How to calm a cat during heat at home, how to help her if the cat asks

A cat that has reached sexual maturity will definitely go into heat. - a physiologically normal condition associated with the instinct of reproduction, which can present many problems to 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.

Sterilization

If you do not want your cat's offspring, then you can sterilize it. You may think that this is bad for your pet. If you don’t have any plans for kittens, then believe me that this is the most humane way to calm the animal for both him and you. At the moment there are amazing doctors who will perform this operation. Medicine does not stand still and, even in veterinary clinics, operations are performed using a sutureless method, after which the sutures dissolve on their own. The pet will behave completely adequately and exhibit only slight drowsiness.

The big advantage of sterilization is the increase in the life of the cat . On average, a sterilized cat lives 5 or even 10 years longer. She does not need to be allowed outside, which protects her from other diseases that can be transmitted to her from street cats or insects. The cat will feel comfortable at home and not be exposed to unnecessary danger, which can reassure many owners. An important factor will also be that you can save time, because you won’t have to bathe your pet so often, which simply won’t get dirty on the street.

So, first of all, you need to determine whether it is in heat or whether it may be that your beloved pet is suffering from another illness.

Signs that your cat is in heat:

increased affection - she purrs from any touch, rubs against corners, all kinds of objects, rolls on the floor;
loss of appetite, even if the cat previously loved to eat;
the genitals swell and clear fluid is released;
starts going to the toilet more often;
if you start stroking the animal’s lower spine, it will begin to arch and raise the back of its body;
the pet meows very loudly and this continues day and night, which brings the owner the greatest discomfort.

You can tolerate heat, but it is detrimental to your pet's health. You can endure 2 heats, but on the 3rd and 4th you will need to get the cat into heat, otherwise she will begin to have health problems. It is also dangerous for her to have a castrated cat, since this will not satisfy her need to give birth to kittens. The cat will not be fertilized; its empty ovulations will harm its health and lead to gynecological diseases. Estrus that does not result in pregnancy causes changes in the pet's uterus and ovaries.

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:

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

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:

The cat asks the cat what to do: veterinarian advice, medicines, drops and folk methods

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.

Facilities

Warmth will help your cat calm down. The source of heat can be a heating pad that you place under her bed or a warm towel. You can cover it with a light blanket on top. This will help your pet relax and calm the urge to want a cat. also purchase a special hanging hammock that can be hung on the battery . Cats love to sit at heights, she will definitely like this hammock, and she will always be close to a source of heat that will help calm the animal.

Alternatively, you can bathe your cat to calm it down. This procedure will temporarily distract and help relieve excitement during estrus. Each bath is a little stressful for a cat, and emotions after it will overshadow the craving for the cat. She will lick herself and, for a while, will simply be distracted from her needs.

Another way to calm an animal is to use a product such as a pheromone. “Feliway” is a specially developed product and when used, the cat should calm down for a while, and its mood will also normalize.

It can be purchased in three types:

spray;
fumigator;
collar.

You can also use folk remedies that can calm the heat. For example, you can prepare a decoction of chamomile, cumin and lemon balm. This decoction helps calm the animal. You can give catnip, which is a natural, gentle and painless way to soothe your pet during heat. But the result will not last very long and will range from 2 to 3 hours.

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:

Sex barrier for cats: release forms, dosage, course of administration, indications and contraindications

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.

Contraindications for use

Veterinary drugs based on megestrol are not used in the following cases:

if more than 3 days have passed since the start of sexual heat;
the cat has not reached puberty;
in the first heat;
during pregnancy and lactation;
for hormonal imbalances, pathologies of the endocrine system, neoplasms and diseases of the reproductive system;
diabetes mellitus, diseases of the genitourinary system, chronic renal failure;
when treated with corticosteroids;
if you have hypersensitivity to the components of the product, as an allergic reaction may develop.

Important: violations of the drug dosage regimen specified in the instructions may lead to a decrease in its therapeutic effectiveness.

How to calm your furry pet?

At home, you can try to calm a cat during heat without using any medications . The most important thing you can do to help the purr during this difficult period for her is to show her more tenderness and care. Just pick her up more often, stroke her, comb her, talk to her. Such simple manipulations will relieve tension and calm your pet at least a little.

Warm and soft bedding

Cats appreciate comfort at any time and in any emotional state . And during estrus, they especially prefer something soft and warm. To calm your cat down, you can offer her a soft and warm pillow, a heating pad, or even just a heated bag.

A warm bath will help calm your furry pet for a long time. Afterwards, she will be busy licking the fur, which will reduce tension and stress levels.

Isolation from cats

During estrus, the presence of male cats is very exciting for the female . Therefore, to prevent pregnancy, she should not be allowed outside. Windows and doors must be closed. If there is also a cat living in the house, it is recommended to give it to friends for a while.

Games and entertainment

Games will help distract the cat from sexual heat, since during this period her motor activity increases . The pet’s energy is overflowing, so at night she begins to scream, calling for the cat. To eliminate night “concerts,” the female literally needs to be forced to play during the day. To do this, you can buy or make new toys or even play with it yourself. Having played enough during the day, the kitty will sleep peacefully all night.

Using herbal infusions:

Infusions of thyme, chamomile or natural mint, of course, will not completely rid the animal of sexual desire, but they will significantly reduce activity. Moreover, these herbs have no side effects and are inexpensive.

Preventive measures against estrus

The only safe way to stop a cat from going into heat is surgical castration. Sedatives have only a temporary effect, and synthetic hormones can disrupt the functioning of the genitourinary system and many other organs.

Weigh the pros and cons before giving your pet a hormonal pill or drops. In such a situation, her health depends solely on your decision. Sexual heat will end in a few days, and restoring hormonal levels is almost impossible. Do not commit irresponsible actions, show love and care for our smaller brothers.

Alternative Methods

If a cat constantly screams during estrus, and neither folk methods nor specialized remedies help her, in such cases you cannot do without hormonal drugs. You can purchase them in specialized pet stores and from a veterinarian. The form of release of hormonal drugs is drops, tablets and solutions for injections.

Despite the high efficiency and quick results of hormonal drugs, when used regularly they can have an extremely negative impact on the health of the animal. Therefore, the owner should think carefully about whether he is ready to risk the health and life of his pet.

If, nevertheless, the choice fell on hormonal drugs, their negative impact on the body can be minimized only by choosing the right drug. Before buying such a product, it is imperative to consult with a veterinarian who, based on the results of a blood test for hormones, will select the most optimal drug for the animal.

There is another fairly simple way to temporarily calm the animal - to organize a thermal bed for the cat, the role of which is played by a simple heating pad filled with water. It is enough to place the cat on a warm heating pad and cover it with a warm blanket; this measure will calm it down a little.