How to calm a cat that has gone on a spree? Help from folk remedies and 3 types of medicines

During sexual activity, cats become uncontrollable from excitement. To avoid using drugs for cats to prevent heat, you can use other non-drug methods, such as distractions, active games, frequent walks, and increased care. If you cannot help in this way, you will have to give the cat special sedatives. You need to find out the name of the drug and the exact dosage from your veterinarian.

Age at first estrus in cats

For most cats, the first heat begins after the female reaches a weight of 2.5 kg. This rule does not apply to large breeds such as Maine Coon or British cats.

The age of puberty ranges from 4 months to 1.5 years. Most often, a cat first begins to ask for a cat at 6-9 months. This age depends on several factors:

1. Heredity.

Some cats are more temperamental than others, and some, on the contrary, are late maturing. In mixed breeds, the onset of the first heat is difficult to predict in advance, but among purebreds, patterns have already been identified.

The fastest maturing are the short-haired “oriental” breeds - Thai, Siamese, Burmese, Abyssinians, Bengals, Cornish Rex. On the other hand, cats of long-haired breeds sometimes begin to walk at 10-12 months and later - Persian, Maine Coon, Siberian.

Young cat of the Bengal breed

1. Daylight hours.

March cats are not a fiction. Increasing the duration of daylight hours encourages the onset of estrus. If the cat is six months old in the spring, you should expect the onset of estrus soon. If the same age falls in October-December, then the onset of estrus is more likely only next spring.

In an apartment, this dependence hardly manifests itself due to constant heat and constant artificial lighting.

1. Conditions of detention.

Exhausted cats lacking vitamins and fats do not go into heat. Therefore, street animals mature later than domestic animals, and their estrus occurs less frequently.

1. Communication with relatives.

The presence of another cat in heat or an unneutered cat provokes the onset of heat in young teenage cats.

To delay the onset of the first heat as much as possible, the owner needs to keep the cat isolated in the apartment and turn on the light for no more than 4-6 hours a day.

Symptoms and features of estrus

The onset of estrus is often accompanied by a change in the animal's behavior. During this period, the cat has practically no control over its behavior; it is under the complete power of instincts. This is why even the most well-mannered, but unsterilized, cats during the period of estrus often begin to go to the toilet in a place other than the litter tray. They mark their territory with their scent, thus attracting males.

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The cat's egestive cycle is divided into several phases, which have their own symptoms:

1. Precursor or proestrus. Hormonal changes begin to occur in the animal's body. A cat may become too affectionate and constantly ask for attention from its owner. At the same time, she is not yet ready for mating, and therefore does not allow cats to approach her and can react quite aggressively to them.
2. Estrus or estrus. Swelling of the genital organs can be observed, and light, clear discharge is possible. The cat often licks itself under its tail. She behaves restlessly, rubbing herself against furniture, walls and her owner’s legs. The cat can press itself to the floor and raise its tail, inviting the male to mate. Often this period is accompanied by screams that do not stop day or night. The cat's appetite decreases. During this period, the animal may lose weight.
3. Afterflow or metestrus. The cat no longer allows males to approach her. Often during this period she may already be pregnant. Sometimes after estrus in cats a state of false pregnancy occurs. If pregnancy does not occur, the hormonal levels gradually return to normal, and sexual desire subsides.
4. Interestrus or Anestrus. This is a period of rest that occurs between heats. The animal is completely calm, all symptoms of estrus are completely absent. The cat shows no interest in cats.

In some cases, symptoms of estrus remain unexpressed. The owners may even be pleased with this course of events, because the behavior of the pet during a special period does not change at all. However, the absence of symptoms of estrus may indicate a malfunction of the animal's body. In addition, even cats with relatively calm heats are still at risk. They are susceptible to various diseases of the reproductive system.

If a cat is involved in breeding, but her estrus is mild, contact with a sexually mature cat can often change the situation. After this, the symptoms of estrus should become more pronounced. In some situations, the veterinarian may prescribe hormonal medications to the animal, which will help establish a normal estrus cycle.

How to understand that a cat is “walking”

The cat's behavior changes dramatically. The pet becomes annoyingly friendly, rubs against people and furniture, rolls around on the floor, and constantly demands attention.

Characteristic signs of estrus:

• A prolonged inviting meow, a cat can scream for days;
• Irregularities or complete lack of appetite;
• In response to stroking the back or rump, the cat invitingly arches its back, raises its butt, moves its tail to the side and tramples with its hind legs;
• Allows males to mate with her.

Cat in heat

Unpleasant manifestations of sexual heat include the desire to mark territory: the cat may begin to urinate in inappropriate places.

There is no point in examining a cat's genitals to determine estrus. The cat will not have any obvious changes to the vulva or any discharge.

Behavior during estrus is largely determined by the breed, and in the case of barn cats, by the temperament of the animal. There are cats that walk quietly and a little, meowing modestly and caressing. Others literally climb the wall, and their screams are heard by all the neighbors.

A Bengal in heat is desperately trying to get out of the house

Folk remedies: a cat wants a cat

This type of medicine effectively eliminates the symptoms of estrus and has minimal impact on the pet’s health.

Traditional medicine effectively eliminates the symptoms of estrus

Methods to eliminate the symptoms of “walking”:

1. Spray the wool with cool water.
2. Give the animal a tincture of mint, linden, and chamomile.
3. Give your pet more attention. You should not raise your voice; an animal during estrus is susceptible to high-pitched tones.
4. Buy a new toy. This will help you get distracted and use up energy. Outdoor games will tire your pet, and at night she will fall asleep soundly.
5. Separate room for cats. If you close it, screams at night will no longer annoy the owners. It is important to provide in advance the availability of water, food, scratching posts, toys and a place to sleep.

Duration and frequency of sexual heat

Characteristic behavior lasts from 3 to 10 days. The period when a cat is in sexual heat and allows a cat to approach her is called estrus. At this time, the ovarian follicles produce the maximum amount of estrogens and sex hormones.

In the very first days of estrus (1-4 days), the cat demonstrates sexual arousal, but does not allow mating. This time is called proestrus, “forerunner”. Unlike dogs, cats do not have a clear boundary between estrus and proestrus, and it is difficult to determine these periods.

If sexual intercourse does not occur during estrus, then ovulation does not occur. In this case, sexual heat returns every 10-14 days. The period between estrus is called interestrus, this is a time of rest for the uterus and ovaries. In some cats, the concentration of estrogen in the blood does not decrease, and the animal walks constantly.

Prolonged heat is a sign of follicular ovarian cysts, which must be removed surgically.

Complete rest of the ovaries, which means the absence of the reproductive instinct, is called anestrus, the absence of estrus. In stray cats, this period occurs in late autumn or winter, due to short daylight hours and the action of the hormone melatonin. Anestrus does not occur in domestic cats due to constant light and nutritious food.

A distinctive feature of the breeding system in cats is induced ovulation. Simply put, an egg is released from the ovary only in response to vaginal stimulation. Natural ovulation occurs due to mating, but artificial ovulation is also possible - as a result of manipulations in the vagina.

Ovulation occurs 1-2 days after intercourse, and after another 1-2 days the estrus stops. The ovary forms the corpus luteum, which produces the hormone progesterone to maintain pregnancy.

If the egg is released and fertilization does not occur, progesterone will be produced “by inertia” for 1-1.5 months (less than a true pregnancy). Progesterone prevents the resumption of estrus.

In cats, sexual function does not decline until death; even at 16-19 years of age, estrus is observed from time to time in non-sterilized animals.

I'm 14 years old, motherfucker, how old can you be?

Complex drugs

More attention

The main thing during this period is to pay due attention to the pet.

The best solution is to distract your pet with music, toys, crumpled newspapers

Play with him, stroke him (not on his back!), buy sticks, balls, soft and rubber toys. Monitor which of the proposed items the animal likes best and give them preference more often.

Talk (don't shout or raise your tone), caress the cat behind the ears, spend more time together. Aggression towards your pet during heat is strictly prohibited. This can make the animal aggressive.

We invite you to read: Brahma chickens: description of the pros and cons

Shock bath

Some individuals can be bathed, their fur combed, and mats trimmed. During the “quiet” period of its life, the animal does not respond to bathing, combing and other things.

If you urgently need to interrupt the heat, you can bathe your pet. Bathing is considered stressful for the animal. The “partying” will stop after taking a bath.

Bathing during heat will not cause harm to health, but do not forget to wipe the animal dry and ensure a comfortable temperature in the apartment.

If you want to have kittens, it is forbidden to bathe your pet during heat.

other methods

An infusion of valerian is suitable to calm your pet. Instead of a regular sleeping rookery, you can build a “thermal bed”; to do this, put a heating pad and cover it with a blanket.

Medicines based on natural ingredients will not harm the animal. They are produced in drops, tablets and sprays (they act on the cat’s body through the lungs). Users recommend the drug "Feliway".

As a reassurance, artificial ovulation is suitable. You will need a stick with cotton wool. Slowly it should be inserted into the pet’s vulva 2-3 cm. Repeat after 10 hours.

Be sure to read:

Depo-Provera for cats: instructions for use, dosage, injections for walking

Massaging the head and front paws is an effective way to relieve symptoms of estrus.

Bathing

How quickly does estrus return after childbirth?

About 64 days pass from the date of first mating to birth. Then the cat feeds the kittens; the duration of this period largely depends on the owners. 10-14 days after the end of lactation, estrus resumes.

Cat feeding kittens

The problem is that some lactating cats go into heat as early as 2 weeks after giving birth. If mating with the cat does not occur at this moment, then the cat begins to walk, as before, every 10-20 days.

If mating occurs, fertilization is unlikely due to the fact that the uterus has not yet recovered from childbirth. But mating during the next heat can be effective, so you can often see a nursing cat already pregnant with a new litter.

Mating cats

It is important to know how to properly match a cat with a cat so that the whole process is successful. First you need to find a partner. It is advisable to do this in advance, and it is better to introduce the animals in advance. You can find a suitable cat in a cat club, by visiting an exhibition or by advertising in a newspaper or on the Internet. To prevent mating from causing harm, it should be carried out after reaching a certain age, and both animals should be checked for the presence of fungal, viral, infectious and other diseases. Also, before mating - 2 weeks - experts advise deworming.

Before introducing a cat to a cat for the first time, it is recommended to trim its claws. This is necessary so that she does not cause injury during the mating process. You should not bathe the animal before mating. Because this can wash away the natural scent of the bride, which is so attractive to the cat. It is better to pair your pet with a male on the 3-5th day of estrus.

It is advisable to carry out the mating on the cat’s territory, because if the environment is unfamiliar to her, the pet may become frightened and behave aggressively.

It happens that a cat does not allow the male to approach her. And this is not surprising, because these creatures are very capricious and capricious. If the situation or the male is not to your liking, problems with mating are guaranteed. There are also individuals that never allow males to approach them. Most likely the reason for this behavior lies in an incorrectly formed sexual instinct. But this may also be due to problems with the uterus or ovaries. If your pet likes the cat, it is better not to change it. After all, representatives of the cat family are monogamous. It is recommended that a cat give birth no more than 3 times every 2 years.

Many expert felinologists, if the cat does not let the cat near during mating, advise:

• Pour the mint solution into a bowl. Or scatter mint herb around the room.
• If mating is planned on the cat's territory, leave the cat in a carrier or cage for a couple of days. This is necessary for the pet to get used to the cat and begin to communicate with him. In this case, it is advisable to sometimes take the groom out of the room.
• Aggressive cats should look for cats with similar personalities.
• Give your cat a drug that induces ovulation.

How to calm a cat during heat

How to calm a walking cat? Read about this in my book “No Way”. No joke, the Internet is full of advice and recommendations, but they don’t work:

• Stroke the cat and pay attention to it: tactile contact only increases sexual arousal;
• Give herbal sedatives: the cat is not stressed and is not nervous. She wants to reproduce. Owners can drink Persen with Novopassit; no herbs will affect the cat’s behavior.
• Use products with pheromones such as Feliway. They really help you survive the trip, get comfortable in a new place, and welcome a new family member. But they are expensive, and during estrus they are absolutely useless.

When a cat is in heat, she doesn't let anyone live

It is no secret that hormonal drugs against sexual heat in males and female cats are widely sold in pet stores - Stop-intim, Sex-barrier, Contrasex. But such drugs should not be used during the first heat or for more than 1.5 years in a row. Another important point: the use of hormonal drops in the midst of estrus leads to serious side effects. They need to be used in advance, preferably under the guidance of a veterinarian, in order to control the reproductive function. And don’t run to the nearest pet store for a miracle cure when the roast rooster has already pecked.

Hormonal drugs are a means to prevent, not stop, estrus!

There is one trick that allows you to distract your cat for about an hour in order to fall asleep peacefully. Wet the fur with water or smear it in something tasty (sour cream, canned cat sauce). The cat will inevitably begin to tidy up its fur, and it is impossible to lick itself and meow at the same time. Unfortunately, as soon as the fur coat dries, the cat will start singing calling songs again.

The only way to forget about the problem for a long time is mating and subsequent pregnancy. This option is only suitable for breeding animals with a successful exhibition career. If the owners are not interested in having offspring, then the best option would be surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries. It is optimal to carry out sterilization before the first heat. During the height of estrus, you should not take your cat to surgery.

A cat rolling on the floor is one of the signs of heat

It happens that a cat is planned for breeding, but it is impossible to breed during this particular heat (first early heat, rapid onset of heat after a cesarean section, lack of a suitable pair). Then the solution would be to artificially induce ovulation.

Simply put, the owner needs to simulate sexual intercourse. The cat is held firmly by the withers (the skin in the area of ​​the shoulder blades is gathered into a fist), and with the other hand they press on the sacrum. When the cat moves its tail to the side, a suitable object is inserted into the vagina approximately 2 cm. This can be a thermometer with a soft tip lubricated with ointment or a cotton swab wrapped in the finger of a latex glove. The procedure should be repeated several times within an hour, and then again after 12 hours. If the massage was successful, the cat begins to meow loudly and roll on the floor.

The onset of ovulation causes a false pregnancy, which in cats is not accompanied by changes in behavior or false lactation, as in dogs. The estrus stops and does not return for 1-1.5 months. This method should also not be used regularly, so as not to provoke inflammation of the uterus.

Medicines

“Cat” medications are divided into 2 types:

1. Sedatives (to relieve stress): “Stop Stress”, “Suprastin”, “Cat-Bayun”, etc. The drugs ease the period of estrus, make the pet’s behavior calm, everyday. You can make your own decoction of chamomile and thyme.
2. Hormonal (causes a false pregnancy, stopping estrus): “Stop Sex”, “Anti-Meow”, “Contrasex”, etc. Constantly using pills is prohibited, despite their effectiveness. The estrus will stop, but frequent use can cause the appearance of cysts, ulcers or inflammation of the ovaries, uterus, vulva, and the functioning of the adrenal glands will be disrupted. Health will deteriorate greatly. In advanced cases, the animal dies.

Kittens can be difficult to place, so sterilization is a humane way to prevent the birth of feline offspring. Constant use of hormonal drugs can harm the animal. Operation is a way out.

There are a lot of folk methods that are designed to reduce sexual desire in an animal.

Folk remedies, a cat wants a cat:

• Distracting. Usually the cat is dipped in cold water, or simply doused from a mug. Thus, the cat's task changes, instead of screaming, it licks itself. However, it is necessary to repeat the procedure constantly until the cat asks for the cat.
• Coat the animal's face with butter. The effect is the same, the animal constantly licks itself, during which time the screaming stops.
• Using a neutered cat. The main question is where to get it. Indeed, after mating with a castrated cat, the cat calms down for a while. However, this is not a 100% method, since some animals, even after a successful mating, which ends in offspring, can become very active for another three to four days until the end of estrus, screaming, meowing and not allowing members of the household to rest.
• Imitation of sexual intercourse. Usually, this requires grabbing the cat at the withers and dragging it, as a cat does during mating. Many also recommend feeding your cat various decoctions. The most commonly used soothing herbs are motherwort, tincture of valerian, lemon balm and mint. If the animal does not want to drink such drugs, they are usually introduced into dry food, or into the food that the animal is fed.

Unlike medications, folk remedies do not differ in their duration of action, but still have their advantages. The most important of them is absolute safety for health. Alternatively, you can try the following methods to calm yourself down:

• Decoctions of herbs that have a sedative effect. For example, lemon balm, mint, caraway, chamomile. Prepare according to package instructions, cool until warm and strain. Drinking this helps relieve anxiety for a short time and improve sleep.
• Dissolve a small amount of soda in milk (at the tip of a knife) and pour into the drinking bowl.

• Take 1 tablet each of diphenhydramine and valerian, crush finely and mix with food. This will help calm the cat for about a day. An alternative is to simply give her a sealed bottle of valerian.
• Brush the cat's face with butter. The animal will have to lick itself for a long time and, as a result, there will be a temporary lull.

Calming tablets are the most radical way to correct the hormonal levels of “walking” cats. Conventionally, they can be divided into two main types:

• Hormonal. They block sexual arousal, interrupting estrus. There are many drugs of domestic and foreign production on sale, the most popular of which are “Stop Intim”, “Gestrenol”, “Sex Barrier”, “Anti Meow”, “Pillkan”.
• Mild sedatives, including homeopathic ones. Tablet drops “Cat Bayun”, “Feliway”, as well as “Suprastin” or regular “Valocordin” help relieve emotional and physical stress.

• Ferromones. The synthetic ferromone “Feliway”, produced in the form of a diffuser, shows itself well in practice. The device is connected to an outlet and operates within the entire apartment or a separate room (depending on the area). One package is designed to be used for approximately 4 weeks.

Which of the above methods will work can only be determined by trial and error. The main thing is to be patient and understand that the cat is not engaged in “sabotage” on purpose, but at the call of nature.

Brief abstracts about estrus in cats: everything you need to know

A reminder for anyone who adopts a female kitten:

1. Puberty occurs at 6-9 months.
2. On average, estrus lasts a week and, in the absence of mating, repeats every 2-3 weeks.
3. The only way to calm a cat is to induce ovulation with a special massage that simulates sexual intercourse.
4. The use of hormonal agents or surgical sterilization should be considered before the onset of estrus.
5. Repeated “empty” periods of sexual heat cause diseases of the genital organs - ovarian cysts, pyometra, hydrometra.

Now that you know how long a cat’s heat lasts and how difficult it is to calm a pet, let’s move on to the main thing. Sterilization is the most favorable option if you do not plan to regularly breed a cat and get kittens from her. Read about this operation in a separate article.

Sterilization

One of the safest ways to stop estrus is sterilization, after which sexual desire and the ability to breed disappear. It is carried out using medication, radiation or surgery. The latter has proven itself to be the most reliable.

Sterilization will relieve the inconvenience associated with estrus

The most appropriate age for the operation is 5–8 months, before the onset of the first estrus. Previously, surgery was not performed because the body was not developed enough.

Video - Sterilizing a cat

Sterilization and contraceptives - the secret code of peace and quiet

If you ask the veterinarian, what is the best way to calm down a pet that has gone on a spree? Then he will answer that the easiest way to calm a cat that has gone on a spree is sterilization. It will save the animal owner from a lot of troubles that can arise during a cat's heat. However, the animal may have some health problems for which this procedure is not recommended. And in order to calm the rogue animal, it is necessary to take some other measures.

Another reliable way to calm a cat during heat is to give her contraceptives.

The positive aspects of this operation include:

• solving the problem of estrus once and for all;
• 100% result.
• Comfortable conditions for the operation.

Problems that may accompany surgery include:

• Financial costs of the operation;
• Irreversible changes occur in the animal's body;
• If you want to have a kitten, this will no longer be possible.

For many people, the cost of sterilizing an animal is significant. Therefore, despite all the reliability, not all owners of mustaches resort to this method.

Castration: pros and cons

The most radical and effective way to calm a cat is to have surgery. There are two options for the operation: complete removal of the testicles or ligation of the spermatic cords. Both interventions are performed under full anesthesia. These operations are relatively simple, and if performed by an experienced doctor, the risks are minimal.

The cat will never lose his head in love again in his life. Pet owners claim that their pets often become calmer after the operation. Still, any surgery carries risks. Remember that even during the simplest operation you can lose your pet. Now you know what to do if the cat goes on a spree. How to calm your pet at home

It's up to you to decide. Sometimes it's enough to just be patient for a while. If you don’t like this option, use one of the methods described above.

Tablets for cats to prevent them from walking and not wanting a cat: list of the best

The most effective method to reduce a cat's sex drive is hormonal agents.

Tablets for cats so that they don’t want a cat:

1. Covinan is a hormonal drug that is used to stop estrus and reduce its manifestations. The product helps reduce hormone production. Thanks to this substance, the cat stops wanting a cat, aggressive behavior and anxiety decrease.
2. Antisex. The drug is used to delay and stop estrus. For effect, the drug is usually taken once a week. In order to reduce symptoms during estrus, the drug is given one tablet per day for a week.
3. Sex barrier. The product is used once every 2 weeks to reduce activity. If the animal has had sexual intercourse or mating that was not planned by the animal’s owners, then it is necessary to take two tablets. This reduces the chance of pregnancy to zero.
4. Stop intimate. In order for the cat to become less active, aggression and anxiety to decrease, half a tablet is prescribed once a week. If estrus has begun, the animal is very restless, 1 tablet per week is prescribed. Please note that all these drugs are hormonal, so you should never exceed the dosage.

It is best not to purchase products without a doctor’s prescription. They can negatively affect the health of the animal. Consequences of taking which drugs: endometriosis, erosion, benign tumors of the pelvic organs in cats. Accordingly, it is best to give non-hormonal herbal medications that help calm the animal’s nervous system.

cat

Are homemade sedatives safe?

Everyone knows about the attraction of cats to valerian. Sometimes this particular remedy is recommended as a sedative for our tailed friends. If you let your cat smell valerian or even lick some, its behavior will really change and become calmer. Still, this is not the best way to calm a cat when he is angry.

In fact, this remedy acts on the cat’s body in the same way as valerian, but somewhat weaker. This means that mint is also not very suitable for correcting the behavior of an animal during the mating season.

Many owners solve the problem of their peace of mind in the house by trying to give their cat special tablets. Every year there are more and more options, but for the animal’s body, medications are a huge stress and have bad consequences.

Sedatives act on the animal's nervous system. The pet sleeps more often, gets tired faster and behaves less aggressively. Such pills do not have any significant effect on sexual desire. That is, it remains at the same level in the cat.

Pets can be given the same sedatives as people. The most common option is valerian. To calm the animal, the owners try Novo Passit and Glycine - products that are also popular with people.

There is also a special veterinary line. These are no longer tablets, but drops for animals. The most common options:

• Cat Baiyun;
• Fitex;
• Stop stress.

Each of the drugs is designed to calm the animal. It can be used not only during estrus, but also during attacks of aggression in a female. Has a sedative effect. The pet becomes lethargic and very passive. He sleeps a lot and shows virtually no signs of active life. This option works well, calming the cat, but has many side effects.