How do female cats act when in heat

She'll probably rub with her hindquarters in particular and may frequently display the mating position with her hindquarters and tail raised. The most problematic parts of a heat for an owner are the vocalization and spraying. Cats in heat will howl loudly and constantly as they try to attract a male to mate. They may also spray walls or furniture with strong-smelling urine also in an attempt to indicate their availability to a male.

If you have an indoor cat, they may try desperately to get outside, even going as far as attacking windows or doors. Although your veterinarian may be able to prescribe medication to reduce the signs, the best way to prevent a cat being in heat is to have her spayed. After she's been spayed, she will stop going into heat and will become much less territorial and less likely to spray or scratch.

Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement. About our Ads. Cookie Consent Tool.

Belgium - Belgique. If your female cat is not spayed and seems to be acting a bit strange, she could be in heat. Here are common signs that female cats are in heat :. Yes, you can have your cat spayed while she is in heat, but many vets will advise waiting until her heat cycle is over.

This makes spaying a more time-consuming operation, and depending on the facility, may cost more than a spay done when a cat is not in heat. If your number one priority is to not have a pregnant cat, you should get your cat spayed as soon as possible, even if she is in heat.

While your cat is in heat, she may experience some added stress and anxiety. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors.

What Is a Cat in Heat? A cat in heat means when the time when the cat is fertile and ready to mate. How Long Are Cats in Heat?

Featured Video. If you suspect your pet is sick, call your vet immediately. For health-related questions, always consult your veterinarian, as they have examined your pet, know the pet's health history, and can make the best recommendations for your pet. Article Sources.

The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Read More.

Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for TheSprucePets. Cats may mate several different times during this stage before becoming pregnant. When a female cat does become pregnant, her kittens can have different fathers. Watch out — your female cat may roam when in heat, looking for her next mate! Male cats also have a tendency to explore their grounds, looking for females in heat. Track My Cat. If the cat does not mate, she will likely go into heat again a few weeks later.

In case the cat has not mated or become pregnant during estrus, she will enter the phase of interestrus, or the period between heats. She will display no specific signs of being in heat. In a few days or up to 3 weeks, the cat will go into heat again. The cycle of proestrus, estrus, and interestrus repeats throughout the mating season.

She will not experience any estrus activity , as mating season is often seasonal. During the shorter-day seasons of late fall and winter, your cat may not go into heat at all. However, artificial lighting may cause your cat to go into heat all year. The cat heat cycle is a normal and healthy part of the life of every cat. Being in heat is not typically painful.

However, you may want to help calm your cat while she is in heat. Here are several ideas to calm a cat in heat :.