When Will My Cat Go Into Heat?
Cats begin coming into heat as early as 4 months old, sometimes even sooner, especially if there happens to be an unaltered male around. Once they do begin their heat cycles, they will go in and out of heat every 3 to 4 weeks until you have them spayed. Unless you just don’t need to sleep at night, it is best to have your kitten spayed at about 5 months old before they ever start their heat cycle. Heat cycles can last anywhere from 4 days to 3 weeks at a time, and each heat can be different for individual cats. Also, the same cat may behave differently during successive heat cycles.
What Are the Signs My Cat Is In Heat?
The first sign that your cat is going into heat is that she will be more affectionate. This part may be more difficult to determine if you have an already loving breed like the Persian or Himalayan. When you’re petting her, she may raise her hind end in the air. Within a couple of days, she will begin calling. This yowling can go on around the clock. If there is a male in the area, he will call back.
Next, you might notice that when you pet her, she gets low to the ground, raises her back end, and purrs like crazy. Her calls might get louder and more persistent, and she may begin to roll around on the floor. Lastly, when you pet her, she will get low, lift her back end a bit, and then move her tail to the side and start marching with her back legs. At this point, she is in full-blown heat and will begin accepting males. She might also back up to walls, your shoe, or anything else she can. All your cat is interested in at this time is breeding, and she is serious about it.
Precautions When Your Cat Is In Heat
During these times, you must keep your female cat away from any doors, windows, or unaltered male cats. Even the most docile cat will try to escape and find a male to breed with. Of course to avoid the possibility of losing your cat, having her harmed by an aggressive male, getting a disease, or having an unwanted litter of kittens, you should spay your female cat. If you are having any trouble deciding whether or not to have your cat spayed, please read the article, “Should I Spay or Neuter My Cat.”
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