What is heat in cats?
Estrus is a female cat’s reproductive cycle.
Cats reach puberty, or sexual maturity, at approximately 6 to 9 months of age, but can occur as early as 3 months or as late as 18 months.
After puberty, female cats, known as queens, develop a reproductive cycle that continues throughout their lives, giving them the opportunity to mate and become pregnant.
Cats are polyestrous, meaning that unless they are pregnant, they will go into heat several times per season, usually lasting 3-4 weeks each.
A cat’s heat cycle is also affected by the season, with most cats coming into heat from February to October when the days are long, but many cats who live near artificial lighting will be in heat all year round.
Although it is possible to spay/neuter a cat in heat, it is not always recommended, so consult with your veterinarian before scheduling your cat’s spay/neuter procedure to help you make the best decision for you and your cat.
Cats can only ovulate and become pregnant if they are mated.
A cat’s estrus is the time when she becomes fertile and able to mate. There are four stages of estrus:
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Proestrus—It only lasts for a few days when the hormone estrogen is increasing
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Estus— This usually lasts a week, but can last up to 19 days in some cats. This is part of a cycle called estrus, when the cat will display mating behavior and will allow mating.
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Interestras—The cat will become pregnant and the gestation period will last for about 62 days or enter this period of reduced estrus behavior (usually a month, sometimes less).
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Anestrus—The months between cycles when there is usually no hormonal activity
Cats don’t bleed when in heat like humans do, so it can be difficult to tell if they’re in heat.
Symptoms may include:
For health and behavioral benefits, as well as ethical considerations, cats are often neutered before their first heat cycle.
Spaying a cat involves surgically removing the reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes) to stop the heat cycle.
Neutered cats will no longer go into heat.
Can a cat in heat be spayed or neutered?
Yes, cats in heat can be spayed or neutered.
Because cats are polyestrous, there is little time between heat cycles and it can be difficult to schedule spay/neuter for a time when they are not in heat.
However, most veterinarians recommend against doing this because it causes your cat’s reproductive organs and associated tissues and blood vessels to become filled with blood, making the tissues more susceptible to tearing.
Surgery is more complicated and riskier due to a higher chance of bleeding and infection, so if your cat is in heat, your veterinarian will need to take extra care and time to complete the surgery safely.
Because of this, there is often an additional charge for the procedure, and cost can be a concern for pet owners.
Additionally, spaying a cat during heat can lead to a condition called mammary hyperplasia, a sudden enlargement of the mammary glands after surgery.
This happens because when a cat’s reproductive organs are removed, there is a sudden change in hormones, specifically progesterone.
This symptom usually subsides over time.
Although it is possible to spay/neuter a cat in heat, it is not always recommended, so consult with your veterinarian before scheduling your cat’s spay/neuter procedure to help you make the best decision for you and your cat.
