Cats are very gentle, affectionate and sweet animals that everyone loves - from small children to old grandparents. But when getting a female kitten, you should also be aware of its significant drawbacks. Namely, that during heat, cats become real domestic tyrants, because not everyone can endure their loud and plaintive meowing and various antics, and the neighbors will not really like these numbers. Therefore, you need to know several available methods and means that can be easily used at home to calm roaming cats.
How to calm a cat that is walking
Cats are one of the most lovable pets.
They are moderately affectionate, pleasant to talk to and do not require complex care. Many novice owners prefer to take a girl into the house, believing that she will be more flexible and calm. But in this case, they risk facing the problem of how to calm a cat that is walking at home. The ability to reproduce offspring in an animal can appear as early as six months of age
A few days before estrus, the cat changes behavior, it becomes difficult to calm her down, she rubs against her owners and surrounding objects, she can roll on her back and attract attention with plaintive cries.
During estrus, the animal develops specific discharge from the vulva, the animal begins to purr gutturally and in every possible way seeks opportunities to satisfy the sexual instinct.
Externally, this manifests itself in walking on half-bent legs with a raised rear part of the body, the desire to leave the room (the animal will not stop even in the face of heights). Also, the pet, if not calmed, begins to leave odorous marks throughout the house.
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This condition, when the animal is walking, not only greatly interferes with the normal life of the owners, but can also threaten the animal, which can get injured, for example, by jumping out of a window, or get lost after leaving the room.
Naturally, any adequate owner will want to make life easier for his pet and calm down a cat that has been on a spree at home.
How to understand that a cat has gone on a spree?
A small kitten becomes sexually mature quite quickly, and this happens much earlier than their physical growth. Basically, a cat can walk already at 5–6 months , but this period also depends on some external factors, for example, on diet, climate, the animal’s habitat and others. Therefore, some female representatives can go on a spree for the first time only by the 14–15th month of life. The estrus itself in cats can last from three to seven days, several times a year. But if Murka does not become pregnant, then after about two weeks she may start asking for a cat again.
Since these animals do not have any bleeding during estrus, its onset can only be determined by changes in the behavior of the pet itself. Before the start of the “mating season,” the cat begins to meow pitifully, rub against many objects and owners (they especially prefer to pester representatives of the stronger sex). Their appetite may also increase, their genitals may swell a little, sometimes they sway on their backs and try to attract attention . But now she won’t let the cat near her yet. But after a few days, she will begin to meow constantly and loudly, placing her marks around the apartment, calling the cat to her. And of course, she will strive with all her might to break free.
To castrate or not
Owners must understand that life in an apartment is very different from their natural habitat.
Therefore, you must be prepared for all the hardships that a pet will bring with you. A cat must mate with a cat at least 9 times a year, while hormones can “play” at any time, and the cat will mark the territory. This method of protection from enemies in the natural environment does not bother anyone, but in the apartment there will be a persistent smell of urine. It is necessary to think in advance about how life with a pet might turn out and decide to castrate it. During the heat period, cats cause a lot of trouble to their owners. They can walk around the apartment day and night and meow heart-rendingly. They may start rushing from room to room, knocking on doors and tearing upholstery. Cats, on the other hand, are very affectionate during sexual activity.
They wriggle, rub themselves on everything that gets in their way, climb into the arms of their owners, and try in every possible way to attract attention to themselves.
Mating cats
For breeders of purebred cats, the question remains relevant: when to carry out the first mating? Veterinarians advise not to do this earlier than 10–15 months of life. By this time, the female’s body is fully formed, which makes it possible to obtain healthy offspring without defects. It is better to skip the first two heats. It is especially important to follow this rule if the female is small in size.
Mating is planned no earlier than the third heat.
Contact with the cat is planned approximately on the third day after the first symptoms of heat appear. The pet is ready for coitus if she tries to excite her partner and caresses him.
It happens that during mating, which takes place on the cat’s territory, signs of estrus disappear. This also happens due to stress. Once the cat gets used to it, the process will return to normal.
Mating in cats
Can a cat walk after sterilization?
There are 3 types of surgery: tubal retraction, removal of the ovaries, and simultaneous removal of the ovaries and uterus. The latter type of operation prevents recurrent estrus and unwanted pregnancy.
After sterilization, the cat can begin to “hunt” again.
This happens for several reasons:
The ovaries were not removed and continue to produce hormones
It is important to know what type of surgery has been chosen. Before the procedure, veterinarians ask the owners in advance which type should be used.
Poorly excised ovaries
If a piece of the organ remains inside, it can produce hormones. If estrus begins after the operation, and the owner knows for sure that the ovaries were removed, it is necessary to contact a veterinarian and have an ultrasound done.
The older the animal is at the time of surgery, the higher the likelihood of coming into heat again. Hormones can be produced by the adrenal glands.
Heredity. The animal may have a congenital pathology - ectopic ovarian tissue syndrome. In this case, the ovarian cells end up in other places and cannot be detected. After the organs are removed, tissue particles remain inside and continue to produce hormones, which is why estrus begins. This pathology is rare in cats.
Only 60% of individuals can walk after sterilization (poor health, improperly performed surgery, etc.). Sometimes the hormones that were produced before the operation “play” in the body, then after 30 days the desire to “walk” with the cat should go away.
The cat went on a spree for the first time: ways to solve the problem
If you want to prevent the appearance of unwanted offspring, it is better to resort to contraceptive methods. When your pet has gone on a spree, you need to give her hormonal drugs that dull sexual desire. You can buy such products at any veterinary pharmacy. Hormonal contraceptives temporarily block the activity of the reproductive system and preserve the chances of further motherhood.
If your domestic cat has gone on a spree, but you do not plan to ever get offspring from it, you can resort to radical methods such as sterilization. The operation involves ligation of the fallopian tubes, which completely deprives the cat of the ability to reproduce. In this case, the hormonal background and reproductive organs of the animal are preserved. If you decide to have surgery, immediately after the end of the first heat, your pet should be taken to the veterinarian.
How can you calm a cat during heat?
If you go to a veterinary clinic, they will, of course, advise that the easiest way to calm the animal is to sterilize it. After all, after such a procedure, she will become much more affectionate, calm and obedient, and during the “mating season” there will be no chants. She will also relieve her needs only in the place allotted to her and will stop marking her territory and things. But this is a serious decision and must be approached with all responsibility, because there are also contraindications for sterilization. If the above method is not suitable, then you can resort to other methods of calming cats.
Feline contraceptives
Today, veterinary pharmacies offer a fairly large assortment of various medications for cats and cats that walk. Let's look at their types:
- Contraceptive drops. A fairly simple and common method for calming a pet. It’s enough just to drop a couple of drops under the cat’s tongue or on the food, but then you should make sure that she eats everything. After 3-4 hours, you can safely take the cat to the cat to satisfy their needs, without being afraid of the consequences of such “communication”. But it is worth considering that these drops are hormonal and you should consult a veterinarian before using them, and they are not suitable for constant use.
- Hormonal medications. They are very strong and prevent estrus. You can give them to your cat only by strictly following the instructions for use and no more than twice a year. These can be, for example, “Stop Sex”, “Ex-5”, “Sex Barrier”, “Gestrenol”, “Counter Sex”, “Stop Intim” and others. But we must remember that such drugs have a very bad effect on the animal’s body, causing severe hormonal imbalance. Therefore, a good veterinarian will advise resorting to this method of calming your pet as little as possible.
Just as for humans, in animals the use of various kinds of hormonal drugs can cause diseases such as cancer of the uterus and mammary glands (cats that have taken at least one walk are especially at risk), pyometra and other ailments.
Homemade ways to calm a runaway cat
There are still several ways that are safe for the pet’s health that will help the cat to be good on “days like this” and the owners to sleep peacefully. You can try these simple tricks:
Play with the cat
A great way to distract her from annoying meowing while still giving her your attention. On such days they have additional energy and need to spend it on something.
You can buy your pet new toys (balls, ivy animals, sticks). Do not overfeed. During this period, their appetite increases, so you should make sure that the cat does not overeat. You need to give her food regularly, but at the same time reduce the portion size. Play classical music. This music has a calming effect on both people and cats. Therefore, you can include calm works by Bach, Mozart, Glinka, and Chopin for your pet. Pheromones. This could be, for example, Feliway. But, alas, they do not work on all cats. Sedatives. These can be the most common decoctions of chamomile, thyme, valerian, or special preparations for cats “Cat Bayun”, “Anti Stress”. They are completely harmless and act gently, but you should give them according to the attached instructions. Special massage. You need to take the cat by the withers with your left hand and press it to the floor, and press with your right hand (palm) in the area where the tail begins, there may be a small depression there. You should press well, without fear of the cat's roars. This massage should be done several times a day. A couple of days will be enough for the pet to calm down. Induce ovulation. To do this, you need to start by stroking the cat on the back (from behind), then rub the vulva a little and only then insert a stick with cotton wool at the end into its vagina (about 2–2.5 cm). If everything is done correctly, the cat will caress and meow. Such manipulations should be repeated every 20 minutes for an hour, and then only after a 12-hour break. This is a completely safe and effective procedure.
Plain water will help get rid of annoying screams for a while (short-term). You just have to wet the cat a little with it, and she will be busy licking herself thoroughly. But this method does not work with all pets.
You can’t leave your animal unattended, but you should help him cope with this problem. Each owner independently chooses the appropriate method to calm a roaming cat, because not all of them can be safe for the pet’s health. If none of the methods is suitable or helps, then you just need to let the animal go for a walk without torturing it or yourself.
What to do?
There are three ways to calm down your pet on a spree:
- Connect with a male. This is the most useful method for cat health, but often only breeders of purebred animals resort to it.
- Medicines. The use of drugs to suppress sexual activity is considered an effective method, but suspensions, drops or tablets (Gestrenol, Covinan) contain hormones. Hormonal medicine will eliminate behavioral problems (cats don’t yell after taking the drugs), solve the problem of unwanted pregnancy, but may have a negative impact on health. Veterinarians do not recommend using medications to reduce agitation for a long time.
- Sterilization is an irreversible procedure. To avoid complications, surgery to remove reproductive organs is recommended for young animals. If the pet is operated on as an adult, then the already sterilized cat can continue to walk out of habit.
The question of choosing the appropriate method is best decided together with a veterinarian, who will help you find the best option in each individual case. In the meantime, the consultations continue, the owner during the mating season of his pet must stock up on patience and endurance. It is important to stroke the cat, pick it up and talk to it. Using her favorite toys will help distract her attention and keep her awake during the day so she can stop screaming at night.
Did your cat go on a spree for the first time? what to do?
Please advise: Should I be patient and give her the opportunity to go through this period on her own, or should I “help” her and give her calming drops?
If a cat is valuable to you, not only as a piece of furniture, then it’s better to give it a walk. I have two cats (more precisely, one has already left for the happy world of “Whiskas”), and I can say for sure that any violence against a cat’s psychology changes its character, and far from for the better. We tried with our first cat. They gave me medicine, on the advice of one grandmother, they soaked me in cold water, and in the end they operated on me. You know, it turned out to be a different cat. Of course we didn't throw it away. She lived with us all her cat life, but she never became our friend. But the second one. And he will take a walk, and give birth (we always place kittens), and he is a rare friend. Can we talk. Something hurts, he will do murotherapy. She loves us. A
I have heard a lot about the suffering of animals after sterilization - to the point of death. Therefore, we gave the cat the opportunity to give birth for the first time. No one noticed how she went on a spree. Missed it. She gave birth to three lovely children. A couple of months later they placed an advertisement in two newspapers and the kittens were taken away. And even then they called again for half a month.
But if you don’t need kittens, you can try drops. I have several friends who have had positive experiences. The neighbor has two cats - they have been living on drops for seven years now. they purr a little - they get a dose)) The Siamese is nervous there, yes, but Siamese themselves are more irritable than others. And the second ordinary Siberian does not suffer at all. And this despite the fact that you have your own house and there are plenty of cats in the area.
Do not give any drops under any circumstances! Wait until the cat “takes a walk” and run to the vet. clinic for sterilization. It costs little (in Omsk it starts from 800 rubles), but the animal will no longer cause inconvenience, will never give birth, will never go on sprees, and will not mark a house or apartment.
Source
How often does heat occur?
Factors that influence the frequency of estrus include age, health, and cat breed.
The range is from twice a month to twice a year. The estrus itself usually lasts 5-6 days. As cats age, estrus becomes less frequent and shorter in duration.
In adults, estrus occurs regularly once every three months. In young cats that have never bred, this may take place once a month or every two weeks.
At the first time, estrus is usually short-lived, but don’t be fooled, subsequently it can last up to 10 days. If a cat gives birth regularly, the interval between estrus can be up to 5-6 months.
Signs of the onset of estrus
It is almost impossible not to notice the onset of estrus in your pet. The process takes place in 4 stages (proestrus, estrus, interestrus, anestrus).
Proestrus.
It manifests itself as loss of appetite, frequent licking of the genitals, and the appearance of scanty mucous, homogeneous discharge. The animal's behavior changes. The cat becomes more affectionate and purrs often, but is not yet ready to mate.
Estrus.
The animal's discharge increases (in a healthy animal it is transparent, colorless, hardly noticeable and practically odorless), the cat licks itself more often, meows loudly, and can even scream and howl. The animal rushes outside, rolls around on the floor, and when trying to pet her, arches, raising its pelvis and taking a position convenient for mating. The animal demonstrates its readiness for mating in every possible way. Sometimes he may unexpectedly show aggression towards someone in the household or persistently ignore the litter box. If mating does not occur, throughout this time the cat actually experiences acute discomfort. Therefore, it is important for its owners to be patient.
Interestrus.
Here are the possible options:
- After successful mating, the cat becomes pregnant. In general, mating during the first heat is extremely undesirable;
- during ovulation without fertilization, a so-called false pregnancy may begin;
- if mating does not occur, a rapid repetition of the behavior characteristic of the 2nd stage is possible.
- The cat goes into anestrus (quiet period) until the next heat.
As a rule, in the spring, young cats have several heats one after another, with a break of several days or weeks.
Anestrus.
The stage lasts from several days to several months and is shorter in nulliparous purrs. The animal calms down until the next heat occurs.
What should you do to avoid using medications?
The option when the fluffy one is isolated in a room is controversial. For a pet that is constantly indoors, such an exit will not bring significant inconvenience. In the absence of attention, she begins to behave more calmly. If a cat is used to constant walks outside, this is a rather stressful situation.
Many owners try to help the cat when she wants a cat by involving her in outdoor games. Fluffy beauties are distracted from the problem and spend excess energy. Children take part in such games. The pleasure is mutual.
Don't discount hygiene factors. Cats, being naturally neat animals, during the period of heat become even more demanding of external conditions. Not cleaning the toilet on time can provoke irritation and aggression in pets. She can find a place for the toilet not in the usual place, but where she sees fit. To avoid creating additional problems, you should clean the tray more often.
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For breeders, the issue of estrus is resolved at a professional level. A cat of the same breed is selected, an acquaintance takes place, and after the allotted time, cute purebred babies are born.
The cat went on a spree: methods of dealing with pet screams
Many inexperienced cat owners are faced with the problem that their cat has gone on a spree. More precisely, he really wants a sexual partner - a cat, even if he is not nearby at all. This is a physiological state provided by nature for the continuation of offspring.
However, modern mustachioed-striped animals do not at all fight in harsh natural conditions for the duration of their genus, but stay in human homes in the form of ornamental animals. Therefore, this state of a four-legged pet can somewhat irritate a person.
Let's think about how to deal with this.
How to understand that a cat has gone on a spree
A cat's first heat occurs between 6 months and a year.
You can determine it very simply, just pay attention to the behavior of your four-legged pet: The animal begins to demand any more affection - to rub against the legs, purr, and in every possible way attract the attention of the owner.
Or, on the contrary, she will be unsociable, periodically show aggression, and hide. It all depends on the breed and character. As a rule, decorative breeds such as the Persian and exotic tolerate this period of life more peacefully than, say, the same Ocicat or Siamese
The animal begins to demand any more affection - to rub against the legs, purr, and in every possible way attract the attention of the owner. Or, on the contrary, she will be unsociable, periodically show aggression, hide
It all depends on the breed and character. As a rule, decorative breeds such as Persians and exotics tolerate this period of life more peacefully than, say, the same Ocicat or Siamese.
Some four-legged animals are looking for an opportune moment to leave their home in search of love. Accordingly, they are interested in vents, window openings, balconies, and open doors.
Urine marking is the most effective way to attract a cat.
Postures while stroking: The pet falls on its front paws and lifts the back of its body up, while moving its tail to the side.
Animal conversations. During this period, females begin to scream heart-rendingly - and this scream occurs both day and night. This is the main distinguishing sign that the cat has gone on a spree.
How to help your pet survive this time and what to do in the future?
There are several ways to solve the problem:
1) Help the cat cope with this condition with the help of medications. This decision has a positive side and a negative side. The advantage is that the animal comes to its senses in a short time and endures this condition less painfully.
The other side, the negative one, is that most of the drugs used have a very strong effect on hormonal levels, therefore, if these drugs are used regularly, it is possible to provoke various oncological diseases in the animal.
2) Castrate the animal - remove the uterus and ovaries. Accordingly, the animal will stop “walking” for the rest of its life. The negative side of the issue is the risks associated with the operation and the postoperative period. There are often cases when cat castration surgery ends in death.
4) Combined method - when hormonal drugs alternate with natural mating with a cat
Here, each owner needs to decide for himself whether he will engage in mating cats, raise and sell the resulting offspring, or, through surgical intervention, deprive both himself and his pet of suffering. It is worth noting that castration through surgery is considered a more humane method than the use of hormonal drugs.
Causes of cat noises
The main reason that forces cats to look for their other half is hormones.
The beginning of the party is associated with the puberty phase. For each breed (eg, British, Scottish, Maine Coon) it begins at a different time, so it is important for the owner to know when the pets become adults. According to veterinarians, females mature at 6-7 months. The time of sexual changes in the body, depending on the breed, is indicated in the table:
| Type of cats | Period (months) | |
| Dimensions | Breed | |
| Light frame | Siamese | 4—8 |
| Cornish Rex | ||
| Balinese cats | ||
| Average build | British | 8—10 |
| Scots | ||
| Bobtails | ||
| Large | Maine Coons | 10—18 |
| Siberian | ||
How to understand?
You can guess about the desires of your pet from unambiguous hints.
It is not at all difficult to find out that a cat begins to want to meet a male, despite the breed: British, Siamese, Scottish and others. When an animal is in heat, physiological and emotional changes occur in the animal's body. You can determine that a cat has gone on a spree by the following clear signs:
- The animal meows loudly, and the sounds of meowing gradually turn into a guttural howl.
- The number of urinations increases, but the cat refuses to go to the tray, and thus marks the territory.
- The genitals swell, a special lubricant is released from the vagina, which the pet constantly licks off.
- The pet’s mood changes: the cat begins to fawn, rub against the owner’s legs, or “tumble” on the floor.
- The desire to mate forces the animal to take a characteristic pose: it crouches on its front legs, sticks out its tail and tramples with its paws.
- The desire to eat decreases, sometimes completely refusing to eat until the end of the heat.
- The presence of a cat excites the female even more, so the domestic cat tries to get out of the house (apartment). You need to close the windows and watch the door. Once on the street, she can spend several days there without coming home.
These signs can appear all at once or one at a time. In addition, there is such a thing as “hidden estrus.” In this state, the animal does not exhibit visible characteristic symptoms of binge drinking. To find out whether this behavior is a consequence of physiological disorders or simply a weak temperament, you need to consult a veterinarian.
