10 Ways To Know If Your Cat Is In Heat

The most common symptoms a cat displays when she is in heat. Even if she only has a few of these symptoms, it’s possible that she’s in oestrus.

• She is between 5 and 7 months old
• She starts meowing in a deep, loud, adult voice, instead of her usual sweet little mew
• She starts venturing outside more, exploring further and further from home while she looks for a mate
• She finds a sentry position in a driveway or on a roof or wall, and watches for passing boy cats. She calls for male cats from this spot with her new loud meow.
• She becomes very affectionate, slinking up against your legs, doorways and furniture. She purrs incessantly and constantly demands attention.
• She becomes restless, pacing up and down in a frustrated way
• She has blood on her genitals. (Some cats don’t display this symptom of estrus, and even if she does bleed, you may not see it because she will be grooming that area very carefully.)
• She leans forward on her front feet with her chest close to the ground, and puts her bottom and tail high in the air. She kneads with her back feet and looks almost as though she is walking on the spot.
• She is hungrier and thirstier than she usually is
• You start noticing other cats lurking around, sometimes starting fights or chasing your kitten
  What to do

Call your local vet and set up an appointment to have your kitten neutered. She may seem too young for an operation, but it’s actually the best time. Estrus will occur every few weeks and can be very frustrating for both the cat and their owner.

Keep her inside until the operation, with plenty of food and water. Keep her kitty litter clean and give her plenty of room if she needs to pace. It may seem cruel to lock her up like this, but if she gets out, she will fall pregnant. Finding homes for kittens is difficult, and cats who breed at a young age are more likely to fall ill when they are older.

The operation is quick, and she will be under sedation during the procedure. She may be a bit sleepy and woozy afterwards, but she’s not likely to be in any pain. Try not to excite her for the first two days after the operation.

10-14 days after the operation, she’ll need to visit the vet again to have the stitches removed.
Give her lots of love and cuddles. She’s probably confused and frustrated, and deserves a bit of special care.