A cat in heat: how to calm it down at home

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Professional cat breeders and ordinary lovers of these cute fluffies sooner or later face a problem when the animal needs to go for a walk. If a cat asks a cat, how to calm her down at home and is it worth doing? At this time, the animal begins to behave quite actively - it often calls the cat, begins to rock on the floor, and there is a frequent urge to urinate. This behavior of the pet brings discomfort to the owners. In addition, there is a need to clean the cat’s litter box more often, and the pet’s nightly chants simply prevent you from sleeping.

The period when the cat wants and asks for a cat lasts 2 weeks. An adult female feels the need to mate 3 times a year.

Some pet lovers leave things to chance. They let nature solve problems as it will. If the cat continues to live the same life as always, looking for a cat herself, then the owners are then forced to solve the problem of growing kittens. After birth, babies are accommodated in every possible way.

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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.

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.

Stages and duration of a cat's reproductive cycle

Most often, puberty occurs at the age of 6–9 months, sometimes earlier.

Proestrus (precursor).

Duration – 1–3 days.

Behavioral changes.

During this period, anxiety and meowing are noted, the cat actively shows affection for the owner or, conversely, becomes unreasonably aggressive. The genitals may be slightly enlarged. But the cat does not allow mating with a cat during this period.

Internal changes.

During proestrus, hormones begin to be actively synthesized, preparing the body for mating and pregnancy. A special role is played by FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone, which is produced in the pituitary gland. It affects the ovaries, where follicles with eggs begin to mature.

Estrus (heat).

Depending on the individual characteristics of the organism, its duration can vary from 1 to 21 days. The average period of estrus is 5–7 days.

Behavioral changes.

The height of the sexual hunt. The cat rubs against objects, people and other animals, emits inviting cries, takes a characteristic pose, squatting on its hind legs and bending at the waist, moving its paws. At this point, she may go on an adventure by slipping out an open door or jumping out of a window.

Internal changes.

The follicles are mature and ready to release eggs - potential embryos. But in cats, ovulation (the release of eggs) does not happen on its own. It requires induction - sexual intercourse. Although sometimes ovulation can be stimulated by ordinary tactile influence, for example, stroking the withers. Luteinizing hormone (LH), which is produced during coitus, is responsible for the release of eggs. Mature follicles synthesize estrogen hormones, which affect the cat’s behavior and cause changes in its body. If mating does not occur, the follicles gradually dissolve in subsequent phases of the cycle.

The next phase is postestrus (after-leak), and it has several features of its course.

Behavioral changes.

The cat calms down for a while. During this period, it is decided what will happen next - pregnancy, false pregnancy, interestrus, anestrus, or the next estrus will immediately occur.

Internal changes.

If ovulation (postcoital or spontaneous) does not occur, the corpus luteum phase does not occur. The amount of estrogen decreases for a while (interestrus stage), and then follicular growth resumes. In the case when the concentration of estrogen does not decrease, constant formation of follicles occurs, and cycles follow one after another without a visible break.

During the period of reduced daylight hours, postestrus usually turns into anestrus.

If ovulation occurs, but fertilization does not occur, a corpus luteum forms in place of the follicle. It produces corpus luteum hormones, progestogens responsible for pregnancy, within 25–40 days. False pregnancy may occur in cats, but it is not accompanied by significant behavioral changes, as, for example, in dogs.

If fertilization has occurred, pregnancy occurs.

Anestrus

The period between estrus, which is characterized by sexual rest. Lasts 3–4, in winter up to 6 months. The body functions as usual, sex hormones are produced in minimal quantities. The reproductive system is restored and prepared for the next cycle.

What to do if the cat “yells”?

Contraception in cats: implants. How to “turn off” a breeding cat for a while?

The best way to get rid of estrus is surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries - ovariohysterectomy.
It is often called “sterilization,” but this is not quite the correct term, although it has already become customary to refer to this operation in cats. In fact, sterilization is the ligation or cutting of the uterine horns to prevent pregnancy, a method that is never used in cats, because the ovaries remain in place and the cat also continues to scream, howl, crawl, roll, mark and call for a partner, impossible only fertilization becomes. She can develop all diseases of the genital area, which, as a rule, are hormone-dependent. But the complete removal of the uterus and ovaries, which is carried out in clinics, is correctly called “castration”, since this term means the removal of the gonads, and in females these are the ovaries.

Removed uterus with ovaries

However, sometimes there are cases when, for some reason, castration of a cat is impossible, for example, when the cat is purebred and has breeding value. She gave birth to kittens, but instead of resting, she calls for the cat again, although she herself has not yet recovered from childbirth. If it’s one or two “hunts,” you can, of course, endure it, but what to do with particularly temperamental individuals who get into this state every couple of weeks?

Another option is when the cat needs to be “switched off” for a long time - for example, for a year or two, in order for it to complete its participation in the breeding program, because the breeder is a breeder. Almost all breeders, when breeding a certain type of breed, work on complex inbreeding, so sometimes a cat is needed to return to its descendant, for example, a second cousin. And we have to wait for it to grow, and this is not a month or two, but maybe a couple of years.

Also, in many felinological systems, a cat can be bred at certain intervals, for example, in WCF this is no more than 3 times every 2 years.

A cat definitely needs reproductive rest so that the body has time to recover and gain strength for a new pregnancy and feeding, because, contrary to popular belief that childbirth is useful, it is very depleting and wears out the body!

“Childbirth is for health” is a very persistent and dangerous myth that does not stand up to the slightest criticism! After all, the body has to work not even for two, but for five or seven, because cats usually give birth to 4-6 kittens at a time! After nursing babies, a cat that has given birth almost always looks very bad - thin or even skinny, shabby, with bad hair, because she gave everything valuable from her body to the kittens with milk. Therefore, “reproductive rest” is a very important thing!

Childbirth and feeding babies is a big burden on the body!

The cat is in heat... What to do?

Leave everything as it is - endure it?

The method is suitable for calm and not too temperamental cats that come to “hunt” once every few months. But many cats consistently begin to “sing” loud songs every few weeks, tormenting themselves and tormenting those around them, depriving them of peace around the clock. Screams and marks are an unpleasant companion to these periods.

Constant estrus is also fraught with pyometra in a number of “temperamental” breeds (Bengals, Orientals and others).

When you have breeding cats, the risk of unwanted matings is very high; keeping males and females in separate rooms is incredibly difficult.

The show career of permanent cats is problematic due to their “shabby” appearance.

Sometimes only a straitjacket can pacify a cat who senses a current cat nearby

What are some ways to calm a cat during heat?

Under no circumstances should you punish a cat, lock it in a carrier, put it in cold water, or use other “folk” methods of influence! First of all, it's cruel. Secondly, it won't help. Thirdly, the “treatment” may turn out to be worse than the “disease” and cause difficult to eliminate psycho-emotional problems, including prolonged depression with apathy and anorexia.

Possible solutions include:

1. Sterilization (castration)
   . A surgical procedure called ovariohysterectomy. The best option, which not only stops the manifestations of estrus, but also eliminates diseases of the internal reproductive organs.
2. Mating
   . A classic way out of the situation. In this case, after 63–66 days (sometimes 58–69), prepare for the appearance of kittens. The problem is that after feeding the offspring (and sometimes during the feeding process), estrus will recur. Cats are very fertile, and unless you are a professional breeder, consider option #1.
3. Use of drugs to delay and interrupt estrus
   . Taking these drugs reduces hormone levels and helps suppress sexual desire without surgical intervention. The problem is the same as with option No. 2 - hormonal drugs cannot be taken constantly, and estrus will resume as soon as the effect of the drug wears off. There are contraindications! Before use, you should consult your doctor.
4. Use of sedatives
   . They affect the nervous system without affecting the synthesis of sex hormones. As a rule, they are ineffective during estrus, as they require a long course of administration. There are contraindications! Before use, you should consult your doctor.
5. Just wait out the heat
   . If possible, avoid triggers such as the presence of the cat, the smell of other cats, and bright light.

Medicines to calm your cat

Good results are shown by a variety of drugs that can calm a cat during heat at home. Among them, ordinary sedatives like “Kota Bayun”, “Stop Stress”, “Suprastin” or decoctions of chamomile and thyme stand out.

They are relatively safe and allow you to relieve stress, which will make the animal feel considerable relief.

On the other side of the scale are hormonal drugs like “Stop Sex”, “Contrasex”, “Anti-Meow” and others. They drown out the natural hormonal levels of the pet, bringing her relief, but it should be remembered that such drugs are very dangerous if used constantly without the advice of specialists.

An animal left without satisfaction of the reproductive instinct and fed with such a drug to calm a roaming cat at home has an increased risk of forming various ulcers, cysts and inflammation of the genital organs , and problems with the functioning of the adrenal glands.

In advanced cases, the uterus, which has grown due to the tumor, can be larger in size than the animal. Of course, in this case the pet has very little chance of survival. In addition, the hormonal balance takes a very long time and is difficult to restore, which is why a couple of days of estrus, when the animal is actively walking, may seem like a lesser evil.

Contraceptives. Megestrol and drugs based on it

This is a synthetic hormone, progestogen, which is an analogue of the natural hormone of the corpus luteum. It is responsible for reducing the secretion of gonadotropic hormones - FSH and LH. A change in the level of these gonadotropic hormones leads to a decrease in the level of estrogen, and therefore to a decrease in the manifestations of sexual desire. In fact, all megestrol-based products transfer the animal from the proestrus stage to anestrus, bypassing the stages of estrus and post-estrus.

The following are among the drugs created on the basis of megestrol acetate.

"EX-5", "EX-5T", "EX-7.5".

The EKS-5T product is presented in tablets, and the other two drugs are in the form of a suspension for oral use. The result of taking it in cats is the interruption or delay of estrus (a shift in its onset).

To shift estrus

during the period between heats, the cat is given 1 tablet every 2 weeks (or 0.5 tablets every week). Procedure for using the suspension: 4 drops every week (or 8 drops every two weeks) for “EX-5”; 2–3 drops every week (or 5 drops once every two weeks) for EX-7.5.

Important!

You should not skip taking the drug. It is not recommended to use EX for more than 18 months. The use of EX to delay estrus should be started strictly during the period of anestrus.

To interrupt estrus

The animal is given 1 tablet for 5–7 days until the signs of estrus disappear. The daily dose of the suspension is 8 (“EX-5”) or 5 (“EX-7.5”) drops.

Important!

The use of drugs is possible
no later than 3 days
from the beginning of sexual heat, i.e. during the period of proestrus. It is optimal to start giving the drug on the first day. Only then does suppression of FSH synthesis lead to the desired results. If the estrus phase has begun, the use of the drug is undesirable. Megestrol-based medications should not be used more than 2 times a year.

"Four with a tail."

To shift estrus, use 1 tablet every 2 weeks or 0.5 tablets every 7 days. To interrupt estrus, the cat is given 1 tablet for 8 days, the course begins no later than on the 3rd day of heat. Recommendations for use are the same as for EX.

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.

Contraindications for use

Veterinary drugs based on megestrol are not used in the following cases:

• if more than 3 days have passed since the start of sexual heat;
• the cat has not reached puberty;
• in the first heat;
• during pregnancy and lactation;
• for hormonal imbalances, pathologies of the endocrine system, neoplasms and diseases of the reproductive system;
• diabetes mellitus, diseases of the genitourinary system, chronic renal failure;
• when treated with corticosteroids;
• if you have hypersensitivity to the components of the product, as an allergic reaction may develop.

Important: violations of the drug dosage regimen specified in the instructions may lead to a decrease in its therapeutic effectiveness.

Alternative Methods

If a cat constantly screams during estrus, and neither folk methods nor specialized remedies help her, in such cases you cannot do without hormonal drugs. You can purchase them in specialized pet stores and from a veterinarian. The form of release of hormonal drugs is drops, tablets and solutions for injections.

Despite the high efficiency and quick results of hormonal drugs, when used regularly they can have an extremely negative impact on the health of the animal. Therefore, the owner should think carefully about whether he is ready to risk the health and life of his pet.

If, nevertheless, the choice fell on hormonal drugs, their negative impact on the body can be minimized only by choosing the right drug. Before buying such a product, it is imperative to consult with a veterinarian who, based on the results of a blood test for hormones, will select the most optimal drug for the animal.

There is another fairly simple way to temporarily calm the animal - to organize a thermal bed for the cat, the role of which is played by a simple heating pad filled with water. It is enough to place the cat on a warm heating pad and cover it with a warm blanket; this measure will calm it down a little.

Complex drugs

Such products include several active ingredients. The drug for contraception and regulation of sexual behavior "Ovostop" gives a prolonged effect (up to 6 months, depending on the length of daylight hours).

• Megestrol acetate
  . Promotes the transition of proestrus immediately to the stage of sexual rest without estrus and the stage after it.
• Proroksan.
  Thanks to its effect on the receptors responsible for the behavioral manifestations of estrus, it blocks the unpleasant manifestations of estrus: excessive vocalization, search for a sexual partner, aggressive behavior, and the development of stress. Does not directly affect the reproductive system.
• Melatonin
  . The adaptogen hormone is responsible for the seasonal and daily rhythms of the body. The use of melatonin is especially recommended in cats that are constantly exposed to artificial lighting, which delays the timing of estrus and seasonal molting. Helps improve wool quality and normalize shedding. This active substance also helps slow down the aging process of the body and has a sedative effect.

The advantage of the drug "Ovostop" is the comfortable form of spot-on - drops on the withers. The three-component composition made it possible to reduce the dose of the progestogen component (megestrol).

Strict adherence to the instructions will help to avoid unpleasant signs of heat in your cat. To select the optimal product, consult a specialist.

Agitation and dissatisfaction: signs of inappropriate behavior

Stress, fear, anger and aggression are all antonyms of calm, and the breeder really doesn’t like the cat’s being in this state. In the heat of emotional overstimulation, a pet can injure itself, another animal or its owners.

Signs of overexcitation:

• sharp meow (scream);
• jerky movements, the cat hits its sides with its tail;
• dilated pupils and flattened ears;
• attempts to pounce and scratch (bite);
• fur on end, tail like a pipe, defensive pose.

When frightened, the pet clings to the floor, looks wary, may shake and is ready to take off, run away, or attack the offender. The heart rate increases, the number of breathing movements increases, and in a state of severe fright or stress, a cat, like a dog, opens its mouth and breathes with its tongue hanging out.

Contraindications

• The drug is not used by immature, pregnant or lactating animals.
• Contraindicated in animals with diseases of the reproductive system, mammary tumors, hormonal disorders, diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, lymphogranulomatosis, leukemia, myeloma, epilepsy, chronic renal failure.
• Individual sensitivity is possible.

Attention!

If a hormonal contraceptive is prescribed by a doctor according to a special dosage regimen, for example, for the treatment of a hormone-dependent pathological condition, you should adhere to the regimen recommended by the doctor.

How to calm an animal without drugs

There are a number of methods that can calm the animal for a while.

Bathing

Some owners advise washing cats while walking: once wet, the animal will lick itself and be distracted from the “call of nature”, or at least stop screaming.

For a number of reasons, this method must be used with extreme caution. Let's look at why:

1. In some breeds, water worsens the coat structure and causes dandruff.
2. For most cats, bathing is very stressful, so frequent washing will have a bad effect on the mental state of the pet and its relationship with its owners. To take revenge, she may start shitting in inappropriate places, such as on the bed.
3. There is a risk of catching a cold.

However, there are breeds, most of whose representatives love water: for example, Maine Coons, Abyssinians, Bengals. For these cats, bathing will be a fun game that will ease their condition without damaging their psyche.

The water should be warm and reach somewhere to the root of the animal's tail. You can add a decoction of thyme or chamomile to it (it will enter the pet’s stomach when licked). Throw a ball or other floating toy into the bath to encourage your cat to play.

After bathing, dry the animal with a towel and let it lick itself. There should be no drafts in the room.

Please note that a cold shower, recommended by some “experts,” can cause great harm to the animal, including pneumonia or the appearance of a phobia.