Cats in Heat - How Long Does it Last

Most cat owners are shocked to find their usually fun loving kitten, howling throughout the day, rolling on the floor and rubbing against them frequently. Although the first reaction to this peculiar problem is to buy some earplugs and lock your cat in a room, it will not solve this pet health problem in the long run. This is because your non spayed female cat also known as a "queen" is now in "heat" or estrus. Know more about cats in heat, how long does it last and how it can be stopped permanently.

Cats in Heat Information
Starting from about five months till ten months of age, female cats mature sexually and have their first estrous cycle. The average age for a cat going into heat is around 6 months of age. This is the time during the reproductive cycle when the female cat is most fertile and is most likely to conceive. The estrous or the heat cycle in a cat consists of estrus, the period of mating, preceded by proestrus (the period where males are attracted to non receptive female cats) and followed by metestrus. The inactive period between the cycles during the breeding season is known as diestrus, and the remainder of the year when the cat is not in heat is called anestrus.

Cats in Heat Symptoms
There are certain behavioral changes which your cat will display while in estrus. These changes in the cat behavior include:

• Loud vocalization or caterwauling for the mate
• Frequent urination
• Rolling around
• Restlessness
• Rubbing the body against objects
• Affection
• Receptivity to the male

Along with this, the queen at the peak of a heat cycle would lie with chest and forelegs flat on the ground, her hind legs stretching upwards and treading rhythmically.

Cats in Heat: How Long Does it Last?
A cat will stay in heat for about 7 to 10 days if not mated successfully; normally falling in and out of heat cycles from January to August. Although the breeding season may last the year round, cats are more likely to mate during warm months. This is because cats are seasonal breeders and are most likely to show signs of mating in spring and fall. So most of the female cats have 2 to 4 estrous periods every year. However, if she is bred, the heat cycle seldom lasts more than 4 days.
In case the cat is not mated the estrus cycle will return in one to three weeks. In fact it is possible for an un-mated female to cycle every 3 to 4 weeks, indefinitely.

Cats in Heat: What to Do
The heat cycle is a normal physiological function of an intact female cat and there are only two ways to end a cat's heat, either by pregnancy or by spaying. If you choose to let your female cat get pregnant, then be prepared to take care of several new kittens in your home since a healthy queen will bear around two to five kittens per litter. You have to keep in mind that once your cat gives birth, she will again be in heat after around two to three months.

A better way of eliminating the risk of accidental pregnancy in your cats along with the risk of reproductive diseases later, is to get your cat spayed. This is good for the cat's health as a spayed cat will stop going into heat and also become much less territorial. Spaying also reduces the risk associated with cats which inevitably try to escape when in heat, often resulting in them being injured or contracting certain diseases. Read more on cats in heat - what to do.

Although it might cause you problems, remember that the loud and constant howling and the spraying is a normal physiological function of cats in heat. How long does it last and how often is dependent on whether she gets pregnant or not. The best course of action is to get her spayed before she goes into heat.