Duration of estrus in a cat: timing, features, symptoms, advice from veterinarians

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

In the body of a cat, when it reaches puberty, special physiological processes occur, called estrus. This is a natural phenomenon, but the owners of furry pets need to know about this period of the animal in order to alleviate its condition. What is the duration of estrus in a cat and what features appear in her behavior, we will consider in this article.

Puberty

Cats become sexually mature when they are 7-10 months old. The end of puberty of a fluffy pet ends with the first estrus. The time of its onset is associated with the duration of daylight hours and the physiological characteristics of the animal. Sometimes maturation is delayed and occurs only in a year or a year and a half. In this case, hormonal changes are possible, which is a deviation from the norm. On the other hand, a four-month-old kitten may leak and even become pregnant, which also indicates an incorrect physiological development of the pet.

Usually such a cat is sterilized so that this feature does notpassed down by inheritance. The duration of the first estrus in a cat can last only about two days. The very first childbirth is possible at the age of one year, when the body is fully prepared for the bearing and birth of kittens.

Signs of heat

During estrus, a cat is controlled by sexual instinct, during which she ceases to control herself. Her behavior is different from usual. It is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Mournful calling and rather loud meow. The animal can call the male at night and during the day. Increased excitability depends on temperament.
• Frequent urination, often past the tray. Urine releases pheromones, substances whose smell attracts cats.
• Behavior changes - she becomes affectionate, constantly rubbing against her legs, demanding to be stroked, or, conversely, behaves aggressively.
• The gait of the animal changes: moving on bent legs, raising the back of the body, moving the tail to the side.
• Appetite decreases.

These signs may vary from cat to cat, but if a symptom begins to get extremely worse, then veterinary attention is needed. Perhaps the animal has problems with the reproductive system.

Steps

In a cat, the duration of estrus depends on the physiological characteristics, diet, conditions of detention and the length of daylight hours. This process consists of the following steps:

• Proestrus - lasts 1-2 days. The cat is not yet ready to mate, butgenital enlargement is already happening.
• Estrus - starts on the third and lasts about five days. This is the best time to knit. The female attracts the male by arching her back, raising her back and moving her tail to the side.
• Metestrus - a period of sexual inactivity, it passes within 4-12 days. All interest in the cat is lost and aggression appears.
• Anestrus - return to your normal life.

If mating fails, the cycle resumes after three weeks. If mating occurs, but the cat is not fertilized, then a false pregnancy occurs, which lasts up to 36 days, otherwise replenishment must be expected.

Estrus duration

Who decided to get a pet, often wonders: how long does a cat's estrus last and how often does it happen? It should be noted right away that the time of puberty and the duration of estrus is an individual feature of a pet. Only at the onset of this period, you can accurately determine how many days the estrus lasts specifically for your pet. In general, estrus lasts 5-7 days, during which there may be a clear, mild discharge.

When blood appears, the animal must be shown to the veterinarian. The frequency and duration of this phenomenon is affected by age, he alth status, presence of other pets in the house, season, weather, food composition. Domestic cats leak 3-4 times a year, but without conception, this phenomenon repeats every month, andsometimes more often. Timely mating, pregnancy, childbirth and feeding offspring make it possible to flow no more than 2-3 times a year.

Possible anomalies

As already noted, the first estrus in a cat begins at 6-8 months from birth. Late puberty at one and a half years or early up to six months indicate deviations from the norm and hormonal disorders in the animal. Sometimes maturation of kittens occurs very early, at 4 months. The duration of estrus in a cat at this age is only 2-4 days. But, despite the short period of estrus, the animal can become pregnant, although this should not be allowed. His body is not yet ready for bearing and giving birth to offspring. Experienced owners argue that constant empty estrus is risky for the animal. Therefore, with the early onset of the estrus period, the cat is sterilized. This feature of the body is inherited. If it is necessary to preserve the breed, sometimes they resort to normalizing the hormonal background, using medications, after consulting with a veterinarian. The duration of estrus in a cat is about a week and depends on age. But there is another problem, when the female estrus occurs very late and rarely. In this case, you should consult a specialist.

British Shorthair

The British have an individual and unique character. These are smart and independent animals who know their own worth. It should be borne in mind that British cats may not show any kind if something bothers them. Therefore, a particularly attentive owner shouldbe when the pet reaches puberty, and this happens at 7-9 months. Her behavior starts to change. She becomes more sociable with men, neglecting the mistress of the house. Favorite likes to meet the guests of the stronger sex in the apartment, rub against their shoes, play with socks and beg to be petted.

Besides this, the British often touches with bent legs, licks under the tail, meows loudly. All these signs indicate that she has begun a period of estrus. The duration of estrus in a British cat is about a week. The intervals between these periods are different for everyone, but in most cases, if pregnancy does not occur, it takes from 15 to 20 days. During a special state, it is not recommended to give the animal drugs that interrupt or drown out estrus. They can lead to hormonal disruption and the formation of tumors.

Scottish Fold

Scottish females are not precocious, and their sexual maturity appears at 8-12 months, and in some cases even later. Sometimes there are also sexual individuals that mature by 5–6 months. The duration of the first estrus in a cat of the Scottish breed lasts only three days. At the same time, she shows very weak signs of her condition. In some cases, it just becomes a little more affectionate and begins to purr more often, and sometimes more capricious. At the same time, he does not scream and does not raise his ass up. During the first estrus, mating is not carried out, the young cat is not ready to endure and give birthfull-fledged kittens.

The cat is brought in for mating at the second or third estrus. Subsequently, the duration of heat of the Scottish Fold cat lasts about a week. If the pet is not fertilized, then she will be nervous for another five days, and for any deviations longer. During this period, you should not pester her with caresses. Scottish individuals have very frequent estrus in youth, with age they become irregular and short in time. If it is not knitted for a long time, then serious diseases may occur.

Sphynx cats

A Sphynx cat reaches puberty by six to seven months. At this time, her first estrus begins. The animal begins to scream loudly and roll on the floor. She has a completely different gait, her character changes. Some become affectionate and kind, while others become evil and aggressive. The duration of estrus in a Sphynx cat lasts on average 5–8 days, and sometimes up to two weeks. The frequency of occurrence of estrus is strictly individual, as is its duration. For some, it occurs once a month, while for others it occurs twice. Irregular estrus is associated with the lack of fertilization of the female.

The greatest sexual activity in sphinxes occurs at the end of winter, beginning of spring. The first pregnancy can occur at a reproductive age of one to one and a half, not earlier than the third estrus. If the owner does not plan the birth of offspring, then after the end of the estrus period, sterilization is carried out.

Maine Coon cats

Puberty of this kind of domesticdarlings comes to 9-16 months. Like any other breeds, the frequency and duration of estrus in a Maine Coon cat depends on the personal development of the animal. In pets that live in comfortable conditions, estrus can occur throughout the year. During this period, the Maine Coon loses its appetite and drinks a lot, its growth is temporarily suspended. When pregnancy occurs, the female immediately calms down, otherwise she continues to be nervous for another 7-11 days. In the future, Maine Coon estrus occurs in one and a half or two months, although a longer break between them is possible.

It is very dangerous if estrus recurs after two to three weeks or continues for two to three months. In the first case, it is necessary to urgently contact the veterinarian, and in the second case, the animal should be mated or sterilized. You should never stop or delay estrus using hormonal drugs - this is dangerous for the he alth of the animal.

Vet Tips

The duration of heat in a cat usually lasts about a week. During this period, she behaves inappropriately: she yells loudly, rolls on the floor, sticks to the owner, considering him a sexual partner. To alleviate the condition of the animal, veterinarians advise:

• To redeem your pet. While she licks the fur in the house, silence is established, and her stress is relieved.
• Arrange active games. An activity with a new interesting toy, climbing and jumping will distract the animal from nervousness for a while.
• Feeding small portions improvesgeneral he alth and digestion.
• Give more attention - it gives the animal confidence, relieves nervousness. It is necessary to talk affectionately with the cat, stroke her head and stomach, but do not touch her back and croup.
• Reduce lighting - this will help stop heat faster. Curtains can be closed in the room.
• Use sedatives to calm down, but not affect the cessation of estrus: "Stop Stress", "Cat Bayun".

In addition, sterilization is allowed, you just have to wait until the estrus ends. Doing this procedure during estrus is very dangerous for the he alth of the animal.

Conclusion

Now you know how long it lasts, how often a cat is in heat and at what age it starts. Be especially attentive to your pet during this period. The female often ceases to control herself during an increased hormonal background. At first, she fawns over the owner and has a negative attitude towards the cat, and then the aggression towards the male passes, but she can bite or scratch the owner. The animal should not be punished for this, it is not always able to control its actions.