Cats in Oestrus (Also Known as Heat)

Sounds like a science fiction novel, but I can assure you it is not. I have Callie, our pet calico, to thank for this article. It has been two weeks, since my last confession. Sorry, I could not resist. We have two cats, both are calicos and both are female. For the last couple of months Callie has gone into heat every two weeks, which seems to trigger the other cat, Snickers, a week later. For those of you not familiar with cats in heat, this is the time when cats are ready to mate.

When female cats reach their breeding age, which can be as young as four months old, they are called Queens. They go into heat, also known as oestrus. Heat is triggered by changes in daylight. During this period, no pun intended, they will low crawl around the house, heads down, rubbing their hindquarters against anything they can, howl, their tails quiver and are raised to expose their perineums(this position is also known as lordosis), and their rear legs are always moving to some unforeseen rhythm. Some females will spray vertical surfaces with a nasty smelling fluid. They can go into heat as often as every two or three weeks several times a year. That is until they either mate or are spayed. They will continually experience a heat cycle throughout their entire lives. Veterinarians are not positive if the heat cycle is painful for the cat, however they tend to favor the theory that it is painful. Mainly due to the howling and lordosis, which seems to point to discomfort among the females.

During their heat, owners need to watch their cats closely. Never leave a door or window open, because it is natural instinct for your cat to seek a mate. Another reason to keep your doors and windows closed is to prevent any males from entering the house during this time. Remember, they do not know any difference. They are only acting on impulse. There have been cases where male cats have broken screen doors and window screens to answer the mating calls of the beloved pet.

There are not a lot of options available to cat owners. You can have your cat spayed, veterinarians may have hormones you can give your cat, or you can choose to do nothing. Here is a word of warning, if you do choose to do nothing, your cat could have medical problems. It could cost you hundreds of dollars in repairs around the home, as well. Plus, you could end up spending more to get rid of nasty pet odors each year. Your best option is to get your cat spayed as soon as possible. They can be spayed while they are in heat. The only time you should not consider getting your cat spayed is if she is a pedigreed breeder.

How much does it cost to have your cat spayed? According to everything I have seen, the prices vary greatly. I have seen costs ranging anywhere from $20 to over $300, it really depends on the area you live in. The best thing you can do is check around, you may be able to even discover free clinics offering these services. Do I recommend going to a free clinic? Not really, since you cannot guarantee the quality of medical supplies available. Personally, since cats are such an asset to have around the house and great companions, I would rather pay the additional costs to ensure their safety. After all, they are a part of the family.