Symptoms of a Female Cat in Heat

Female cats who have not been spayed will eventually go into heat. If you plan to breed your cat, this is the ideal point to begin doing so. If you do not wish to breed your cat, you should try to spay her before she enters her first heat, or immediately after her first heat if you cannot spay her beforehand.

  1. Affection

    • Just before your female cat (or queen) begins to go into heat, she will become more affectionate than usual. This will most likely include rolling around on the floor frequently, and rubbing her rear end against objects such as furniture, other felines or pets in the household, and humans, including her owners.

    Licking

    • Also immediately preceding her entry into heat, otherwise known as estrus, your cat may spend more time than usual licking herself, and especially her genitals. Be careful though, because heavy licking of the genital area is also a symptom of a urinary tract infection.

    Howling

    • The most tell-tale sign that your female is in heat is her howl, or call. This howl will be very loud, long, and is designed to let any males in the area know that she is in heat. It will most likely sound very different to her usual vocalization, and it can continue for several days unless your cat is able to mate.

    Mating Position

    • You cat will assume the mating position---that is, crouched to the floor with her butt held high in the air, tail extended straight above that, and her head bent down toward the floor. She may also tread in place with her rear legs, or propel herself slowly in a circle around a small area while holding this position.

    Spraying

    • Your female may also begin to spray if she cannot mate or is not spayed when her estrus begins. The spray will smell much stronger than normal cat urine, and she will want to spread it on available vertical surfaces such as furniture or walls. This urine contains high amounts of estrogen to let any male cats that may smell it know that she is in heat.

    Frequency

    • If your cat does not mate or is not spayed, she will continue to go into heat at least once a month, or sometimes as often as every two to three weeks, for several months out of the year. Cats as young as four months can begin to go into heat.