Cat in Heat - Dealing with a cat in heat

What exactly is a cat in heat?

A cat in heat is a female cat that is fertile and looks for a male cat to reproduce. This does not happen once a year: domestic cats, unlike their wild counterparts, can go into heat throughout the year. This is due to artificial light and constant temperatures in the home, which disrupts their natural rhythms.

The first heat can occur as early as around the age of 5 to 6 months, but in some cats it does not show itself until around 10 to 12 months. From then on, your cat may be in heat every 2 to 3 weeks in heat again - and the cycle continues without intervention.

On average, a heat lasts 7 to 9 days. During this period, your cat changes completely: she meows loudly, becomes affectionate, rolls on the ground, holds up her rump and often eats less. And all this can go on for weeks, risking health problems.

"In heat seems harmless, but repeated cycles without mating are a tremendous strain on the body and behavior."

Frequently asked questions that you will get answered in this blog:

• How do I recognize a cat in heat?
  
  
• How long does heat last in a cat?
  
  
• Is a cat in heat pathetic?
  
  
• What can you do about heat?
  
  
• What is SHAM coverage?
  
  
• Which is better: sterilization or the pill?

How do you recognize a cat in heat?

Let's start at the recognition stage: how can you be sure your cat is in heat? Many owners don't initially recognize the behavior as hormonal turmoil. And that's understandable - it sometimes looks like boredom, attention seeking or even illness.

But there are some obvious signs you can't miss. If your cat suddenly shows different behavior, check for these key points. Chances are you're dealing with a cat in heat:

• A plaintive meow that keeps coming back.
  Your cat suddenly sounds different. That soft meow turns into a piercing, whining sound - especially at night. Not to ask for food, but to be heard.
  
  
• Rubbing, rolling, scraping.
  Your cat rubs her head against furniture (or you), rolls on the floor and literally makes herself small. Anything to give off her scent and attract hangovers.
  
  
• Petting her back = butt in the air.
  As soon as you touch her back, she presses her chest against the ground and raises her hindquarters. Meanwhile, she tramples her hind legs - a typical reflex associated with readiness for mating.
  
  
• She is restless or just affectionate.
  Some cats meow at the door and try to escape. Others prefer to crawl on your lap and want constant contact. Both behaviors indicate hormonal turmoil.
  
  
• She suddenly eats less.
  Her hormones are taking over from her hunger. Don't worry - this behavior is temporary, as long as it is not accompanied by other symptoms of illness.
  
  
• Untidy behavior.
  Sometimes your cat suddenly pees next to the box or in conspicuous places. Not in protest, but to leave scent for possible mates.
  
  

Fact from Poopy: the heat is only ended by mating. Cats have a so-called "induced ovulation": without sexual stimulation, the body remains in fertile mode.

Letting cat go outside for the first time?

Is a cat in heat pathetic?

The short answer: yes - often it does. Not because heat is harmful per se, but because it is an intensely hormonal state in which your cat is completely taken over by her instinct. And when that instinct has nowhere to go - no mating, no rest, no relief - it can get quite out of control.

Why heat is stressful:

• Your cat forgets itself: eating, drinking and sleeping become secondary to the urge to mate.
  
  
• She desperately searches for exits, meows persistently and may become unhousebroken.
  
  
• The hormonal spike persists as long as ovulation does not occur - and without mating remains which does not occur.
  
  
• If this goes on for weeks, her system becomes exhausted.
  
  

Some cats even become depressed or aggressive if they stay in heat for too long. And if this happens repeatedly without intervention, the risk of serious health problems increases, such as uteritis or mammary gland tumors.

"A cat in heat is not pathetic because she is in heat. She is pathetic because no one is doing anything."

How long does your cat stay in heat without mating?

Without mating - that is mating with a male cat in which ovulation is induced - that ovulation does not occur. And without ovulation, the cycle is not interrupted. This means:

• The heat persists longer
  
  
• The moments of rest in between are getting shorter and shorter
  
  
• Your cat becomes increasingly uncomfortable and restless
  
  

If there is no natural or artificial "stop," a cat can spend remain on this hormonal roller coaster for weeks .. She continues to meow, rub, and is constantly tense. This affects her behavior, appetite, and even her sleep.

In short: how long a cat stays in heat depends largely on what you do about it. And that brings us to the question you were looking for: what can you do to help your cat?

Leave cat at home alone?

Stopping or reducing heat - what are your options?

Your cat is clearly in heat and you want to help her. Fortunately, there are a few effective ways to break or mitigate this behavior. Which solution fits best depends on your situation and whether you want to breed your cat in the future.

1. Sterilization (the best long-term solution).

A spay removes the cause of the heat completely. During the procedure, the ovaries are removed, stopping hormone production. No hormones = no heat. It is a simple procedure with little risk, and it also prevents future health problems. Therefore, I recommend it to most cat owners.
Read more about the benefits of spaying here at AniCura.com

2. SHAM coverage (temporary hormonal reset).

In SHAM mating, you mimic mating with a damp cotton swab. This stimulates the vaginal wall, which in many cases still triggers ovulation - thus temporarily interrupting the heat. Not ideal as a structural solution, but effective in cats too young for spaying.

3. The cat pill (hormone therapy, with risks).

There are contraceptives for cats, such as the female cat pill. These suppress heat, but carry serious long-term health risks: including an increased risk of diabetes and mammary gland tumors. Use only as a temporary emergency solution, and only under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Read about the associated risks at Pharmapets.com

4. Soothing supplements or pheromones

Is sterilization not an option at this point? Then soothing products such as pheromones or natural supplements can help to dampen the worst of the agitation. They don't address the problem at the source, but they do give your cat temporary relief.

Comparison of options for stopping heat

Looking for even more help?

At Poopy we understand how frustrating and confusing being in heat can be. That's why on our Reading Corner a wealth of information to better understand and support your cat - from first meow to adult cat life.

Click below and discover all our blogs full of practical tips, smart insights and honest answers.

To the Poopy Reading Corner!