When living with a cat it is inevitable that caregivers have their period in mind of heat Due to the specific characteristics that it presents, which we will explain in this article on our site, heat is always a topic of conversation and, due to the problems it produces, most caregivers choose, wisely, by sterilization. So that we can make this decision, we will review, below, how long does heat last in cats, what symptoms it presents and when it begins.
When does the first heat occur in female cats and how often?
We call estrus the period in which the cat is fertile and, therefore, can become pregnant. There may be variations but, in general, cats begin their first heat around 6 months of age, although it will depend on the time of year, since It is influenced by sunlight, which means that more than talking about how often a cat goes into heat, we must make sure that the heat is going to last longer for months, generally from late winter, spring, summer and early fall. It can continue throughout the year in cats that live indoors and are affected by artificial light and also in those in tropical climates with more than 12 hours of light per day. This does not mean that the cat spends all this time showing symptoms of heat, but it does mean that, during those months, she can go into heat at any time.
How long does heat last in female cats?
It is said that the cat is seasonal polyestrous, that is, she has several heats during her reproductive period. In the same way, the answer to how long a cat is in heat is not unique, as she can have symptoms for days or even weeks continuously, although the norm is a heat of about 7 days that is repeated every 10 If a male has access to her and copulation occurs, when finished, the cat withdraws his penis covered with spicules, which causes pain to the female and triggers the ovulation. This process is called induced ovulation If fertilization does not occur, the heat does not stop.
Symptoms of a cat in heat
Due to the particularities of her cycle, rather than the duration of a cat's heat we should focus on identifying her symptoms, which will be unmistakable, although we should know that they are not seen in all cats. A cat in heat, in general, will become nervous, very restless, demanding our attention and emitting a high-pitched meow, shrill and continuous, which may appear more intense at night. It is also possible that he directs him towards windows or doors and tries to go outside.
These manifestations can be answered by the neighborhood cats, if there are any, with the risk of incidents occurring between them when approaching. The pheromones that cats produce during heat can also induce heat in nearby cats Of course, if the cat has access to the outside, she will most likely return in state. We can also observe that our cat rubs against our body or against objects, she is more affectionate (although some cats show aggressiveness), she raises her tail and shows her genitals. Their appetite may increase at the beginning of heat and decrease at the end. Some cats will urinate more often and may urine mark.
How to calm a cat in heat?
The only way to reassure a cat in heat is to prevent her from suffering it, otherwise we will have to live with the symptoms that produce throughout the entire duration of heat. To eliminate heat there are drugs that our veterinarian can administer but we must know that, although they may be the solution for a specific moment, in the long term they have serious side effects such as mammary tumors or uterine infection For all this, added to the he alth benefits we achieve, we can only recommend sterilization, which usually consists of removal of uterus and ovaries. With this, the cat will not be in heat again and, therefore, will not be able to reproduce.
Sterilization to prevent heat in female cats
To avoid having to worry about how long a cat's heat lasts, what symptoms it produces or whether or not she has become pregnant, we recommend ovarihysterectomy, always trusted veterinarians. It is recommended that this operation be performed before the first heat because with it we take advantage of all its he alth benefits, such as avoiding the appearance of mammary tumors.
Can you spay a cat in heat?
It is better that the cat is not in heat when we set the intervention because, although a cat in heat can be sterilized if there is no other choice, it is preferable that she is notto prevent the increased blood supply to the area from complicating the procedure with bleeding.
