A cat that has reached sexual maturity will definitely go into heat - a physiologically normal condition associated with the reproductive instinct, which can cause many problems for its owner.
During this period, the behavior of animals changes greatly: they can meow loudly and continuously, including at night, and rush around the rooms at breakneck speed.
People around and the cat itself suffer from unsatisfied natural needs of the body. Pet owners are forced to take measures to calm a cat during heat at home.
Signs of estrus in cats
People around him and the cat itself suffer from unsatisfied natural needs of the body.
An inexperienced owner may not immediately understand that his pet has gone into heat.
A number of signs confirm this condition:
- Swollen genitals, clear fluid oozing.
- Reducing the time between urinations.
- Constant meowing, the cat instinctively calls for a male.
- Loss of appetite.
- The desire to run out of the house. Owners must keep windows and doors closed.
- Change in emotional state: increased affection (the animal caresses people, rubs against furniture) or uncontrollable aggressiveness (scratches, bites).
- Typical movements: arching the back, stomping with the hind legs, pressing the tail to the side.
After making sure that the cat is going through a period of sexual activity, you should take measures to alleviate the pet’s condition.
If there are children in the family
This is where there really is a real problem, with which it is not clear what to do. A cat often becomes very aggressive because babies behave too familiarly with her. The freedom-loving animal does not tolerate such treatment, and children selflessly cuddle the fluffy beauty all day long, not thinking about the fact that they could hurt her. You need to explain to your child in advance that a cat is not a toy, but a living creature that needs to be treated accordingly.
Ways to calm your cat during heat
During this difficult period, the cat becomes calmer if:
- improve conditions of detention - ensure comfort, constant attention;
- use the natural way - happen to a cat;
- give sedatives, chemical or natural;
- sterilize your pet.
Be sure to read:
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The main condition when choosing a method is not to harm the health of the animal.
Means and methods
You can arrange a meeting with the cat. If you like the cat, you can live peacefully until the next heat. But veterinarians are against frequent pregnancy of cats, this depletes her body.
During the period of sexual heat, you need to be especially affectionate and patient with your pet:
- distract with active games;
- massage the head and paws;
- spend more time talking;
- insulate the sleeping area;
- reduce the amount of food, increase drinking;
- soak in warm water;
- isolate at night in a separate room, and do not forget to provide food and water.
Such methods will help distract the animal from suffering, improve its condition and behavior.
Important! You cannot touch the part of the body from the middle of the back to the tail.
Recommended drugs and their effects
Experienced owners prefer to give their pets harmless natural remedies.
Do not touch the part of the body from the middle of the back to the tail
Herbal preparations do not suppress sexual desire, but have a calming, sedative effect.
The most popular are:
- Relax Plus , produced in Latvia. Available in tablet form. The basis of the drug is herbs: valerian, motherwort, lemon balm.
- “Stop Stress”, produced in Russia. It is made from sleeping pills and sedative herbs, as well as phenibut, a nootropic substance. Available in liquid form (1 drop per 1 kg of weight), the daily dose is divided into 2 doses, the course duration is 15-20 days.
- “Fitex”, containing: motherwort, Baikal skullcap, mint, hops. The product reduces tension, normalizes blood pressure, cardiac activity, relieves spasms and convulsions. Contraindication for use – allergy to the components.
- "Zoomir Antistress" . Calms the nervous system and strengthens the immune system. The composition includes: motherwort, taurine, kelp, brewer's yeast, vitamins B, C.
- “ Feliway” is a French medicine, available in the form of a spray, electric diffuser, and collar. “Feliway” is a synthetic pheromone from the cat’s facial glands that has a calming effect on the animal. The medicine allows you to normalize the pet’s condition during estrus. Does not have a negative effect on people or other animals.
Be sure to read:
Estrus in cats: how long does it last and how often does it happen, at what age, how to recognize it, how the process proceeds
Before choosing medications, you must consult a veterinarian to determine the dosage and course duration.
Features of hormonal drugs
Hormonal medications allow you to stop estrus and increase the period between them.
They are used no more than 1-2 times a year for two reasons:
- short duration of action: the animal’s body gets used to the medicine, the effect disappears;
- loss of health: development of oncology, the appearance of tumors in the ovaries, uterus, hormonal imbalance.
A hormone-based drug is prescribed by a doctor, only he determines the dose and duration of use.
The most famous are:
- Xylazine;
- Amitriptyline;
- Buspirone;
- Diazepam.
Attention! Hormonal medications should only be given in emergency situations.
To sterilize or not?
If owners do not want to get kittens several times a year, they should seriously think about sterilizing their pet.
If owners do not want to get kittens several times a year, they should seriously think about sterilizing their pet. From a physiological point of view, estrus should end with fertilization - pregnancy.
“Empty” heats are the cause of the development of complex diseases and inflammatory processes. Sterilization, which involves removing the reproductive organs, is the best solution.
Pros of sterilization:
- lack of sexual instincts in a cat and related problems;
- increase in life expectancy by 5-10 years;
- The cat feels comfortable at home and does not want to go outside the apartment.
Modern veterinary clinics provide the opportunity to perform surgery using modern technologies. As a result, the sutures will heal quickly and the animal will recover in a short time.
Application and dosage
Shake the bottle well before use. These drops should be given to cats (during estrus) two hours before feeding. Using a dropper, apply the product to the root of your pet's tongue or to a piece of her favorite treat.
The dose of the drug is calculated depending on the type, weight of the animal and the purpose of use:
- To delay estrus - 4 drops once a week. The course of use of the drug should not exceed 18 months.
- To interrupt estrus, when signs of estrus appear (no later than three days after its onset), the cat is given nine drops of the product 5-7 times every 24 hours.
Stop-Intim drops are compatible with feed and feed additives, as well as with medications.
How often does heat occur?
The duration of breaks between estrus (interestrus) depends on the individual characteristics of the cat’s body, breed, and conditions of detention.
Typically, the peak of sexual activity in cats occurs in autumn - spring. This is explained by the dependence of reproductive functions on the length of daylight hours and ambient temperature. Pets always live in comfortable conditions; their sexual activity can be at a high level all year round.
Be sure to read:
Mating males and females: features, age, how to determine readiness, first mating, recommendations
Standard estrus frequency for a cat that:
- gave birth to kittens once - once every 3 months;
- constantly gives birth - 5-6 months;
- in young cats that have never given birth - with breaks of 1-2 weeks.
The principle applies: the older the female, the less often she estruses.
Is Valerian safe?
Important! The herb valerian has long been considered a mild sedative of plant origin, but not for cats.
Valerian acts on cats as a stimulant that can increase aggression, sexual desire, and hallucinations. In case of overdose, an epileptic seizure may develop.
Catnip is also not a sedative for cats.
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Irritation
Remember yourself when you come home after a hard day. The boss scolded me, there was a difficult client, and in the evening the conductor on the bus was rude. Of course, there is something to be irritated about. This happens with a cat too. At the same time, you can see how the pet suddenly changes. For example, you are petting a cat, and suddenly his calm reaction turns into a hiss? There are no apparent reasons, but the pet is ready to attack anything that happens to be nearby.
What should you do if your cat becomes aggressive so suddenly? Assess your pet's condition. If he suddenly starts beating his tail on the floor, it means you need to leave your pet alone. Sometimes, in response to measured stroking, the pet begins to frantically beat the owner with its paws. There is no need to shout at him, much less hit him - everyone is in a bad mood.
It is noteworthy that aggression arising from irritation is most often temporary and suppressed. The cat clearly does not want to harm its owner. It lunges at a person, but the claws are hidden, and there are practically no bite marks left. What to do if the cat is angry and aggressive? We need to let her come to her senses. It's best to do nothing for now.
In an emergency
Unfortunately, force majeure circumstances happen in life. The cat may be injured (falling from a height, fighting with another animal) and be in a state of shock. A completely unfamiliar cat may show aggression towards a person in defense of its kittens or food. In such a situation, the main rule applies - do not aggravate it!
To keep distance
It is permissible to stroke only your cat, but even in this case, caressing may not calm the animal, but anger it. No matter how much the owner wants to support his pet, it is better to leave the cat alone in a confined space (carrier, box, house).
Cats by nature are solitary animals, not pack animals. At times of severe stress, they are guided by instincts, and not by attachments acquired through life.
Like other pets, cats show empathy - they are good at feeling people's emotions.
If the owner is nervous or afraid (for example, before an upcoming operation), the pet begins to become stressed for this reason alone. That’s why sometimes it’s better to entrust an animal to an unfamiliar but absolutely calm person for the duration of the procedures in the clinic.
You can try to calm the cat down by talking to it in a calm, quiet voice, as if lulling it to sleep. For aggressive individuals, you need to add more flattery to the monologue. Listing the cat’s virtues in a honeyed voice can easily distract a capricious young lady for a while.
If talking to your cat out loud is uncomfortable or seems stupid, you can try instilling your good intentions telepathically, focusing on your desire to help rather than harm.
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An angry cat can cause serious injury to a person despite its small size. It is necessary to minimize violent procedures, and if such cannot be avoided, try to secure the cat in advance (for example, in a special bag) while it is calm.
You need to have patience with representatives of the cat family. It is better to approach the animal over and over again than to go straight ahead, ignoring the pet's warning signs.
If aggressive behavior threatens a person or another animal, you should try to distract the cat. The best means of protection is a spray bottle of water. But it is not always at hand.
Trying to break up amicably is a good strategy. You need to make sure that you are not blocking the animal’s only exit from the room, or start retreating yourself. If the cat is ready to rush, throw the object to the side with maximum noise (a bunch of keys), this will give you time to escape.
