Female felines go through a cycle of sexual activity called oestrus that lasts a few weeks. They can repeat it multiple times a year depending on the climate and environmental conditions.
Stages of Heat Cycles in Cats
During mating season, female cats go through cycles of having their heats. These periods recur every two to three weeks on average.
An estrous female cat is more demonstrative and noisy than a non-estrous female. It is possible that she will mark her territory with urine spray.
Nevertheless, this is only a transitory phase that will often fade after a few days have passed. After a female cat has finished having her period, she is no longer capable of bearing offspring.
Cats go through four stages throughout their reproductive cycle: proestrus, estrus, interestrus, and anestrus. The last phase is called diestrus, and it is during this period that a pregnant cat gives birth.
Signs of Heat Cycle
If you notice your cat is crying or meowing, this is a good sign that she’s in heat. She’s trying to attract a male to her.
Female cats will also seek more attention and affection during this time. They’ll rub against you more often, roll on the floor more frequently, and may even raise their hindquarters in the air when you pet them.
In addition, they may become more vocal and make attempts to escape from the house. Her goal is to find a mate and get pregnant, so this behavior can be frustrating for owners.
Duration
Female cats have a reproductive state known as “heat” during the oestrus portion of their menstrual cycle (the time period in the warmer months of the year when they undergo their reproductive cycles). A cat’s heat cycle might last between a few days and a couple of weeks. The duration may vary from cat to cat.
Your cat’s behavior may alter for a number of reasons throughout the heat cycle. It is probable that she may lick you or the furnishings to eliminate her smell. She may also assume the mating stance, in which a female cat lifts her rear end and tail to attract male cats. This behavior is performed to attract possible partners.
In an effort to entice a prospective partner in the future, she may even begin urinating on the walls and furnishings. It is probable that this conduct may irritate the owners.
Cat sterilization
Getting your cat spayed or neutered is an important way to help reduce the pet overpopulation problem. Unsterilized cats can father hundreds of kittens in their lifetime, and this can result in the influx of unwanted animals into shelters or on the streets.
Moreover, a spayed female cat will have less than a 1/2 of 1% chance of developing breast cancer throughout her life. Likewise, she’ll have far fewer chances of contracting pyometra, a serious and potentially fatal condition of the uterus that requires surgery to treat.
Luckily, the procedure to sterilize your cat is relatively simple and affordable. Your vet will need to run some tests to make sure your cat is healthy and ready for surgery.
Conclusion
Cats are polyestrous, which means that they can go through several heat cycles during their breeding season. The duration of these cycles depends on factors such as environmental and geographical circumstances, the number of daylight hours and temperature.
The first stage of the heat cycle is called proestrus, which lasts a day or two. During this time, the queen may begin attracting male cats, but she’s not yet receptive to mating. Afterward, she’ll enter estrus, which lasts one to three weeks. If she doesn’t mate, she’ll enter interestrus, which will last for another two days to three weeks. This process will repeat throughout the breeding season or until she gets pregnant. If you notice any signs of your cat being in heat, it’s important to contact a vet.
