Cats in Heat

Question
I have a 3 year old female cat in heat and she is lifting her tail and spraying everything.  She didn't used to do this or I didn't notice.  My other cat doesn't do this.  She also goes into heat for weeks sometimes 6 to 8 weeks.

Answer
Hello Kathy-

All cats are different when they come into heat. Your "spraying female" may be showing a sign of dominance over the other cat. If your other cat is female she is marking her area so your other female will know to stay away. If your other cat is male, she is letting him know when she is in heat regardless if he has been neutered or not. Signs of heat vary from heavy meowing to rubbing on anything and everything to spraying. Symptoms can change through the years but are always almost consistant from the first heat. You may not have realized that she was spraying. If your second cat is new to the environment that could be a good reason why your spraying female is doing this.

The best advice for a more then one cat household is to hae your female spayed. Although not everyone agrees with this procedure it would be the wise thing to do in your situation. Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer. Spaying can prevent various reproductive tract disorders and can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of serious health problems that can be difficult or expensive to treat.

As a female cat owner I understand your concern.

Actually female cats are almost always in heat or pregnant until they are spayed. While this is a bit of an exaggeration, cats are what are called "spontaneous ovulators" that means they do not release their "eggs" on a set schedule like many other mammals. So a cat will release their 'eggs' whenever she is bred by a male cat, almost ensuring that every breeding will result in kittens. Though a cat's heat cycle is between 15 - 22 days, it's hard to tell how long it lasts sometimes because they can come out of heat and go right back into heat again. The best time to spay is between these heat cycles. I can not give you a good answer on this other then a suggestion of taking your pet to a veterinarian for a further consulation.

I hope this information has helped you and your pet.

If you would like additional information on natural and herbal remedies for human and pet concerns please contact me at  wintersaurora@yahoo.com and I will be happy to assit you and send you a catalog of my home made herbal remedies.

Thank you and best wishes to you and your pets.

Sincerely,
Sharon Hubbs, AHG
Certified Natural Health Consultant & Herbalist