Hello, dear readers!
I am glad to welcome you to the pages of the “Cat City” blog.
Today, yesterday and the day before yesterday a piano is playing in the next apartment.
I listen to classical music by Mozart and Bach at home. I'll be honest: for my hearing it's better than a continuous cat scream.
I just imagine what’s going on next door and sympathize with the owners. After all, their young cat has reached puberty and demands a cat. And a neighbor heard about a new method: it turns out that classical music helps calm a cat during heat. Therefore, the entire new house is filled with the sounds of a piano, and the new residents are forced to join high culture.
But there are other ways to distract your pet from “wants” and give rest to tired residents. Let's talk about them...
A cat is in heat - when does it happen and how long does it last?
On average, a cat's maturation period begins at six months of age. This period depends on the breed of the animal:
- Light-boned cats, which include Orientals, Siamese, Cornish Rex and other breeds, mature at 4-8 months of age.
- Kurilian bobtails, Scots, and Britons, which have medium bones, mature in 8–12 months.
- Large cats (Maine Coons, Siberians) mature later - at 10–18 months.
The period of sexual activity in both male and female cats occurs in autumn and spring. Moreover, sexual activity directly depends on the length of daylight hours. On short days, activity is reduced, and when daylight hours begin to increase, the animal’s activity also increases. However, this pattern is not always observed in pets, since they live mainly under artificial light.
The duration of estrus varies in cats. In the absence of a cat, it lasts from 10 to 15 days. In the presence of a male, estrus passes in 5–7 days. In some cats, one heat cycle can smoothly transition into another. This condition is called nymphomania, and it occurs in 10–12% of pets.
However, both incessant sexual activity and delayed estrus are reasons to take the animal to the veterinarian. The causes of cycle disruption can be various diseases. The risk of their development is especially high if the cat is not bred with a male cat for a long time.
How does a female feel during estrus?
Estrus or estrus occurs in three periods. The furry pet experiences each stage in its own way:
- Proestrus. The initial stage lasts about three days. At this time, hormones are released that prepare the animal’s body for mating and fertilization. These days, the cat walks with its knees bent, rubs against its owner’s legs and demands his attention. From time to time he begins to behave restlessly. She is not yet ready to mate, and therefore vehemently rejects the cat.
- Estrus. This is the most successful period for breeding animals. The female begins to actively invite the male. She is literally shaking from the inability to realize her instinct. The pet is experiencing real agony. Therefore, at this time you should not scold your pet under any circumstances. The period lasts about a week.
- Interestrus or meestrus. The stage lasts from two to ten days. If at this time a cat is brought together with a cat, then after ovulation sexual activity quickly decreases and disappears completely. After this, females begin to treat males aggressively. If ovulation occurs without fertilization, the cat may experience a false pregnancy. If there was no mating, the cycle will soon begin again.
- Anestrus. The animal returns to normal life and begins to experience sexual rest. This period usually occurs during the winter months.
What drugs to give
First of all, you should know that not a single drug with which you are trying to suppress the natural behavior of an animal can be completely safe. Therefore, before giving the drug, you should consult a veterinarian. But it is also worth noting that not all veterinarians treat this in good faith, telling “fairy tales” about the safety of drugs, you should not believe it.
Cat behavior during heat
The behavior of each individual during sexual activity is individual. But basically the behavior of females during estrus is approximately the same:
- Cats scream as if they are in pain, when in fact they are not in pain. Most often, periods of screaming occur at night, morning and late evening.
- The animal may lie flat, purring quietly, or be completely silent.
- The cat actively rubs against various objects.
- It scratches, bites, that is, it shows aggression.
- He goes to the toilet quite often.
- Refuses to eat completely or eats very little.
- Walks on half-bent legs with the tail held to the side.
- She licks under her tail several times a day as her vulva (external genitalia) swells and secretes a clear-colored secretion. Cats do not produce blood during estrus.
- The animal obsessively demands affection, literally not leaving the owner.
- Shows an abnormal interest in animals and male people. Sniffs their clothes and shoes.
- When stroking the area of the sacrum, it moves its tail to the side and squats, sticking out its butt.
All of these symptoms may appear one at a time or simultaneously. Some of them may not be observed at all. Some cats go into heat without any symptoms at all.
How long does a cat walk?
The female reaches sexual maturity at 6 months. Owners should not be surprised by the onset of the first heat (estrus) in a teenage cat. During the mating season, the “March period” occurs several times. The number of cycles depends on the conditions in which the cat lives. Animals from the northern hemisphere usually roam from January until the end of autumn. Estrus in cats from tropical regions and domestic pets can occur all year round.
The average duration of estrus is 6 days. If the cat has not been impregnated, she will quickly return to heat. A full cycle can last from 1 to 6 weeks. The period of estrus is accompanied by characteristic behavior. Cat:
- screams loudly;
becomes intrusive or, conversely, aggressive;
when stroking, it arches, raising the back of the body;
runs “small” more often, and may begin to mark territory like a male.
The latter manifestation, fortunately, is rare
But it is important to pay attention to it. The desire to mark territory in a female can be caused by inflammation or other pathologies of the genitourinary system. If the cat is healthy and just “walking”, all that remains is to focus on how to calm it down at home
If the cat is healthy and just “walking”, all that remains is to focus on how to calm it down at home.
Drugs and folk remedies for estrus
Veterinary stores offer various ways to calm a cat during estrus. Oral hormonal drugs are considered the most effective, after injections. They are given directly during estrus or for prevention. But such medications have contraindications:
- pregnancy;
too young or old;
tumors;
diseases of the genitourinary system.
When choosing a drug, you should consult a specialist. Herbal remedies can be the answer to the question, how to calm a cat in heat at home. They have a softer effect. Pet stores offer ready-made collections, like “Bayun the Cat.” The owner can use catnip: fresh or dried. But only if she calms the cat.
Some animals become active and aggressive from mint. Others simply don't respond to grass.
It is important to remember that catnip is a temporary measure. Its effect lasts for a couple of hours. For herbal remedies to work, they must accumulate in the body
Experts also advise buying several samples of different drugs to choose the most effective one for a particular cat.
Synthetic pheromones help alleviate the symptoms of estrus. They are convenient to use in the form of a fumigator, like Feliway. It will take a couple of weeks for the required dose to accumulate in the cat’s body. It is better to start spraying pheromones in the spring, with the beginning of the mating season. So, when the cat comes into heat, the cat will have enough drug in her body to calm her down.
Ways to distract your cat
It is important to remember that estrus is as nervous for the pet as it is for the owner. Veterinarians advise patience
Shouting and punishing will not improve the situation. When deciding whether a cat is in heat, how to calm it down at home, you should try to distract the animal. Even during estrus, pets retain their hunting instinct.
By playing more with the cat, the owner can reduce the symptoms of estrus. Spending extra time brushing and stroking your pet will also help.
If heat makes a cat aggressive and unsociable, you need to provide her with a comfortable shelter. Its role will be played by the top shelf of the closet, the space under the bed or another secluded place. The condition of some animals is improved by warm bedding. Suitable:
- heated wet towel;
electric blanket or rug;
warmer;
microwave-safe compress.
The latter seems to be the most convenient solution. It is convenient to quickly heat it up. Plain water will also help distract your cat. By wetting its tail and hind legs, the owner will temporarily calm the pet. Offended, she will shut up and go away to clean herself up. Some people advise lubricating your pet's tail with oil or something tasty.
A cat in heat must be isolated from uncastrated males. If the female is not involved in breeding, you should consider sterilization. The operation will relieve the owner from regular stress and the need to pay for medications or injections. For cats, neutering means reducing the risk of developing a number of diseases. It is recommended to do this procedure between cycles. During estrus, blood flows to the genitals, which increases the risk of complications during the intervention.
How to calm your furry pet?
At home, you can try to calm a cat during heat without using any medications . The most important thing you can do to help the purr during this difficult period for her is to show her more tenderness and care. Just pick her up more often, stroke her, comb her, talk to her. Such simple manipulations will relieve tension and calm your pet at least a little.
Warm and soft bedding
Cats appreciate comfort at any time and in any emotional state . And during estrus, they especially prefer something soft and warm. To calm your cat down, you can offer her a soft and warm pillow, a heating pad, or even just a heated bag.
A warm bath will help calm your furry pet for a long time. Afterwards, she will be busy licking the fur, which will reduce tension and stress levels.
Isolation from cats
During estrus, the presence of male cats is very exciting for the female . Therefore, to prevent pregnancy, she should not be allowed outside. Windows and doors must be closed. If there is also a cat living in the house, it is recommended to give it to friends for a while.
Games and entertainment
Games will help distract the cat from sexual heat, since during this period her motor activity increases . The pet’s energy is overflowing, so at night she begins to scream, calling for the cat. To eliminate night “concerts,” the female literally needs to be forced to play during the day. To do this, you can buy or make new toys or even play with it yourself. Having played enough during the day, the kitty will sleep peacefully all night.
Using herbal infusions:
Infusions of thyme, chamomile or natural mint, of course, will not completely rid the animal of sexual desire, but they will significantly reduce activity. Moreover, these herbs have no side effects and are inexpensive.
Numerous tips
- Entertain your kitty with games
using new toys. Young cats willingly frolic and play. The main thing is that they jump and run more. During fun, they spend additional energy that appeared during the estrus period.
- Reduce your food portions
. But you don’t want your pet to go hungry: it’s better to give her very little food during the day, and feed her a full ration of food at night. After all, a well-fed animal loves to sleep. Then the owners will be able to rest a little. - Isolate the female in heat
at night in a separate room or bathroom. Just don’t forget to put a drinking bowl with water, a tray with filler and a place to lie down so that the baby is comfortable. - Buy a calming collar
with pheromones, but be prepared for the fact that it may have a weak effect on the female. After all, kisuli treat smells differently.
- Distract your furry one
so that she can start grooming herself and give her an hour or two of restful sleep. To do this, wet the cat's fur with water or smear the beauty with delicious food: sauce from wet food or sour cream.
Medications for cats during estrus
If no action and your care helps , then you can alleviate your pet’s condition with the help of special sedatives. Currently, there are three main groups, which include drops, tablets and injections.
Drops and tinctures
Most often, experts recommend using the following drops:
- "Stop stress";
- "Suprastin";
- "Anti-stress";
- "Cat Baiyun".
All of them are made from herbs. With their help, you can normalize the nervous system and relieve stress. The drops are quite harmless, however, their long-term use can lead to decreased immunity and disruption of the nervous system.
Pills
Contraceptives have a short-term effect , regulate the frequency of rutting and reduce libido. The most popular and effective tablets are:
- "Perlutex";
- "Anti-sex";
- "The ex";
- "CounterSex";
- "Stop-intimate";
- "Sex barrier";
- "Gestrenol".
The cat’s body is able to quickly adapt to such drugs. Therefore, the remedy that helped last time may become useless the next time.
Injections
Hormone injections are the most effective and, at the same time, the most dangerous method. Long-acting contraceptives relieve symptoms for six months or more. The most common of them are: Depo-Provera and Covinan. After their use, side effects may occur in the form of weight gain, lethargy, swelling of the mammary glands, purulent inflammation of the genital organs, ovarian cysts, and pyometritis. Experienced specialists prescribe such drugs only to those individuals who, for some reason, cannot undergo sterilization.
Medicines
Many owners are interested in why their pet constantly meows at this time. The fact is that in this way she not only calls the cat, but also relieves internal tension in this way. Unable to mate and being under the influence of hormones, the cat experiences stress, gets nervous, and sometimes even panics.
Physical and psychological stress exhausts the cat, it feels insecure and powerless, which leads to a worsening of the situation: even more screaming, marks all over the house, damage to things. And although estrus lasts only a couple of weeks, it can recur quite often. Periodic stress undermines the immune system and weakens the nervous system.
If your cat has a hard time going through this period, you should take her to the vet. Your doctor may recommend a sedative that does not alter your cycle or stop your estrus. As a rule, you need to give this drug to your cat a few days before the start of estrus or at the very beginning, since it does not begin to act immediately.
Calming tablets are the most radical way to correct the hormonal levels of “walking” cats. Conventionally, they can be divided into two main types:
- Hormonal. They block sexual arousal, interrupting estrus. There are many drugs of domestic and foreign production on sale, the most popular of which are “Stop Intim”, “Gestrenol”, “Sex Barrier”, “Anti Meow”, “Pillkan”.
- Mild sedatives, including homeopathic ones. Tablet drops “Cat Bayun”, “Feliway”, as well as “Suprastin” or regular “Valocordin” help relieve emotional and physical stress.
Ferromones. The synthetic ferromone “Feliway”, produced in the form of a diffuser, shows itself well in practice. The device is connected to an outlet and operates within the entire apartment or a separate room (depending on the area). One package is designed to be used for approximately 4 weeks.
The use of drops and tablets for estrus
It is recommended to use the drugs strictly following the instructions supplied with them. Before use, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian , since the animal may be allergic to any component included in the drug.
Drops during estrus are taken 3-4 times a day, prescribing no more than 2 ml of tincture per day. The course of treatment is usually no more than 7 days per month. Drops can be administered into the cat's mouth using a syringe or spoon, or added to milk.
The dosage of “CounterSex” tablets depends on the female’s body weight . One tablet is intended for 5 kg of weight. The course of treatment is no more than 5 days. Reception should begin at the first signs of sexual heat.
During a cat's heat, it is important to remember that this condition is a real stress for her body. At this time, the animal does not give an account of its behavior and actions. Therefore, you cannot scold or punish your furry pet . You just need to be patient, kind and caring. In any case, if the owners do not plan offspring from their cat, then it is better to sterilize it. In this case, the pet’s health will be out of danger, and its owners will be able to live in peace.
To be or not to be offspring?
The owner of a grown-up cat recently began to complain: “How can you not go crazy, get enough sleep at night and not harm your pet?”
These three questions in one force cat owners to look for answers on the websites and forums of breeders and veterinarians.
Discussions on social networks recommend that the owner decide on the main question: whether to get children from his pet or whether kittens are not included in the family’s life plans. There is no third option.
Felinologists advise sterilizing an animal if:
- there is no desire, time and opportunity to breed cat offspring;
- The cat is not suitable for breeding work.
After all, after sterilization, the mental health of the furry beauty will be fine, and the age-related risk of oncology of the reproductive system will be reduced to zero.
