. The mucous membrane thickens, and the uterus itself fills with pus. If in a healthy state the size of a cat's uterus is about the size of a matchbox, then with pyometra it can increase 150 times, becoming the size of a football. The tragedy is that the signs of the disease are revealed only in the final stages, when the condition is advanced. Pus cannot accumulate endlessly, which leads to uterine rupture and death of the pet.
Veterinarians claim that pyometra can kill an animal just a year after the first heat, when hormonal contraceptives began to be used.
The effect of hormonal contraception is irreversible. Treatment of a cat for pathologies of the genitourinary system subsequently lasts a lifetime.
Doctors warn that contraceptives should not be used if the cat is walking for the first time (before and during the first heat). All hormonal drugs are drugs. Therefore, a doctor must prescribe and cancel them; they are given strictly according to the scheme, and not when the owner wants.
There are no hormonal contraceptives that are safe for animals. In Europe, the use of such drugs in veterinary medicine is prohibited.
Symptoms of estrus
It's impossible not to notice when a cat asks for a date with a cat. Signs by which you can determine that your pet has gone on a spree:
- The cat screams and meows protractedly at the top of her voice. Some owners get scared - they think she is sick. In fact, this is a natural process. The female attracts potential suitors with a loud cry.
- When a cat asks for a cat, she leaves marks in the house. It is unknown whether she does this on purpose or not. The fact is that during the hunting period a special mucous secretion is released from the vulva. In nature, its smell attracts cats.
- The cat becomes very affectionate, gentle, constantly rubs against the owner’s legs and purrs. In rare cases, the pet behaves in the opposite way - it becomes irritable and aggressive.
- The urge to urinate becomes more frequent.
- When a cat asks for a cat, she takes a characteristic pose - arching her back and raising her butt. The tail is moved to the side. In this way, the female shows the male that she is ready for mating.
- It is easy to understand that a cat wants a cat by its loss of appetite. The pet rarely approaches the food bowl and eats little. Some individuals generally lose interest in food, they even refuse their favorite treat.
You should not worry about the cat’s well-being during this period - when the heat ends, everything will return to normal. The behavior will become habitual, an appetite will appear, and the pet will stop behaving inappropriately.
Neutered cat asks for a cat
As for cats whose owners decided to eliminate the problem of the pet’s desire to mate with a female by performing a castration operation, you can often observe how the animal tries to climb on the cat again. Why a neutered cat wants a cat and what to do about it is a question that has a fairly simple solution.
It is advisable to castrate a cat before he has time to be with a cat.
It would seem that after castration the animal should lose interest in the female, but most cats again try to communicate with cats. The thing is that if the male has felt the taste of intimacy at least once, then he will make attempts to take possession of the cat even after the operation, as soon as he gets the first opportunity.
However, it is still not worth castrating the animal early, since there is a risk of underdevelopment of the urethra, which, in turn, can lead to serious health problems. There is no need to delay this either, because if the cat has time to spend time with the cat, then even castration will not save you from the loud meowing, rolling of the animal on the floor, as well as odorous marks throughout the apartment.
The castration operation is performed by making incisions in the scrotum area, and then the doctor applies special clamps to the spermatic cords and removes the testes. Cats have their ovaries and, in some cases, their uterus removed.
Castration surgery is done by making incisions in the scrotum area.
Now you know the main signs that a cat wants a cat, and what you will need to do in this situation. In addition, knowing the periods of your animal’s sexual cycle, you can prepare in advance to solve the problem of the cat’s inviting cries and groans during sexual heat and ease your fate with it by taking appropriate measures to solve the problem.
What should an owner do if a cat wants a cat? was last modified: September 8th, 2021 by Ekaterina Efimova
Harm and side effects of contraceptive drugs
Incorrectly selected contraceptive medications can cause serious harm to the health of cats. Similar consequences often occur if contraceptives are used inconsistently with the treatment regimen or in increased dosages. A veterinarian should select medications to regulate sexual behavior, taking into account all the health characteristics, sex and age of the animal.
Do not give hormonal drugs:
- cats during pregnancy and lactation;
- sick and weakened animals;
- for systemic chronic diseases and endocrine disorders;
- in the presence of inflammatory processes in the organs of the reproductive system.
If you do not follow the instructions and recommendations of your doctor, contraceptives can cause a number of side effects.
What complications can occur as a result of uncontrolled use of contraceptives:
- pathological hormonal changes in the body;
- development of chronic diseases of the reproductive system;
- diseases of the urinary system;
- suppression of adrenal function;
- diabetes;
- damage to the central nervous system;
- cancerous tumors.
Any of these diseases will lead to the premature and painful death of your pet. Never give birth control to pets without consulting an experienced veterinarian. Responsibly observe the duration of treatment therapy and the correct dosage of medication. The health of your cat is in your hands!
Treatment with hormonal drugs
The heavy artillery in the fight against basic instinct is hormonal drugs. Such medications can be purchased at a pet pharmacy without a prescription or at a veterinary clinic. It is advisable to consult a doctor before consuming such serious drugs. Hormonal drugs are quite dangerous, and if taken regularly, the risks of developing chronic diseases increase.
Many experts say that drugs in this category are not the best way to solve the problem of how to calm a cat. The thing is that hormonal pills and drops do not always act effectively and quickly. An alternative option is injections. Injections will definitely silence the cat, but at the same time they are even more dangerous for the pet’s health. It is worth noting that the cost of injections is quite high.
ethnoscience
This type of medicine effectively eliminates the symptoms of estrus and has minimal impact on the pet’s health.
Traditional medicine effectively eliminates the symptoms of estrus
Methods to eliminate the symptoms of “walking”:
- Spray the wool with cool water.
- Give the animal a tincture of mint, linden, and chamomile.
- Give your pet more attention. You should not raise your voice; an animal during estrus is susceptible to high-pitched tones.
- Buy a new toy. This will help you get distracted and use up energy. Outdoor games will tire your pet, and at night she will fall asleep soundly.
- Separate room for cats. If you close it, screams at night will no longer annoy the owners. It is important to provide in advance the availability of water, food, scratching posts, toys and a place to sleep.
Is it possible to do without medications?
Has your pet's sexual activity reached its peak? It should be remembered that “folk” methods - dousing the animal with cold water, coating intimate parts or the face with irritating agents, trying to give herbal infusion to drink - do not work. They can be regarded as abuse of a pet, but not a full-fledged method. The owner will lose the trust of the pet, who, in turn, will only become more stressed by such “methods.”
The best option is to isolate the animal in a room that is safe for it. It is not recommended to frequently pick up or caress a cat that is in a state of sexual activity. The activity of the animal is welcome, and it should be developed and encouraged in every possible way: play with the pet - let it run after a string, a ball, sunbeams or a laser pointer. The pussy will get tired and go to bed, and this will save it, as well as the owner, from unnecessary torment.
Those who live in a private house should stop their pet from going outside during the festivities. A cat in heat will definitely be overtaken by a cat, and she will return home already pregnant. As for the “walking” cat, he will, without hesitation, run away in search of the “bride”, and his absence may be prolonged.
Other methods against estrus
The use of drugs and traditional medicine does not always help. The following recommendations must be observed when interacting with your pet:
- buying a new toy. When the cat comes into heat, it becomes very active. To use up energy, you can purchase an interesting toy for your pet. The cat will be distracted and calm down for a while;
- providing a calm environment for the animal. It is best to place the cat in a separate room. At the same time, food and water, a toilet and a bed should be freely available;
- wetting the fur - helps to calm the pet for a short time;
- manifestations of attention and care. Attention from the owner during this period is very important for the cat. Thus, the animal is distracted from anxiety. It is necessary to show affection and care, you should not raise your voice or shout;
- warm heating pad. It is recommended to place a warm heating pad in the pet's bed. You should put a blanket on top of the bed. A warm heating pad will help relieve the animal's anxiety for a while;
- lack of contact with another cat. It is necessary to isolate the cat and the cat from each other. The presence of another cat is only possible if you are planning to have offspring.
Signs that a cat is wandering
The average duration of a cat's heat is 5-7 days. There are also temperamental individuals that can walk for 10-14 days every month. The first time a cat begins to ask for a male cat is at the age of 6 months, but this is too early for mating.
The characteristic symptoms of estrus are immediately noticeable:
Symptoms may vary between individuals. There are animals that walk almost unnoticed, and the owner finds out about the heat after pregnancy. But more often the first signs are pronounced.
How long after giving birth does estrus occur?
The frequency of sexual estrus depends on whether pregnancy has occurred. If a cat has a date with a cat, then she bears the offspring for about 2 months, and then feeds them. Then the next estrus begins 30-50 days after lambing or 10-14 days after the end of lactation. In the wild, cats go into heat on average 2-3 times a year. If there was no mating, then the next time the estrus will begin in 3-4 weeks.
In rare cases, nursing cats ask for a male cat as early as 2 weeks after lambing. If mating does not occur during this period, the next estrus will begin again after 14-21 days.
If the date with the male takes place, then a new pregnancy will not occur, since the uterus has not yet had time to recover and the process of feeding the kittens is underway. But mating during the next heat is more likely to be effective.
How often does heat occur?
This period occurs 3-4 times a year. The most common option for a cat that has already bred at least once is a constant estrus once every 3 months. However, if the cat has not yet walked, then your pet may be bothered by frequent estrus: monthly or even once every 2 weeks. If the heat has passed and your pet has not taken a walk, after 2-3 weeks everything can happen again.
If your cat has stopped estrus for a long time (more than a year) or, conversely, has a long, protracted estrus (more than 15 days), this is a serious problem and you should contact your veterinarian.
How to calm a cat: effective medications
What pills will help?
Tablets for cats during estrus are sedative and hormonal.
Both should be prescribed by a veterinarian, having previously examined the meowing patient. If the animal does not suffer much from hormonal imbalance, the doctor may prescribe a sedative drug “Stop-stress”, which has a mild sedative property. If, during a walk, cats show aggression, yell and do not find a place for themselves, a drug is prescribed that blocks the production of sex hormones. Veterinarians often prescribe Antisex anti-estrus pills for cats, but their frequent use is contraindicated because such drugs lead to hormonal imbalance, which will require long-term treatment to restore. Return to contents
Preparations in the form of drops
With the help of Fospasim, the pet's condition will quickly return to normal.
Like pills, there are sedative and hormonal. If estrus has begun, but the animal is only slightly restless, the doctor will advise giving the homeopathic remedy “Fospasim”, which relieves nervous tension and normalizes behavior. “Bach Drops” are also often used for calming. The medicine is suitable not only for cats, but also for cats. When walking, the product helps relieve nervous tension in restless and screaming animals, making them less excited and aggressive.
Hormonal drops for cats during estrus should only be used under the supervision of a physician. The following are considered popular:
- "Stop-Intimate";
- "Gestrenol".
Antisex injections
Some owners prefer to take hormonal injections to suppress their cat's heat. However, such an injection is considered the most dangerous for the health of a pet. The fact is that regular, artificial suppression of sexual desire leads to severe hormonal imbalance. As a result, diseases of the reproductive organs that are dangerous to the life and health of the cat develop, requiring complex and long-term treatment.
With the help of such a drug it is possible to suppress sexual estrus in the female.
But if the owner is not afraid of such complications, and it is important for him to stop the cat’s restlessness and meowing, doctors prescribe the following drugs in the form of injections:
- "Depo-Provera";
- "Covinan";
- "Stop-intimate";
- "Sex barrier";
- "Conra-sex."
Folk remedies
Owners who love their cats and care about their health prefer to use safe folk remedies to suppress sexual heat, which, just as well as medications, help alleviate the condition of the pet and silence it. At home, any of the following procedures will distract your cat from suffering:
Water treatments will help calm the animal somewhat.
- Bathing. If you wash your cat throughout the entire period of estrus, she will lick herself after each procedure. This will help temporarily eliminate loud sounds, so the owners can relax a little.
- Active games. In order for your cat to meow less and stop worrying, experts advise keeping her busy with active, long play. This distracts the animal and it temporarily forgets about the problem.
- Darkness. In a darkened room, animals are less excited and do not scream as much.
- Attention. To make a cat yell and worry less, you need to pay more attention to it, talk to it, and stroke its head. Massage is considered effective for stopping estrus, in which certain points on the animal’s body are pressed. It is important to ensure that your pet is not in pain during the procedure.
- Cat mint. You can temporarily eliminate the unpleasant sound and calm the cat a little if you give it a little mint. The product is absolutely safe, so it is often used for calming.
- New toy. A bright mouse, a puzzle with balls, a cat play set
- all these entertainments distract your pet for a while. Having played enough during the day, the animal will fall asleep at night and will disturb its owners less. - Taking infusions based on soothing herbs. Instead of water, you can give your cat chamomile or linden infusion. It’s easy to prepare: brew 1 tbsp in 1 cup of boiling water. l. dried herbs, leave for 15 minutes.
Are homemade sedatives safe?
In cases where it is not possible to identify the cause of hostile behavior on your own, a number of steps should be taken.
- Take your pet to the veterinarian to rule out dental diseases.
- As recommended by your doctor, use blood tests and ultrasound to rule out or confirm kidney and liver failure.
- After undergoing an X-ray examination, identify the presence of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
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The ideal environment for cats is an opportunity to hide. If she does not have her own house, then an ordinary cardboard box, basket, or carrier can be used as a shelter.
If aggression is associated with behavioral factors, then “first aid” to relieve an attack can be provided by the drug Feliway, which is rightly called a behavior corrector. It contains an artificial analogue of the pheromones secreted by cats in a calm environment, and helps an excited animal quickly calm down.
If the cause of stress is hormonal changes in the animal’s body, then experienced veterinarians suggest changing the diet, reducing the amount of food in one serving, but at the same time increasing the number of feedings.
Insulation
To calm your cat, it is sometimes helpful to isolate it from other animals and irritants. Having allocated a separate room, you need to provide her with the usual food and clean water, and put a heating pad under the bedding. In a hyperactive state, it is not recommended to let your pet outside, much less allow it to contact its relatives.
Music therapy
The beneficial effect of classical music on the emotional state is experienced not only by people, but also by animals, especially sensitive ones like cats.
More attention
As with any restless creature, when stressed, a cat needs extra attention and affection. More often you need to hold her in your arms, massage or stroke her, and also “talk”.
Shock bath
Everyone knows that representatives of the cat family do not like to swim. Therefore, doing this will be the right decision in order to bring him to his senses.
After bathing, the animal will need time to dry and get its fur in order. All these actions are aimed at switching his attention, as a result of which nervousness decreases.
Everyone knows about the attraction of cats to valerian. Sometimes this particular remedy is recommended as a sedative for our tailed friends. If you let your cat smell valerian or even lick some, its behavior will really change and become calmer. Still, this is not the best way to calm a cat when he is angry.
In fact, this remedy acts on the cat’s body in the same way as valerian, but somewhat weaker. This means that mint is also not very suitable for correcting the behavior of an animal during the mating season.
Experienced owners offer the following options for solving the problem of sexual hunting:
- lock the animal in a separate room (but this is not always suitable; often the cat experiences even more stress);
- during the period of activity, put the animal under water (preferably warm) for several minutes;
- distract your pet by playing: during the period of sexual activity, the cat experiences an excess of energy, which in nature it spends on searching for the cat and mating.
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How to calm a cat that asks for a cat at home
These methods help if one or two heats need to be missed, and in the future the cat is going to be mated with a male.
Herbal therapy is considered gentle and quite effective.
To calm a walking pet, people use:
- lemon balm;
- chamomile;
- mint;
- motherwort.
A decoction of these herbs, individually or as a complex, is given to the animal twice a day. These methods are considered the safest because they do not contain hormones. Hence the short duration of the impact.
If the offspring are not needed at all, then it is better to sterilize the animal.
If the animal is active and folk remedies do not help, veterinary drugs are used. They can act in different ways: change the animal’s hormonal levels, or simply have a calming effect.
The form of release of such medications is very diverse: tablets, injections, suspensions, decoctions and even drops. Many veterinary drugs have side effects, especially when taken chronically.
Before use, you must carefully read the instructions and consult your doctor.
To calm a pet during estrus, veterinary medicine offers various medications.
The most popular means are:
- Kot Bayun is a water infusion of soothing herbs. Available in drops in bottles of 10-16 ml. The product is safe, has a calming and analgesic effect.
- Fospasim is a homeopathic medicine in drops. Helps your pet survive stress. It is used not only for calming while searching for a cat, but also when moving, before exhibitions and for easily excitable animals.
- Stop-intim is a hormonal drug that is recommended for use if you do not plan to get offspring from your cat.
- Stop-stress - effective drops of domestic production. Contains calming plant extracts & phenibut. The daily dose is 1 drop per 1 kg of weight. Divide into 2 doses.
Be sure to read:
The cat went on a spree for the first time, yelling. What to do at home, how to calm down
Hormonal medications provide high-quality results, but if the strict dosage is not followed, they are harmful to the pet’s health.
Sterilization
If the owner of a cat does not plan to breed her with a male and have offspring, the best way to deal with regular yelling and inappropriate behavior is sterilization. There is little pleasure in the operation, but it is worth it to carry out such a procedure once and stop torturing the animal forever. There are several methods for sterilizing cats:
- The classic technique - during surgery, the doctor makes a small incision about 3 cm long along the center of the abdomen. Afterwards, the uterus and ovaries are removed. After removal of the reproductive organs, stitches are applied.
- An incision on the side - this sterilization technique is considered safer than the classic method. The incision through which the reproductive organs will be removed is made from the side. This technique, unlike the classical method, is characterized by faster and easier recovery of the animal.
- The laparoscopy technique is the only drawback of this method of sterilization, which is that it costs an order of magnitude more than lateral or classical sterilization, but it has many advantages. During the operation, the doctor does not make any incisions, but only several small punctures in the skin, through which a special instrument is inserted inside to remove the ovaries and uterus.
- Surgical intervention with an ultra-small incision - this method of sterilization is similar to the classical method. The only difference is that the incision is made very small - no more than 1 cm. The advantage of this operation is that the doctor can remove the ovaries and uterus, but can also leave the uterus. The second method, leaving the uterus, is preferable, since then the animal receives less trauma, which means it will recover faster.
Sterilization is a very serious operation, the outcome of which depends not only on the skillful work of the veterinarian, but also on how correctly the owner organizes the care of his pet. Therefore, when deciding to undergo surgery, working people need to take a short vacation to provide the cat with proper care.
The recommended time for sterilization is after 6 months from birth.