Cats reach puberty around six months of age. A female kitten’s first heat cycle will last about four to eight days and if she is not spayed or mated, she may go into heat again in another two to three weeks. A female cat’s ovaries do not release eggs until she has mated, so a sexual encounter nearly always results in pregnancy. Because a full-term pregnancy is only eight to nine weeks, a healthy female is capable of producing several litters of kittens in a year.
June 21, 2021
The term ‘in heat’ means when a cat is ready to mate, which can be a daunting thought for any pet owner. If you’re wondering what to do when your cat is in heat, call Best Friends Vets on 01202 485880 to book an appointment with a nurse. Talk to our team about your cat’s cycle and discuss neutering.
Get advice from our nurses
Our vet Stefan recommends neutering your kitten at four to five months of age to prevent unwanted pregnancies (neutering after this age is recommended too). If your cat is allowed outside at this age without being neutered, there’s a good chance that he/she will mate, and kittens will be on their way. When it comes to cats in heat, here is everything you need to know.
How often cats are in heat and at what age
Female cats reach sexual maturity and can breed from about 4 months old. They will then come into heat (or season) every year around February to October. Female cats have many short periods roughly 2-3 weeks apart. They do not ovulate until they are mated, so this period of heat cycles can be lengthy. Older queens (female cats) can still have cycles, albeit fewer, until they are spayed. Longer days can trigger reproductive activity, leading to many kittens being born in March, April, and May.
A male cat’s critical heat season is usually September to March. However, a tom (male cat) that has reached full maturity (typically 6-12 months) can mate with a female cat whenever she allows it.
How to tell if your cat is in heat – symptoms & behaviour:
- The sound of a cat in heat is different from normal meowing. It’s extreme vocalising or yowling as if in pain. Male & female cats call out to each other, and this can sound very odd.
- Females are flirtatious and extra affectionate – back arching, rubbing & rolling on the floor.
- Male cats in heat are more attention seeking too but can be pushy and demanding.
- Raised hindquarters, moving the tail from side to side.
- Keen to be out of the house in search of a mate – cats in heat can roam further too.
- Male cats in heat will ramp up their urine spraying activity and get into more fights.
- It is uncommon for female cats in heat to bleed.
How to care for a female cat in heat
Your queen will be feeling out of sorts during her season. She can feel especially confused if it is her first one. You can help by trying to keep her happy and distracted. Entertain her with games, treat-filled toys, and activities in the house.
If you are considering having your cat neutered, the team at Best Friends Vets are here to help if you have any queries or concerns. Feel free to contact us.
Benefits of neutering
There are plenty of benefits to having your cat neutered. For female cats, their ovaries and uterus are removed. This will prevent pyometra – a serious uterine infection. Spaying also lowers the risk of mammary tumours and reduces the spread of infectious diseases from mother to kittens. In males, castration prevents testicular cancer and lowers the risk of prostate cancer.
Neutering also provides important population control with fewer unwanted kittens. Plus, it eliminates male cats on the doorstep fighting, spraying urine, and vocalising – which can only be a good thing.
Talk to us about cat neutering.
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Kittens can be heartbreaking. One day the tiny little fuzzball is purring up against you, and the next she has reached full reproductive maturity and is calling out to all potential mates in the area. Instead of sulking over the reality of the situation, learn how to handle it.
Female cats, also known as queen cats, all reach sexual maturity at different times. No set time frame exists for healthy cats to hit puberty. Also, certain breeds, such as the Burmese and Siamese, are known to reach maturity faster. Expect your kitty to begin puberty anywhere from 4 to 10 months in age, in some cases, later.
Similarly to female cats, tomcats have no specific time for puberty. In general, however, you can expect a male cat to become sexually mature around 4 to 7 months old.
In order to help your precious pal through puberty, it may be helpful to learn the signs of her heat cycle. When a female cat has not been spayed, she generally enters into heat every few weeks or so. When in heat, a cat is essentially ready to reproduce. Look out for telltale indications including loud nighttime yowling, restlessness, unusually affectionate behaviors, pacing, appetite loss and trying to run away. The cycle typically lasts for around one week, but can go for less or longer.
Although male cats do not go into heat per se, they also display very obvious signs of sexual maturity. One of the most common signs is persistent urine spraying, which can be very problematic -- and messy -- for cat owners. Male cats may also wander around aimlessly in search of females. Another particularly frustrating sign of male cat puberty is extremely loud howling in order to lure in local females. You may need to cover your poor ears for a while.
To spare yourself -- and your cat -- the anxiety and stress of the puberty stage, get her fixed immediately. Cats often get neutered or spayed as young as 4 months old. Consult your veterinarian to get her opinion. Not only will you prevent your cat from that angsty puberty stage, you will also help curb feline overpopulation in your area.
Cat puberty is a very special phase in the life of all cats. In the transition to adulthood and sexual maturity occurs a enormous hormonal change. This developmental period can be very exhausting and demanding, even for cat lovers. Here are a few tips for you to support your darling in this momentous time.
Cats entering puberty
In female cats, sexual maturity sets in approximately between the sixth and ninth month. Sometimes female cats reach puberty already at the age of three months. In males this development starts a little later. The male house cat becomes reproductive between the ninth and twelfth month.
There are also varieties between the different cat breeds: For example Abyssinian, Siamese or Burmese are considered “precocious”. These cat teenagers get reproductive at the age of four to six months already. In contrast, large cat breeds (e.g. Maine Coon) are generally “late bloomers” and need up to twelve months to maturity. Puberty in cats lasts about half a year. During this time you should be very patient and empathetic with your velvet paw. But you also schould try to show your darling consistently certain limits.
Teenage years of a cat
Like human pubescent, cat teens tend to test their potential to the fullest. They often show a behaviour that can lead you to the point of despair. Nothing is safe from kittens! Even if you thought your sweetheart had learned a few basic rules of decency by now: In puberty there are no rules. Your four-legged friend may behave defiantly and impetuously, throwing things off shelves, starting daring climbs and attacks, or openly displays his listlessness.
The behaviour of male and female cat teens during puberty is quite different. While male cats like to play very rough, female cats prefer to have fun with balls, fishing or cloth mice and playing catch. When male teenies meet female ones, misunderstandings between the two sexes can easyly arise. Therefore it is sometimes more uncomplicatet to bring same-sex animals together in a household to prevent misunderstandings and later incompatibilities. With same-sex cat living partners, there is usually a more relaxed atmosphere. In any case, you should make sure that each of your darlings have enough opportunities to withdraw. No cat teenager should be constantly exposed to the exuberance of his housemate.
How long does cat puberty last?
At the age of about one year the spook is finally over and you can look forward to many quiet, comfortable hours with your darling. With the time the social maturity of your pet grows. This is not the same as puberty. The mental and social maturity develops in your house tigers between the second and fourth year of life and with it also the territorial behaviour, which can lead in a multi-cat household occasionally to tensions. Always try to support your pet lovingly in its social growth.
What can you do?
Please remember that your cats trust you and also really would listen to you, but they just can’t. Because of the changed hormone balance it is truly difficult for cats to concentrate on what is essential for us.
- Your cat is not deliberately annoying you!
- Remember your own puberty, it was not an easy time for you and your parents either
- Take a few steps back in your training and choose a reward that your sweetheart thinks is great now
- Do more things that are fun for both humans and cats to encourage your bonding
- Give your darlings lots of toys and put away everything that is important to you. This way the little cat teens learn what they are allowed to play with and what not must be destroyed
- Take short training sessions more frequently and do not ask too much at once
- Have confidence, soon your cat will know again what’s important
- Quiet down! Your darling needs a lot of rest phases to reduce the stress now