Do you know what “heat” is? If you have heard the term “heat”, or “oestrus” or “calling” then you may have questions like; Do cats bleed when in heat? How often are cats in heat? When are cats in heat? How long does a cat stay in heat? Or what is a cat heat cycle? Well, this is the article for you! Read on to find answers to these questions…

What Does it Mean When a Cat's in Heat?

“Heat” is the term used to describe the time that unspayed female cats are at their most fertile. Female cats in heat are very likely to get pregnant if mated by a male cat. The term “heat” is used to refer to the time in the cat’s oestrous cycle (or reproductive cycle) when she displays signs of being ready to be mated. “Heat” is sometimes called “calling” as females in heat make so much more noise than usual.

Cat in heat symptoms can commonly include restlessness, rubbing and squirming, increased sociability, excessive grooming, vocalization (miaowing more than usual), arching their back and paddling their back legs whilst moving their tail – assuming the mating position!

How Often Do Cats Go into Heat?

Intact female cats may have their first heat between 4 to 12 months of age as they begin to cycle when they reach puberty. It is unusual to see a cat bleed from her vulva when in heat, but you may notice her cleaning her back end more than usual.

Cats are seasonal breeders; the process is controlled by day length as well as the cat’s physical condition. In Northern hemisphere countries, cat breeding seasons are usually between February and October, but this can vary. Some breeds, like Siamese and Burmese cats have heat cycles all year round. Cats in warmer countries (sometimes indoor cats too) may have a longer breeding season, or even be fertile all year round.

How Long Are Cats in Heat?

Heat length varies between cats, but an un-neutered female cat is usually in heat for about 6 to 7 days. This recurs as part of the estrous cycle, roughly every 21 days. Unfortunately, your cat may be fertile before you notice signs of heat and so unwanted pregnancies can happen very easily.

Can a Male Cat Be in Heat?

The easy answer to that is “no”! Male cats don’t have the hormones, or the necessary reproductive organs required to have a “heat”. However, intact male cats do react to females in heat and may display sexual or territorial behaviours in response to the in-heat female. Male cats may spray urine to mark their territory.

If you notice your male cat showing in heat symptoms, then it may be best to speak to your vet to check if they’re definitely a boy or there isn’t something else amiss.

Do You Need to Do Anything When Your Cat's in Heat?

Keep her indoors! Your cat will try to find a male cat to mate with when she’s in heat, and male cats will be very attracted to her and may make their way to your home. It only takes one mating for her to become pregnant, so if you're not thinking about breeding your cat, keep her indoors while she’s in heat.

If you have an intact male cat within your household, then you’ll need to keep them apart from your female cat to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Your cat may feel a bit out of sorts, especially if it’s her first heat, so give her lots of attention.

Your cat may be very noisy! There’s no way to stop your cat from miaowing so much when she’s in heat, other than lots of attention, play and distraction. The only way to stop the miaowing is to neuter her and so prevent future heats.

How to Stop a Cat’s Heats?

The best way to prevent heats and prevent unwanted pregnancies is to neuter your female cat. Spaying your cat removes the ovaries (the source of the heat hormones) and the womb (where kittens would develop).

It’s important to tell your vet when your cat’s last season finished as this will help them to time the surgery between heats. It’s fine to neuter a cat in heat, but the surgery is more straight-forward in cats that aren’t in heat. Most vets will neuter cats from about 4 to 6 months old.

Hopefully you now know a bit about the symptoms of a female cat in heat and what to do when a cat is in heat. Rescue centres are unfortunately full of cats needing homes and so in most cases it’s best to avoid heats and unwanted pregnancies, so speak to your vet about neutering your cat. A female cat is capable of producing several litters of kittens every year.

If you notice your cat’s heats have stopped, but she hasn’t been neutered, then it’s likely she’s either pregnant or having a false pregnancy, so you should speak to your vet as soon as possible.

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Additional content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis 

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