by Darlene Houseman

Created on: July 26, 2007   Last Updated: April 09, 2009

EVERYTHING ABOUT A CAT IN HEAT IS EXTREME, and the cat is not shy, in the least, about letting everyone know. When a female cat, is ready to mate, she is considered to be in heat, in estrus, or in season. It can begin as early as four months and sometimes starts with extreme affection.

You knew your kitten was lovable, but now she is rubbing everything she has against anything she comes close to. To that gentle meow, she has added other sounds, little noises that can only be described as sultry and alluring. These subtle sounds also become extreme as she begins to voice her mating call. A call that is long and loud. A call that is unmistakable to her human companions and to any male cat that may be in hearing distance. The calls continue, unabated, day and night, until a tom answers her call, or until she comes out of heat.

As she cries, she will begin to exhibit physical signs such as raising her read end into the air and crouching down on her front legs. Her female parts, i.e. her vulva, may become noticeably swollen and there may be some clear discharge visible. This is usually the time when you see your well-behaved feline companion lift her tail, back up to your sofa, the wall, or your curtains and spray. The urine of a cat in heat is extremely potent because of the increased estrogen that it contains and is just one more way of letting the tomcat know that she is ready to mate.

An outdoor cat usually comes into season in the spring and the early fall, but the cycles of the indoor cat are more extreme. Because the weather remains constant indoors and the lighting is similar to spring and summer sun, your indoor queen may come into heat every few weeks throughout the year, which can be dangerous for her health. A nursing female can also come into heat, sometimes even with kittens as young as three weeks. Just being in heat can run a female down because they usually stop eating. For a nursing mother, this can pose a hazard to her health and that of her kittens. Another pregnancy while nursing is also dangerous to her and her litter's well being.

Although a queen in heat is extremely affectionate, the other behaviors she exhibits can be extremely annoying. The best thing you can do for your kitty is to have her spayed before her first heat. This cuts down her chances of developing pyometra, an infection of the uterus of unaltered female cats, and other infections and diseases. Spaying your queen demonstrates the true meaning of a responsible pet owner because, although there are few things as precious as a newborn kitten, those kittens often grow up to be unwanted cats that are left homeless and may suffer a terrible fate. Saving just one of these creatures is an act of love and kindness in the extreme!

Sources:
http://www.cat-urine.net/cat_in_heat.html

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