How to stop your cat from being in heat

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Unspayed female cats go in heat every so often once they’re old enough to reproduce. For most, this occurs when they’re around 4 to 6 months old. From then on, the cat will continue to experience a heat cycle every few weeks, a period that can last anywhere from a few days to over a week.

If you haven’t spayed your cat, she will continue to go into heat for the rest of her life. Fortunately, there are ways to help calm her during these cycles.

Signs of a cat in heat

There are several signs that your cat is in heat. These include:

• Excessive yowling or mating calls that last for several days
• Loss of appetite
• Restless or anxious behavior
• Unusual displays of affection such as frequently rubbing against your legs
• Excessive grooming, especially of the genitals
• Spraying or marking its territory
• Persistently trying to go outside

Tips to calm a cat in heat

Introduce catnip

Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is an herb you can give to cats. It comes either dried or as fresh catnip grass. While some cats become hyperactive or even aggressive when exposed to catnip, others become mellow and relaxed.

For a cat in heat, the calming effect won’t last long, but it can stave off the effects for 10 minutes or so. This is particularly helpful if your cat is constantly yowling or otherwise behaving in a way that’s difficult to manage.

Play with your cat

Playing with a cat in heat can distract it from such behaviors as scratching, yowling or wanting to go outside. Give your cat toys she can shred — the best are either filled with catnip or are puzzle feeders. These give your pet a better way to get out excess energy and can keep her calm for a while.

Get a heating pad

A heating pad or blanket where they sleep can help calm some cats in heat. This is because these pads give them a sense of comfort and safety.

Use Feliway

Feliway is a natural calming solution for cats, whether they’re in a heat cycle or are otherwise aggravated or anxious. It works by releasing a synthetic pheromone similar to the one cats excrete through glands on their faces when they’re feeling calm.

It comes in forms including diffusers, wipes and sprays, and is safe for pets and children. Diffusers tend to last the longest — up to 30 days at home — and have a proven calming effect on up to 90% of cats.

The great thing about Feliway is that it works on both male and female cats. It’s also effective in multi-cat households. However, it doesn’t start working right away, so it’s a good idea to start using it at least two weeks before your cat’s next heat cycle.

Keep your cat away from male cats

A cat in heat is more likely to become agitated or excitable around male cats. If you also have a male cat, it’s a good idea to keep them separate. If possible, see if you can move the male out of the house until the heat cycle ends.

If that doesn’t work, put them in separate rooms so they can’t interact. This might not completely prevent excessive meowing or other behaviors related to heat, but it can lessen them.

Keep your cat indoors

Unless you’re OK with your cat getting pregnant, keep her inside. Not only will this prevent accidental kittens, but it can help calm her, since she won’t be around other felines.

Go to the vet

If you don’t want to spay your cat, but you also don’t want her to go in heat, another option is to ask the vet to prescribe a synthetic progestin hormone injection such as Provera or Proclim. These hormones are meant to postpone or lessen the effects of the heat cycle.

Before prescribing the medication, the vet will conduct a physical examination of the cat to ensure there aren’t any hidden health problems. After that clears, you need to administer the medication by mouth, as it comes in either liquid or tablet form. To make this easier, you can hide it in something more palatable for your cat such as a Greenies Pill Pocket. 

What you need to buy to calm a cat in heat

Petstages Interactive Cat Puzzles

These toy mice make sounds and have feathers and a burlap material to stimulate cats. They also hold treats and catnip, both of which can distract and help calm felines in heat.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Pet Craft Supply Premium Potent Catnip

This container of natural catnip is chemical-free and potent enough to work for most cats. You can add it to your pet’s toys, bed or a scratching post to alleviate signs of anxiety or heat.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Relaxivet Pheromone Calming Spray For Cats

This spray helps keep cats calm and reduces unwanted behaviors such as fighting or inappropriate scratching. It’s drug-free, but releases a synthetic pheromone that keeps cats calm. For best results, spray it in the main areas where your cat spends her time and reapply it every six hours.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Kaspiu Calming Collar for Cats

This three-pack of calming collars releases a pheromone that helps anxious or stressed cats calm down. It has a breakaway design so your pet won’t get caught or injured.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree Cat Feeder

This puzzle feeder is designed to stimulate a cat’s natural hunting instincts, as well as slow down while eating, making it ideal for cats that need distraction, mental stimulation or are on a diet. It doesn’t spill easily and is easy to clean.

Where to buy: Sold by Chewy

OurPets North American Catnip-Filled Cat Toys

Available in seven vegetable shapes, this interactive catnip-filled toy is a great option for stressed, anxious or bored cats. It also provides a welcome distraction for those who would otherwise engage in behaviors such as scratching or yowling.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy

Vetriscience Composure Calming Treats For Dogs And Cats

Formulated to calm cats experiencing a great deal of stress, these  treats start working within half an hour. The effects can last up to four hours.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

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An unspayed cat will go into heat when she reaches sexual maturity at around 6-months old, although it is possible for a cat as young as 4- or 5-months old to come in heat. A cat in heat is sexually receptive and can fall pregnant if allowed to mate with an unneutered male cat. On average, each heat lasts around six days, with the cycle generally repeating itself every three weeks if conception doesn’t occur.

The most obvious sign that a cat is in heat is a behavioral change. Cats develop unusual behaviors due to their hormones while in heat. Most cats become unusually affectionate and constantly demand attention, rubbing up against people and objects. A cat in heat may appear unsettled and restless, lose her appetite, and try to escape.  She will vocalize loudly and assume the mating position with her head down, forelegs bent, rear end raised, and her tail raised to the side, exposing the perineum. A cat in heat may even spray urine against vertical surfaces in the home.

This behavior can be extremely disruptive and even alarming to most owners. Some owners may even worry that their cat is ill. Behavioral changes while in heat are normal and probably more distressing for owners than for the cat itself. This behavior will disappear after about a week when your cat is no longer in heat. There are, however, some strategies that you can try to calm your cat down. Be aware that apart from spaying your cat, these methods will only temporarily calm a cat in heat. This behavior will also repeat every few weeks as your cat goes into her next heat cycle.

The 6 Proven Ways to Calm a Cat in Heat

When your female cat is in heat, it’s important to keep her away from intact male cats (also known as tomcats). Not only will your cat become more excitable in the presence of a tom, but she also runs the risk of becoming pregnant if allowed to mate. You may find male cats lurking outside of your home, drawn by the scent of your female cat.

When a cat is in heat, she will have a strong desire to escape and seek a male cat to mate with. Make sure to seal all escape routes, as your cat may injure herself while trying to escape or wander off and get lost.

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With most pets sleeping an average of 15 hours a day, you want a bed that makes them as comfy as possible. The Hepper Nest Bed is our favorite bed for cats and dogs, because of the thoughtful design.

With a wide lip for resting tired heads, a rounded bowl shape, and a fleece liner, you’ll be upset that there isn’t one made for your size! Click here to show your pet just how comfortable a bed can be.

At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

If your cat is susceptible to the effects of catnip, this herb can help to calm your cat temporarily while she is in heat. Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, a member of the mint family, affects 70% to 80% of cats. Response to this herb is hereditary. Catnip has a calming effect on some cats, making others hyperactive and aggressive. If you find that catnip makes your cat mellow, it is worth giving it to your cat while she is in heat. The effects of catnip are unfortunately short-lived and only last around ten minutes. There is a refractory period of an hour afterward where cats are no longer sensitive to the effects of catnip.

Another natural remedy that may help calm a cat in heat is L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves that has a relaxing effect on people and animals. Although it is possible to see a calming effect from L-theanine within a few days of use, full effects may take up to two weeks of use. The safety of L-theanine in pregnant and breeding animals has not been proven, so if you are planning on breeding with your female cat, it’s best not to give her L-theanine.

Feliway is another natural remedy that may be worth trying when your cat is in heat. Feliway is a synthetic copy of the familiarization facial pheromone and is available as a plug-in diffuser, spray, and wipes. When a cat feels comfortable in its environment, it will rub its cheeks against objects and people, depositing pheromones and marking its territory as safe and secure. Feliway has a soothing, calming effect on cats and may help to calm your cat when in heat. It can, however, take a few weeks for the product to take full effect, so Feliway is most effective if started before your cat comes into heat.

Feliway can be combined with other natural calming aids, such as catnip and L-theanine.

Providing the opportunity for play and predatory behavior may temporarily help calm your cat down while in heat. Puzzle feeders, either homemade or store-bought, are a great way to keep your cat mentally stimulated and provide a cat with a means to express her normal predatory behavior, potentially distracting her while in heat.

It is also important to provide your cat with a safe space to retreat if she feels threatened or needs some time out. A private and secure area in a raised location is ideal. An empty cardboard box placed on a raised surface, a hammock, or a perch work well for this purpose.

Cats that are usually allowed outdoor access may become more anxious when confined indoors while in heat, so it’s essential to ensure that your cat is given adequate environmental enrichment during this time. This anxiety may be exacerbated because your cat may be motivated to escape to look for a mate. Failure to meet a cat’s environmental needs while in heat can lead to stress, and cause her to display even more undesirable behaviors.

Providing your cat with something warm to lie on may help soothe her and calm her down. An electric heating pad or a microwaveable heat pack are both good options.

When a cat is in heat, she may spray urine against vertical surfaces to communicate her availability to male cats. By keeping your cat’s litter box clean at all times, she might be encouraged to use the litter box instead of spraying outside of it.

If your cat sprays outside of the litter box, you should clean the urine marks as soon as possible by wiping away the residual urine with a cloth and hot water. The area should then be cleaned with a mild cleaning product such as soap, white vinegar, or alcohol mixed with warm water. Never use ammonia-based cleaning products to clean urine as this will attract a cat to mark in the same location.

To neutralize the bad odor from urine, a solution of one part vinegar to one part water can be used to clean the area. Enzyme-based cleaners also work well to remove bad smells.

The only way that is guaranteed to calm a cat that is in heat permanently is to spay her. During a spay (also known as an ovariohysterectomy), the ovaries and the womb are surgically removed, which in turn removes hormones responsible for the unwanted behavior.

It is recommended that all cats not intended for breeding are sterilized. Spaying a cat reduces the risk of a cat developing ovarian and uterine cancers, as well as an infection of the uterus, known as pyometra.

Ideally, wait until your cat is no longer in heat before spaying her although it is possible to spay a cat that is in heat. There is an increased risk for bleeding if the animal is in heat and the procedure may take slightly longer than usual. It’s best to discuss the pros and cons of spaying during heat with your veterinarian.

Medical costs for your cat can certainly add up, but one way to manage them is to invest in pet insurance.

If you’re considering health insurance for your pet, you may want to look at Lemonade. This company offers balanced, customizable insurance and helpful customer service.

Methods that are NOT recommended to calm a cat in heat 

A Google search on the topic may reveal something called “the Q-tip method,” where a Q-tip is inserted into a female cat’s reproductive tract when she is in heat. The idea is that the Q-tip simulates mating behavior. This method is not recommended as it can introduce infection into the reproductive tract and injure the cat.

Another method to stop or prevent a cat’s heat cycle is using a medication called Megestrol acetate (MGA). MGA is a synthetic progestin that mimics the naturally-occurring female hormone progesterone. In female cats, it has been shown to halt a heat cycle. MGA can also prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation. This drug is associated with the risk of serious side effects, including pyometra and tumors of the breast tissue, so most veterinarians will not recommend this drug unless the benefits outweigh the risks.

Featured Image Credit: yvonneschmu, Pixabay