Cats have their first estrous (reproductive) cycle when they reach puberty. On average, puberty, or sexual maturity, first occurs in cats at about six months of age, but this can vary slightly by the time of year (length of daylight hours).
Female cats reach sexual maturity and can breed from about 4 months old. They will then come into heat (or season) every year around February to October. Female cats have many short periods roughly 2-3 weeks apart. They do not ovulate until they are mated, so this period of heat cycles can be lengthy.
“In heat” refers to when a cat is fertile and ready to mate. A cat's first heat happens when she hits puberty at six to 10 months old. Her oestrus cycle will usually last four to five days and, unless she becomes pregnant, she will be in heat again in roughly two to three weeks.
Being in heat is not typically painful for cats, although they may feel some discomfort or agitation. When your cat in heat makes a loud, howling sound, you may assume they're in pain. But rest assured, the increased vocalization (known as “caterwauling”) is just your cat's way of attracting a potential suitor.
When should I spay or neuter my cat? Kittens can be spayed or neutered as young as six to eight weeks of age, however standard spay and neuter surgeries are most often performed when the kitten is between five and six months old.
Each heat generally lasts several days with the average length being seven days, although it can range from 1 to 21 days. If the queen (an intact female cat) is not mated during estrus, she will go out of heat for a short period of time, usually about seven days, but it can range from 2 to 19 days.
The main reasons that vets are reluctant to advise early neutering is that they feel there is a higher risk of surgical and anaesthetic problems (Murray et al, 2008), as well as an increased risk of urinary tract problems, growth plate fractures, obesity and behavioural issues (Spain et al, 2004).
According to experts, while it's not ideal, a cat who is in heat can be spayed during her heat cycle. The reason that vets are slightly hesitant to perform this procedure while a cat is in heat is because blood vessels and tissues can become engorged during heat and this can raise the risk of bleeding during surgery.
Extra Petting and Brushings During Heat Cycle
For some cats, a little extra attention may help ease the stress of estrus. Give your feline friend some extra attention around the home when she's in heat, and you may find that it calms her down and keeps her stress levels manageable.
Typically, a cat will stay in heat for around 3 to 7 days, but this cycle can last as long as 20 days for certain cats. A cat goes into heat quite often, and this heat cycle is also called the estrous cycle.
How Often Do Cats Go Into Heat? Once estrous cycles begin, cats may go into heat as often as every 2-3 weeks. Cats are seasonally polyestrus (also spelled polyestrous), meaning they can have multiple cycles during their breeding season. Breeding season would normally be during warmer weather and longer daylight hours.
Do cats bleed when they're in heat? In the vast majority of cases, cats don't bleed when they're in heat, although it is possible. Blood in their urine or around the genital area could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, so if you do spot any blood, be sure to contact your vet right away.
We recommend having your female cat spayed before her first heat cycle. Allowing your cat to have a litter of kittens would contribute to the problem of pet over-population.
Spaying before the first heat cycle results in an easier surgery with fewer potential for complications such as bleeding and pain. Urinary incontinence is, however, a common problem associated with early spay. It can be well-managed with lifelong medication.
Most pets will start to feel better in 24 - 48 hours, but full recovery takes between 10 to 14 days. During this period you should aim to keep your pet calm and refrain from allowing them to jump, as this could cause the incision to reopen. The incision should be checked daily for signs of infection.
Since your cat can experience pain or discomfort from her procedure for 5-7 days after the surgery, it's important to make sure she's as comfortable as possible.
In general, in small breed dogs (less than 50 pounds) we recommend spaying around 6 months. In large breed dogs (greater than 50 pounds) we recommend waiting until after skeletal maturity but before the second heat cycle(usually 12-15 months) in spaying female dogs or anytime after skeletal maturity in male dogs.
Think loud meows all day and night. While your kitten may suddenly become very affectionate, she may also grab at you with her claws out or bite if picked up. She will roll over while crying and may posture with her rear end raised while treading with her hind paws.
Female cats in heat (in the estrus cycle) exude a powerful sex pheromone that can be sniffed or "scented" by a male even at a distance of a mile away.
A cat usually has her first heat at around 6 months of age, but some can have it as early as 4 months old. During a heat your cat may be more affectionate, rubbing up against furniture, walls and her favorite people.
It is recommended that all non-breeding cats be sterilized. Several health benefits are associated with spaying your cat. First, spaying eliminates the risk of ovarian and uterine cancers. Second, breast cancer is the number one type of cancer diagnosed in intact (unspayed) female cats.
In most cases, veterinarians will tell you to prepare your cat by having them fast from midnightprior to the surgery — meaning no food or treats. Normally it's ok to leave water out for them. Fasting helps reduce the chances that your cat will vomit during surgery.
Intact females have a higher risk of mammary and uterine cancer and serious uterine infections. Intact females who are allowed to roam will often fight with other females, and they incur the same risk of injury and disease as males.
The hormonal cycle of free-roaming cats is triggered by sunlight—which explains why kitten season is typically May to June. You'll notice female cats beginning their cycles of heat in near February with the lengthening of days. They'll be less likely to go into heat when the days become shorter and darker in the fall.