The cat is a beautiful animal that grows very quickly, too quickly. During the first six to eight months, it will go from weighing about 200 grams to around two kilos, and it will still have at least a year and a half to complete its development. What's surprising is that it's precisely at that age, around six months old, that it begins to show interest in finding a mate and the first signs of sexual attraction appear. sexual maturity.
With a life expectancy that can reach two decades, she must grow as quickly as possible to be able to have her own children and ensure that the species can surviveThe problem is that there are currently far too many domestic cats living on the streets or in shelters waiting for a family. Most won't get a chance, partly because of the great prolificacy of cats and because of the numerous jealousy episodes they can experience throughout the year.
Therefore, knowing how is the behavior of a cat in heat It is essential for making responsible decisions: avoiding unwanted litters, reducing the animal's stress, and improving coexistence at home.
How often do cats go into heat?
In cats, it's important to distinguish between males and females. male cats They don't have a proper estrous cycle like females: once they reach puberty, they can attempt to mate at any time of year. However, their sexual behavior This intensifies when they detect signs of a cat in heat in the environment, especially through the smell of urine and the vocalizations of the females.
The catsIn contrast, they exhibit a very pronounced sexual cycle. They are long-day seasonal polyestricThis means they experience multiple heat cycles during periods with longer daylight hours. In natural conditions, the reproductive season extends throughout the sunnier months, while during periods of less light many cats enter a period of sexual rest.
If the cat lives in an apartment with good food, artificial light, and heating, it's common for her to lose that seasonal pattern and may show estrus cycles almost all year roundSome breeds, such as oriental breeds (for example, the Siamese) or short-haired cats, tend to be especially precocious and have very frequent cycles.
During the breeding season, a cat can go into heat approximately every Two or three weeks If she doesn't get pregnant or isn't spayed. In each of those seasons, phases of intense sexual activity alternate with short periods of rest, which explains why it seems like the cat "never stops being in heat."
How does a male cat behave in heat?
If we have an unneutered male cat, when he reaches six, seven, or eight months old (depending on his adult size), we'll realize that the little guy who only wanted to play has now started doing other things. This is when puberty begins: sperm production increases. testosterone and sexual characteristics develop, such as the typical spicules of the penis, related to induced ovulation in females.
One of the behaviors that can surprise us the most is that of to place oneself on any object in a riding position (a stuffed animal, our arm or leg, or even other pets in the house). This behavior usually intensifies when it detects the scent of a female in heat in the environment.
Every time he looks out the window and sees or smells a receptive cat, he will do everything he can to go to her. He will meow desperatelywith very intense, deep, and repetitive vocalizations that can last for several minutes at a time. Furthermore, can scratch the door from the house so that we let him out, and in some cases could be a bit aggressive with us if we do not allow him access to the outside.
Another of the most obvious changes is that will start marking with urine their territory. This marking is usually done on vertical surfaces (walls, doors, furniture) with small amounts of highly concentrated urine and very strong smellThe goal is to inform other males of their presence and attract females in heat, but at home it becomes a complicated coexistence problem to manage.
During the period of greatest female activity, entire males also they tend to wander moreThey try to expand their territory, straying far from home and risking fights, being run over, or contracting infectious diseases transmitted by bites and scratches.
When several males locate the same female cat, it is common for them to gather around her and mating occurs. conflict situationsYou'll hear howls, hisses, and growls, and there may be fights with deep bites and scratches. These disputes are a major source of stress and health risks for unneutered cats.
And how does a cat in heat behave?
If we have an unspayed cat, more or less at five-six months They will reach sexual maturity, although some may be even earlier. Factors such as breed, body condition, time of year they were born, and living with other cats influence the age of puberty.
If it's the only animal we live with and it doesn't go outside, we might not realize it's mature until it starts to meow incessantly at night. These meows are long, powerful, and can resemble a baby's cry or a scream of pain, although they are actually courtship calls directed at the males in the surrounding area.
Another thing she will do when she is in heat is be very affectionateIt will not want to separate from us and will constantly seek physical contact: it rubs against our legs, furniture and corners, intensifying a marking behavior with facial pheromones that also serves to transmit its reproductive state.
Every time we stroke her back, especially near the base of her tail, She's going to arch it. In doing so, will adopt the riding position Lordosis: The animal raises the rear of its body, slightly flexes its hind legs, and moves its tail to one side, exposing its genital area. Often, while adopting this posture, it rhythmically moves its hind legs.
It is also very common that roll on the groundWith her belly up, she will purr intensely and alternate moments of affection with gentle threats or hisses when she is not yet fully receptive to the male. This behavior is part of a complex courtship ritual in which the cat first attracts and then selects the male with whom she will decide to mate.
If we look for physical changes, we will observe that he licks his genitals a lotbecause during heat they become inflamed and may be somewhat more sensitive. On the other hand, the smell of urine becomes stronger And some female cats may also mark with small amounts of urine outside the litter box to leave chemical messages for the males.
Stages of the cat's reproductive cycle
The behavior of a cat in heat is not an isolated event, but rather part of a reproductive cycle Very well organized. Understanding its phases helps to understand why the behavior changes so much and why the heat cycle seems to repeat itself over and over again.
Female cats have four phases:
- proestrusIt lasts between one and three days. The cat begins to attract males thanks to the smell of her urine and hormonal changes, but He still hasn't accepted the mountShe may hiss, scratch, or move away if a male tries to mate with her. During this phase, the ovarian follicles develop and increase in size. estrogen, responsible for many of the behavioral changes.
- EstroThis is "heat" in the strictest sense, when the cat is receptive. It lasts between two and six days, although periods of up to twelve or even more have been described. During this stage accepts the male and can become pregnant. Ovulation in most cats is inducedThat is, it is produced thanks to the stimulation of copulation.
- InterestThis is the period between two consecutive heat cycles when the cat has neither ovulated nor become pregnant. It usually lasts between eight and fifteen days. During this time, her behavior becomes calmer, but her ovarian activity remains ready to begin another cycle soon if light conditions permit.
- Anestrus: phase of ovarian inactivity This longer period coincides with the months of shorter days for cats that still exhibit some seasonal behavior (for example, those that live outdoors). It can last several months, during which the cat shows no signs of being in heat.
If the cat ovulates and becomes pregnant, the gestation period lasts about two months. After giving birth, she may go into heat again between two and seven weeks later, even when She is still breastfeeding to the kittens, which explains why cats can have so many litters throughout their lives if their reproduction is not controlled.
Prolificacy and risks of unwanted litters
Among domestic animal species, cats are among the most prolificIf a cat could mate freely throughout her life, she could have between 50 and 100 kittens, depending on the age at which it begins to reproduce, the size of the litters, and its life expectancy.
This prolificacy is due to several combined factors: they begin to to mate very youngThey usually have three to four kittens (or more) per litter. multiple heat cycles in the same season and can go into heat again shortly after giving birth. Furthermore, during a single heat cycle, a cat can mate with several males, so a single litter can contain kittens with different sexes. different parents.
All of this contributes to a large number of unplanned litters, which often end in abandonment or overcrowding of shelters. In terms of health, cats that reproduce uncontrollably are also more exposed to... diseases of the reproductive systemcomplicated births and chronic stress associated with very frequent heat cycles.
Is heat painful for a cat?
Heat itself is not considered a painful process from a physical point of view, but it does involve a great stress For many cats, both male and female, hormonal changes activate intense mate-seeking behaviors that, when not satisfied in a controlled domestic environment, generate frustrationanxiety and behavioral problems.
In females, copulation itself can be uncomfortable or even somewhat painful due to the barbs on the male's penis, which explains the high-pitched scream which the cat usually emits right after mating. After that moment, the female often tries to push the male away or attack him, only to then show interest again and repeat the courtship and mating cycle.
How to care for and calm a cat in heat
Living with a cat in heat can be exhausting, but there are certain measures that can help. better manage this stage while a final decision is being made regarding sterilization:
- Keep a quiet environmentAvoiding loud noises or sudden changes in routine helps reduce stress levels.
- Offer games and environmental enrichment (scratching posts, interactive toys, food circuits) allows the animal to channel some of its energy and anxiety.
- Increase the moments of positive interaction (petting, brushing, moderate play) can help the cat feel safer and more accompanied.
- To control as much as possible the escape routes (windows, balconies, doors) to prevent escapes in search of a mate and reduce the risk of accidents.
- In some cases, the use of synthetic pheromones Using a diffuser can help create a calmer atmosphere, although it will not eliminate signs of jealousy.
What is not recommended is resorting to home remedies or hormonal treatments without veterinary supervision, as these can produce serious side effects in the medium and long term.
Why is it recommended to neuter or sterilize cats?
To avoid unwanted litters, it is recommended neuter or spay to the male and female cat. The procedure not only prevents pregnancies, but also reduces or eliminates many of the behaviors associated with heat: intense meowing, urine marking, wandering, fighting, and territorial aggression.
In females, performing sterilization before several heat cycles significantly reduces the risk of breast tumors and eliminates the possibility of suffering uterine infections serious health problems, in addition to preventing unwanted births and the stress of repeated heat cycles. In males, castration helps prevent injuries from fights and reduces the likelihood of contracting diseases. infectious diseases and it greatly improves coexistence at home.
It is always essential to discuss with the veterinarian what the best moment to perform the surgery in each case, assess the animal's general condition and resolve all doubts about aftercare and proper nutrition for sterilized cats.
Understanding in detail how a cat behaves in heat, how frequent this cycle is, and what alternatives exist to control it allows for informed decision-making. responsible decisions which benefit both the animal itself and the rest of the cats in the community, improving their well-being and reducing the number of abandoned or homeless cats.