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.
In a sense, yes, cats do have menstrual periods. In felines it's called 'oestrus', but many people just refer to it as being 'in heat'. Only unspayed female cats go through these cycles but rather than shedding the old womb lining like humans do, they reabsorb it, so bleeding is a very rare side effect.
"When do cats have periods?" is an important question to consider, because knowing your kitty's cycle will help you to identify why she is bleeding. Like humans, cats begin having an estrus cycle at the start of puberty, around the age of four to six months, and the cycle can last anywhere from seven to ten days.
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.
Unlike human women or female dogs, it's uncommon for a female cat to bleed during her estrus cycle. According to Catological's veterinary advisor, Dr. Michelle Burch, “Some cats can develop a mild mucoid vulvar discharge which is white and stringy.” But bleeding is a different story.
If you don't get your female cat spayed, they're going to go into heat. And if you're experiencing a cat in heat for the first time, you're probably wondering: how long does a cat stay in heat? 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.
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.
A female cat that is un-spayed will usually be in heat every 2-3 weeks throughout the season, unless she successfully mates and becomes preg-nant. Cats enter heat several times a year with a typical cycle lasting 4-6 days at a time.
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.
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.
"Cats don't get periods in the sense that we know them," she tells Daily Paws. "They definitely have all the same hormones, but unlike people and dogs, they don't ovulate automatically. Cats are induced ovulators, meaning they don't ovulate unless stimulated by the male cat."
When does a female cat have her first estrus cycle? 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).
Heat or estrus in cats can last on average from six to eight days, and repeat every one to three weeks. It's easy to see, then, how a female cat almost always seems to be in heat.
Behaviour: how to tell if a cat is on heat
While your cat is on heat it's likely she will become very affectionate, 'flirty', start 'calling'/meowing loudly (it can even sound like she is in pain), rolling around, arching her back and moving her tail to one side.
When your cat is spayed, the entire reproductive tract (including both ovaries and the uterus) is surgically removed. Therefore, your spayed cat no longer has ovaries, produces estrogen, or goes into heat.
Generally, spaying or neutering your pet will not change its personality. If there are any effects on behaviour, they tend to be positive (reducing unwanted behaviour). Spaying or neutering will not change your pet's affection level or playfulness. For females, there is typically no change at all.
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.
Some cats exhibit what is called “silent heat.” The cats are in heat, they develop follicles on their ovaries and are fertile, but they show no behavioral signs of being in heat. These cats will allow a male to mate with them. Silent heat is more commonly seen in cats who are lower down in the social hierarchy.
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.
This is called lordosis and is an indication that a she-cat is in estrus, or heat (2, 3). Lordosis looks slightly different from regular elevator butt because it's actually the she-cat presenting herself to a tom for mating–whether a tom is present or not (2, 3).
Crying, meowing, and yowling are all often loudly heard from a cat in heat. These vocalizations are to get attention and let other cats know that they are in heat. In addition to the noises, a cat in heat will also seek out attention and affection from its owner and other people.
If it is gushing or spurting, this usually means it is an emergency. The other thing to consider is how well your pet appears. With continuous or severe bleeding your pet will start to show signs they are unwell, and in these instances, urgent veterinary care is definitely required.
It's important to have your cat checked by your vet if you've noticed blood in their poo, especially if they seem unwell. Blood in your cat's poo could be coming from their stomach, intestines, colon, anus or anal glands.
WHAT CAUSES BLOOD IN A CAT'S URINE? The most common reason for cats to have blood in their urine is a condition known as feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Other names for this syndrome are feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) and feline urologic syndrome (FUS).