Signs Your Cat is in Heat and How to Calm Her?

Signs Your Cat is in Heat and How to Calm Her? The suddenly yowling, needy, clingy kitty If your usually composed and quiet cat suddenly becomes the loudest, most demanding attention seeker you’ve ever known possibly meowing nonstop and chasing your legs like she’s lost her mind then it’s likely your girl is “in heat,” or on the prowl.

It is a perfectly natural process, of course, the beginning of fertility cycle or heat of an intact female cat (one that has not been spayed). However, being a parent to a feline in heat may be just as stressful for you as it is for the poor gal. In my vet career, I encounter clients at their wits end by this seemingly drastic change.

You need to be prepared by recognizing a cat in heat and by having solutions to deal with a stressed out, horny feline that will prevent both parties from tearing the house down.

Signs Your Cat is in Heat and How to Calm Her?

Understanding the Feline Heat Cycle

It sounds wild but their cycle is much simpler and different to our own. We have a 28-day cycle for pretty much a whole month of the year whereas we cats are polyestrous throughout the year if they are indoors. What this essentially means is they will have a “heat” (the cat equivalent to women having a period and wanting to get frisky with another tom cat!!) which will only occur if it’s a sunny time of year in fact around April to October is their main time to get heat but of course if its a cosy temperature indoor cat house they could have 4 or 5 during the year.

When does she start to be in the “heat?” Most queens (un-spayed females) will go into their first heat between 4 and 6 months of age with the average at 6 months. When not in heat the average cycle will reoccur every 2-3 weeks with the length of each heat cycle being between several days and 2 weeks.

The Tell-Tale Signs: Is Your Cat in Heat?

The obvious Signs of a Cat in Heat: Attracting A Male Cat What A Cat in Heat’s Main Role is For? The behavior of a female in heat is far from delicate. These behavior patterns are the most prevalent symptoms that the females is showing to encourage the most readily accessible and willing male cat she can get to breed.

1. Excessive Vocalization (“Calling”)

Most easily identified. Your cat may meow or yowl and cry out continuously in loud wailing vocalizations for the males to see she’s available for them. You will see it day or night. It’s often described as “caterwauling.”

2. Increased Affection and Demanding Attention

Previously independent cats can turn into complete and total lap animals. They love to rub up on anything they can you, your legs, your furniture. They roll on the floor like a floosy kitten.

3. The Classic Lordosis Posture

For a cat in heat, there’s a main objective find a mate! Your kitty could be roaming the perimeter, restless, or master Houdini with her ability to escape any window or door in search of an eligible Tom.

4. Restlessness and Escape Attempts

A cat in heat has only one mission: to attract a mate. A female may pace back and forth, be in a restless mood, or be a Houdini when it comes to door- and window escapes in her bid to find a Tomcat.

5. Urine Spraying

Decreased food interest if your female cat is having a hormonal upswing may just be your female cat’s frustration with the upcoming ‘up and over’ phase that is coming. She can sometimes lick at her Genital area more frequently during this time frame too. Lastly one very important thing you should always know about owning a cat; an in ‘heat’ female cat doesn’t usually present a flow of blood or vaginal discharge with the dog; make sure your vet is aware of blood or vaginal discharge as soon as possible as it should not happen.

6. Decreased Appetite and Over-Grooming

Reduced interest in food because your female is on a ‘high’ hormonal cycle could mean she’s simply stressing about it. Your cat may also obsessively lick at her genital area as well. Another essential fact for cat owners is this: vaginal discharge or blood from the vagina does NOT typically accompany your cat when she’s in ‘heat’ in the same way it does a dog’s; contact your vet as soon as possible if it occurs.

Also Check: Why Is My Rabbit Pulling Out Her Fur?

How to Calm a Cat in Heat: A Veterinary Guide

The thing to keep in mind though is that when in heat, they are not in any kind of pain. What can happen though is that your female feline might be extremely uncomfortable, insecure and upset. All that you can really do is keep her comfortable and safe during this time until her heat cycle finishes. Here are some tips:

1. Secure Your Home and Keep Her Indoors

Warmth: use a low heat heater pad or blanket which is not too uncomfortable for her body.

2. Provide a Calming and Comfortable Environment

Extra love and attention can be a great comfort. If she is being affectionate, give in to her demands. Spend quality time petting, brushing, or simply sitting with her.

• Warmth: A comfortable, low-heat heating pad or blanket will soothe her body.
• Synthetic pheromones: Pretend natural pheromones your kitty used. Made to pretend the’ soothing ‘pheromones their mommy cat produces, synthetic pheromones are a really good to make your pet feel safe and calm in the home. They have actually been verified as the only real feline pheromones on market that can take your pet of from stress and behaviors of without the use of the drugs.

3. Try Pheromone Therapy

Synthetic pheromones Mimic natural cat pheromones for comfort and security These mimic the natural ‘comforting’ pheromones a mothercatproduces and work great to make the housefeel more calming and safe. They’re the only proven synthetic feline pheromone on themarket to reduce stressrelatedbehaviors safely andwithoutdrugs.

4. Redirect Her Energy with Play and Distraction

Interactive play with a feather wand or laser pointer will encourage her prey drive and help drain some of that restless energy. Puzzle feeders are a great way to mentally entertain and distract her from attempts to escape.

5. Keep the Litter Box Immaculate

Music The good news is, according to research, classical music, smooth jazz and ambient sounds all soothe the senses of cats. Flip it on; the tunes should calm down your girl a bit, and hopefully muffle some of her meows.

6. Try Distractions Like Calming Music or Catnip

• Music Believe: it or not, researchers say classical or smooth jazz or even ambient music can sooth cats. So turn it on-it should help ease your girl and maybe help to drown out a portion of the vocalizations.
• Catnip: It’s a little like a good trip for the cat – but each one responds differently. In some cats it will have a stimulating, activating and sometimes hallucinogenic effect, for other cats the catnip can be very calming, almost like a sleep-inducing drug.

7. The “Q-Tip Method” is a Dangerous Myth

One piece of misinformation I must ask you to refrain from following at all costs as it may end up costing your cat health and happiness – which is known as the ‘Q-tip method’. It’s a false belief, used primarily online, that a Q-tip can be used in a cat’s vagina to stimulate an end to heat through promoting ovulation – vets would never recommend it, as it’s unethical, harmful and largely unsuccesful. In fact, due to a high chance of injury and infection, a vet wouldn’t perform this act, nor condone its use.

The Ultimate, Long-Term Solution

Though you can lessen the acute effects using some methods mentioned above the only way to prevent cycles (and future unintended offspring!) for good, in addition to preventing severe health complications such as an infection of the uterus (pyometra) and uterine cancer and certain mammary cancers is to have her “done,” a spay. Your veterinarian likely recommends having this done before the cat has a first cycle – usually between the ages of 4 and 6 months.

Can You Spay a Cat in Heat?

It technically can be done but the vet will strongly suggest not doing so if they have other options. While a female is in heat the blood flow to reproductive organs is slightly higher thus potentially increasing complication slightly. The decision would be on risk vs benefit so if it’s really dangerous to allow your cat to escape it may be easier to spay in heat rather then Risk the chance of accidental conception and wait to spay.

It is best to get in touch with the vet.

It is a stressful and hormonal time to be in so just love your cat and be patient, once her cycle is over she will calm down and you can schedule your appointment!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)