A majority of female cats 6 to 8 months old become in heat. There are short-haired cats, particularly those descended from the Siamese breed, who might experience puberty at around 5 months old, while the long-haired cats might not have their first heat experience until they are 9 to 11 months old.
Warm temperatures, longer daylight hours, and other cats being around are factors in bringing about your pet cat’s mating instincts. Peak seasons when cats mate is typically the late summer, early spring, and the “Indian summer.” But if the winter months still experience sunny and warm weather, there are some cats that could become in heat throughout the year. Additionally, exclusively indoor cats might also experience being in heat in the same way.
When mating season sets in, a female cat would cycle being in heat and out of it several times. Cats have four behavioral and hormonal stages to their reproductive (heat) cycles. The duration of these stages varies with each cat and the stage indicators overlap as well. As the mating season goes on, most female cats could start their heat cycles every 3 weeks if they do not get the opportunity to mate. Others might experience this once every 2 weeks, some every 4 weeks. Then there are other cats that only get one or two cycles within the whole season. Suffice it to say, every cat will have her cycle, and it typically repeats every fall or spring. Having the knowledge of your cat’s heat cycle and the corresponding stages will help in understanding your pet’s behaviors.
Your veterinarian Champaign, IL is a valuable resource when it comes to issues that affect your pet’s health and behavior. Learn more here.
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