Has your cat just experienced her first heat? It is likely that you have noticed changes in the behavior of the feline and it is that female cats in heat are very easy to detect by the sounds they emit, by the position of their body, their movements, etc. Usually, a cat’s heat can last from 3 to 7 days, on average and, depending on the time of year in which we are, it is likely that she will have two jealousies during the same month, a situation in which the cat can suffer if it is not fertilized by a male, for this reason , many people choose sterilization.
In this OneHowTo article we are going to discover you how long does the zeal of a cat last And, also, we will give you more interesting data about this period such as the most obvious symptoms, the first heat and heat in male cats.
The first heat in cats
Before knowing how long the heat lasts in cats, let’s talk about the first time they suffer from this condition. Keep in mind that, normally, female cats tend to go into heat when they reach puberty and this is around 6 or 9 months; short-haired breeds tend to be earlier than long-haired breeds since the latter can take up to more than a year to have their first heat.
It is impossible to know for sure when the first heat will come to your cat because, as we have already said, factors such as race intervene in this natural effect, but also other external conditions such as brightness of the environment. In this sense, you should know that heat usually appears when a cat is exposed at least 12 hours to the sun, therefore, it is much more frequent that they occur continuously during the hot season than in winter.
Another factor that can lead to a cat having her first heat is if lives or relates to other cats Well, keep in mind that when one of them goes into heat they produce pheromones that can cause heat in other members of the colony.
In this other OneHowTo article we will tell you about heat in cats so that you understand this and other effects.
The average duration of heat in cats
Let’s get into the matter now and we are going to answer your question:?How long is the heat of a cat? To answer you, the first thing you have to know is that these animals are considered “seasonal polyestrics”, that is, that they can have more than one heat during the playback period.
This is one of the great differences that exist in relation to the heat of the bitches since they usually have this period once every 6 months, approximately; on the other hand, female cats can be in constant jealousy during the hot season (spring and summer).
The duration of heat for a cat is usually 7 days And, in the reproductive periods, you can experience heat again after 10 or 15 days after having left the previous one. Thus, a cat can have more than 15 heats during the reproductive season since this can last about 6 or 7 months.
In this other article we cover more extensively about how often cats are in heat.
How to know if a cat is in heat?
“But how do I know if my cat is in heat?” You may be wondering. Well, the answer is very simple: you will notice it! The attitude of the cats changes considerably and all of them are preparing for conception, for this reason, they will begin to meow constantly, to position their body to allow penetration, and so on.
To be more detailed, below we are going to discover the symptoms that a cat is in heat:
- More mimosas: When a cat is in heat she is much more receptive to the affection and pampering that you can process. The reason is that they seek constant friction, the rub to satisfy their natural needs.
- Intense meows: Another of the most obvious signs that a cat is in heat is that, suddenly, you will begin to hear intense meows that can even be mistaken for the cry of a baby. Her call is intense and what she is really doing is attracting the male’s attention to fertilize her.
- Urine out of the sandbox: Although your cat is very neat, during the mating season it is common for her to urinate outside the sandbox in order to better distribute her pheromones throughout the house and that the male can come for her.
- Barely eats: It is another of the most common signs of feline heat and that is that the cats will be totally predisposed to being fertilized and, therefore, during this period it is usual that they hardly eat and that they are insistently calling the cat.
- Riding position: it is also common for the cat to be placed on the ground lifting the area of her genitals to, thus, allow a better mount. They tend to lower their heads, raise their backs and have their rear completely erect, because that is where they also have the vaginal cavity.
Zeal in cats
In the case of cats, you should know that heat is different Well, unlike females, they do not go into heat at certain times of the year but, when they reach their sexual maturity, they react to the heat of the cats. That is, when they smell feline pheromones or when they hear the meowing of cats in heat, then they too go into heat and go in search of them.
It is for this reason that it can be dangerous to live with a cat and leave the doors or windows open because it is most likely that if you detect the heat of a cat escape to go in search of it. It can also get into violent fights if fertilization is disputed with another male.
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