How to understand that a cat is asking for a cat, and how to calm it down?

When a cat begins to ask for a cat, the owner who has encountered this for the first time is very worried. After all, during sexual heat, the pet screams wildly and behaves inappropriately. Not every person is able to remain calm; many are looking for any ways to calm it down. Folk remedies, sedative pills and even hormonal drugs are used.

Let's find out which methods of suppressing the symptoms of estrus are safe for cats and why you should decide to sterilize.

At what age does a cat start walking?

Cats start yelling at different ages. In some animals, puberty occurs earlier, in others - later. This depends on many factors:

• breed affiliation;
• fatness;
• conditions of detention;
• pet's temperament;
• heredity.

The first time a cat begins to ask for a cat is when mature eggs are already being produced in her ovaries. In most cases, sexual heat begins between 6 and 10 months, but there are exceptions.

In any case, mating during the first few heats is not advisable. After all, for the body to fully form and strengthen, it needs more time.

It is extremely rare for cats to start asking for a cat at the age of 5 months. Such early maturation indicates the presence of health problems. In this case, it is advisable to show the animal to a veterinarian. You will also need to consult a specialist if your first heat starts after a year.

Symptoms of estrus

It's impossible not to notice when a cat asks for a date with a cat. Signs by which you can determine that your pet has gone on a spree:

1. The cat screams and meows protractedly at the top of her voice. Some owners get scared - they think she is sick. In fact, this is a natural process. The female attracts potential suitors with a loud cry.
2. When a cat asks for a cat, she leaves marks in the house. It is unknown whether she does this on purpose or not. The fact is that during the hunting period a special mucous secretion is released from the vulva. In nature, its smell attracts cats.
3. The cat becomes very affectionate, gentle, constantly rubs against the owner’s legs and purrs. In rare cases, the pet behaves in the opposite way - it becomes irritable and aggressive.
4. The urge to urinate becomes more frequent.
5. When a cat asks for a cat, she takes a characteristic pose - arching her back and raising her butt. The tail is moved to the side. In this way, the female shows the male that she is ready for mating.
6. It is easy to understand that a cat wants a cat by its loss of appetite. The pet rarely approaches the food bowl and eats little. Some individuals generally lose interest in food, they even refuse their favorite treat.

You should not worry about the cat’s well-being during this period - when the heat ends, everything will return to normal. The behavior will become habitual, an appetite will appear, and the pet will stop behaving inappropriately.

Signs that a cat is asking for a cat

The owner of a mustachioed pet can distinguish the onset of puberty by the behavior of the animal. Cats' behavior completely changes.

The main features are:

Territorial marks – sexually mature males begin to leave specific marks around the living area. These could be walls, doors, doorways, furniture. With the help of marks, the cat makes it clear to its rivals that this is its territory, and also attracts other females for mating.

Change in behavior - cats during puberty begin to show overt aggression towards their owners, as well as other animals. Aggression during the hunting season is a serious threat to owners, as the cat can scratch and even bite its breadwinner. It is worth remembering that the animal becomes practically uncontrollable and it is not possible to change its behavior using educational measures.

Screaming - using its voice, the cat tries to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Calling cries can be heard day and night, for several hours at a time. Correcting a cat's behavior with punishment is also not possible.

Correcting a cat's behavior with punishment is also not possible.

The desire to leave the house and run out into the street. Under the influence of hormones and the instinct to procreate, the cat will try to run out of the house, using any available means - a window or door.

The manifestation of sexual heat is also determined by a frequent urge to urinate, enlargement of the genitals and specific discharge from the penis. During the hunting period, the cat, just like a cat, loses the desire to eat. In addition, in pursuit of a female, the cats’ instinct of self-preservation is dulled.

Duration and frequency of sexual heat

The length of the period during which cats ask for a cat differs from individual to individual. On average, estrus lasts 7-10 days.

The period of sexual hunting can be divided into several stages. Each of them has certain characteristics:

1. Proestrus. The cat begins to ask for a cat, but at the same time she is not yet ready for effective mating. Her estrogen levels increase. Sexual heat begins - the external genitalia increase slightly in size, and transparent discharge appears from the vulva. Behavior changes - the cat rubs against objects for a long time, requires more attention and affection. Appetite decreases. The duration of proestrus is 2-3 days.
2. Estrus. The cat is already ready for mating. If she has a date with a cat during this period, she is more likely to get pregnant. The pet feels increasing excitement, this is eloquently evidenced by her behavior - loud inviting cries, adoption of a characteristic pose for mating. The duration of estrus is 3-4 days, in some individuals it lasts longer.
3. Metestrus. The level of estrogen in the cat’s body decreases, and along with it, interest in representatives of the opposite sex disappears. Some females even feel irritated at the sight of a male. The cat no longer asks the cat, does not allow him to approach, drives him away with hiss.
4. Anestrus. At this stage, the hormonal levels stabilize and the cat calms down.

The frequency of the onset of estrus differs between domestic and wild animals. This process is influenced by the length of daylight hours, quality of nutrition, breed and other factors.

On average, cats ask for a male cat every 3-4 weeks, provided that mating has not occurred.

Is it true that a condom does not protect completely?

So far, the only thing more reliable than a condom in preventing STIs is the absence of any sexual contact. WHO calls

male condoms are approximately 80–85% effective. Gaps in effectiveness are mainly due to improper storage and use of products No. 2.

– It is worth understanding that 80% is average data from the entire planet. The statistics are mainly worsened by third world countries, where used condoms are washed, dried and reused, says Nikolai Lunchenkov.

From time to time you can hear that latex and other materials allow viruses to pass through, but an infectious disease specialist calls this a myth and urges not to believe in it. The Fact Sheet for Public Health Personnel from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that latex condoms provide an impenetrable barrier to particles the size of STIs.

After all, most condoms are coated with a lubricant that can fill hypothetical micropores.

Previously, Roskachestvo examined the quality of condoms. See the results HERE

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How long after giving birth does estrus occur?

The frequency of sexual estrus depends on whether pregnancy has occurred. If a cat has a date with a cat, then she bears the offspring for about 2 months, and then feeds them. Then the next estrus begins 30-50 days after lambing or 10-14 days after the end of lactation. In the wild, cats go into heat on average 2-3 times a year. If there was no mating, then the next time the estrus will begin in 3-4 weeks.

In rare cases, nursing cats ask for a male cat as early as 2 weeks after lambing. If mating does not occur during this period, the next estrus will begin again after 14-21 days.

If the date with the male takes place, then a new pregnancy will not occur, since the uterus has not yet had time to recover and the process of feeding the kittens is underway. But mating during the next heat is more likely to be effective.

Behavior problems

When cats ask for a date with a cat, household members have a hard time. The constant screaming makes it impossible to sleep at night. Some people can’t stand it and lock their pets in one of the rooms. Others wet the animal’s fur with water in the evenings. This allows you to gain an hour of silence while the cat licks its fur coat. But as soon as she dries up, she starts asking for the cat again. This behavior is exhausting and forces you to try different ways.

Is it possible to calm a cat at home?

Simply petting and calming a cat that asks for a cat is unlikely to work. You will have to be patient and wait until the heat ends.

Numerous “folk” tips on how to calm a pet usually turn out to be ineffective:

1. Pet your pet more often. Showing attention will only increase arousal.
2. Give sedatives. They will not help because the animal is not stressed. They are driven by the instinct of reproduction. Such medications only slightly dull the desire to mate.
3. Feed the cat with products containing pheromones like Feliway. During sexual hunting they are completely useless. Such drugs help to quickly adapt to a new place and to endure the trip more calmly, but they do not pacify natural instincts.

Calming medications for cats

Sometimes veterinarians recommend taking sedatives. Such medications help to dull arousal a little, but their main purpose is to achieve mental lability, eliminate aggression and anxiety.

List of drugs and method of use:

1. Cat Baiyun. A medicine based on herbs with a sedative effect - valerian roots, oregano, sweet clover, mint, motherwort, hop cones and others. As soon as the cat begins to ask for a cat, she is given 2 ml of medicine three times a day for 5-7 days.
2. Fitex drops. A sedative with herbal components – valerian, motherwort, hop extract. The medicine normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system, muffles the feeling of fear and aggression. If a cat wants a cat, or vice versa, then the pet is given 3-5 drops of the product in the morning, lunch and evening for several days.
3. Drops for cats Stop stress. The drug is available in the form of drops and tablets. The medicine contains aminophenylbutyric acid and extracts of valerian, catnip, hops and motherwort. This remedy helps reduce agitation and correct the animal's behavior in stressful situations. Directions for use: 1 drop per 1 kg of weight twice a day.

Sedatives should not be given to a cat for a long time. They are allowed to be used for no more than 10 days. And you should not expect that these medications will completely eliminate sexual arousal. They can only slightly smooth out the symptoms of estrus.

Artificial ovulation

Sometimes the safest and most effective way to calm a cat so that she does not ask for a cat is to artificially induce ovulation. This method is suitable if the pet cannot be given for mating right now for some reason. For example, if she is in her first heat or a worthy candidate for mating has not yet been found.

In some cases, veterinarians show owners how to simulate sexual intercourse at home, which will cause ovulation. To do this, you will need a small phallic-shaped object about 4-5 mm thick and 1.5-2 cm long. A cotton swab wrapped in a fingertip or something similar will do. The cat is held by the withers. When she is in the mating position, the object is gently inserted into her vagina.

It is recommended to repeat this procedure 3-4 times within 12 hours. After this, the pet should ovulate, which will provoke a false pregnancy.

The heat will stop, the cat will calm down, stop asking for the cat and will prepare for the appearance of kittens. Some females begin to arrange a place for birth. During a false pregnancy, hormonal changes occur, so milk may be released from the mammary glands.

Attention! The artificial ovulation technique cannot be used every time the cat asks for a cat. This can cause inflammation in the uterus.

What not to do

Some actions of owners can harm the cat. For example, you cannot lock an animal in a cellar or bathroom. Being alone will have a negative impact on your mental health.

It is also undesirable to let your cat outside unattended, because it could get hit by a car, contract a virus, or become a victim of aggressive dogs. In addition, uncontrolled walking during estrus can lead to mating with an outdoor cat.

You should not punish her, yell at her, or hit her. This will not help solve the problem, because the animal is at the mercy of instincts. The pet will still continue to scream and roll on the floor.

What to do if a cat asks for a cat

There are several ways to ease the suffering of your pet and all household members. One of the most reliable and safest methods is sterilization or castration.

Only a specialist at a veterinary clinic can castrate a pet. The operation is performed under general anesthesia, so the patient will not experience pain. The castration procedure involves removing the ovaries or the uterus, and in some cases both are removed. After this, the cat stops asking for the cat because ovulation no longer occurs and the instinctive need to reproduce disappears. Sterilization is characterized by ligation of the fallopian tubes, excluding the onset of pregnancy. At the same time, the cat continues to want a cat, so veterinarians do not recommend using this type of surgery.

What other methods of contraception are there?

Hormonal drugs

There are a huge number of all kinds of drops and tablets on the market that suppress the sexual desire of animals. But is everything so harmless?

Important! Hormonal medications are allowed to be given to cats no more than 1-2 times a year, since changes in hormonal levels negatively affect the health of the cats. Over time, females may develop purulent endometritis or pyometra

The most popular among them: “Stop-sex”, “Contra-sex”, “Gestrenol”, “Stop-intim”, “Ex-5” and others.

Sedatives

Substances included in many sedatives suppress the activity of the central nervous system, relieve stress and temporarily calm libido. They are practically harmless compared to hormonal drugs, but they help less effectively. After taking sedative drops or tablets, the animal becomes weakly active, constantly sleeps and eats poorly. Drugs with similar effects include “Cat Bayun”, “Stop-stress”, “Fitex” and other tinctures.

How to calm a cat that asks for a cat at home? There are several traditional methods of influencing the mental and physiological state of a pet.

Interrupting estrus with hormonal drugs

Estrus can be prevented or interrupted with the help of hormonal medications. However, they should not be used often, as this will lead to health problems.

List of drugs to suppress sexual arousal in cats:

• Sex Barrier;
• EX-5;
• EX-5T;
• Four with a tail.

Hormonal drugs are designed to reduce the level of estrogen, which will reduce the manifestations of sexual desire. Essentially, taking such medications moves the animal from proestrus to anestrus.

Pros of taking hormonal drugs:

• the cat does not ask the cat, its behavior does not cause inconvenience to the owner;
• it is possible to skip 1-2 matings if the animal is used for breeding, but mating is not possible at the moment.

There are just as many disadvantages to taking hormonal medications. This needs to be understood when deciding whether to give them to your pet:

• such medications cannot be used frequently and for a long time;
• taking them disrupts hormonal levels, and this can lead to serious illnesses - the development of pathologies in the uterus and oncology.

Problems do not appear immediately after taking hormonal drugs. Most often they occur at the age of 3-4 years. If a cat develops endometritis or other diseases of the reproductive system, it will have to resort to castration.

What can be done to prevent HIV from developing into AIDS?

If a person is diagnosed with HIV infection, he needs to start antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible, which will suppress the replication of the virus. Those registered with the territorial Center for the Prevention and Control of AIDS are given the medicine free of charge. A doctor should select a treatment regimen and help you register. A person taking the medicine will never get AIDS and will be able to live a normal life, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a leaflet about HIV. However, the drug will not be able to completely cleanse the body of infection, so you will have to take it for the rest of your life.

– The goal of therapy is to achieve an undetectable viral load. This means that the virus is completely suppressed, but its inactive forms live in cells,” says Nikolai Lunchenkov, an infectious disease specialist at the H-Clinic University Clinic.

Sterilization

To get rid of your pet’s meticulous screams forever, it is recommended to carry out a sterilization procedure. This method is suitable only for those who do not want to breed cats.

Veterinarians now recommend neutering rather than a simple tubal ligation. This is an abdominal operation to remove the uterus and ovaries. It is done under general anesthesia.

The appropriate age for surgery is when cats start begging for the first time. That is, approximately 6-7 months. It is advisable to have the operation done before the first heat.

Pros and cons of castration:

The case for castration also holds true for males. In addition to the fact that cats start screaming when they ask for a cat, they leave marks in the apartment with a pungent musky odor. Rather than endure this, it is better to have surgery and forget about sleepless nights. Today this is the most effective way to solve the problem.

How to help a cat during sexual activity?

During this period, you can observe how the animal rubs against the legs of its owners, as well as against various objects, meows and rolls on its back. In addition, you can notice how the cat begins to mark its home. Of course, this cannot but cause certain inconveniences, so what should you do if the cat wants a cat? There are several options here:

• sterilization;
• use of special drugs;
• patience;
• knitting

Sterilization is a surgical operation to deprive an animal of its reproductive function.
It is a simple procedure that causes almost no complications. It is carried out in a veterinary clinic or at home from the age of five months. The rehabilitation period passes quite quickly and does not cause any difficulties in care, which involves the treatment of stitches, and they are usually removed on the 10th day. In addition, by spaying your cat, you eliminate the risk of her developing ovarian cancer.

There are sedatives to reduce sexual activity in animals. They can be purchased at any pet store, but you should first consult with a veterinarian so as not to harm the cat.

In the case where the cat is purebred, and mating or taking medications is excluded due to health problems, you will have to endure the time of its sexual heat. Moreover, it does not last long - only a couple of days. Caress the animal, it especially needs it during the period of its sexual activity.

Mating is the easiest way to calm a cat

And finally, mating is the easiest way to help your cat, but to do this, you must first find a suitable cat, and if the animal is purebred, then also register the mating through the club for the subsequent sale of kittens and paperwork. But the difficulties do not end there - you may need the help of a veterinarian during childbirth. And after the kittens are born, they will need some care. Therefore, this method also imposes some obligations and sometimes creates certain problems that not everyone is able to solve; moreover, it is not appropriate for everyone, especially if kittens are not part of your plans.