The word “queen” is used to describe any female cat of breeding age. A queen that is experiencing estrus, the female reproductive period (or heat), often referred to as being “in season,” will display distinctive signs that are detectable to male felines as well as to the queen’s owner.
Unlike in dogs or other animals, there are no physical changes in the queen during heat. Instead, there are behavioral changes to watch for.
Some of the signs that your cat is in heat are:
- Affection: Your pet will become more affectionate. She may rub her hindquarters against you, the furniture, or other pets in the household.
- Vocal Cues: The queen will start “calling” out. This loud vocalization may last for several days.
- Mating Position: Your cat will assume the mating position, which includes head down, forelegs bent, rear quarters raised to expose the perineum, with the tail raised and held to the side of her body. Her rear legs will tread rhythmically, as if walking in place.
- Spraying: The female may begin to spray various areas with a scented fluid.
The number of heat cycles that your cat experiences will depend on her. The usual breeding season lasts from January through September, driven by warmer temperatures and longer periods of daylight. Heat cycles can last a few days or a few weeks, with 15 to 22 days being most common. These cycles will return as often as necessary in order to result in a pregnant feline. If the cat is bred, the heat cycle will last only four days. It’s not uncommon for estrus to return as soon as two days after the last cycle. Heat cycles in cats begin anywhere from four to nine months of age and continue for the life of the cat, or until she is bred or spayed.
Cats in heat can be very annoying, especially if they are housecats. Spaying your female pet is the best solution if you do not intend for her to be bred. Domestic housecats will inevitably try to escape when in heat, often resulting in a lost, injured, or even fatal feline. Spaying can reduce this risk, as well as prevent unwanted pregnancies. Additionally, breeding can cause infections and trauma to your pet, so spaying can help avoid these complications.
Spaying your pet is humane in other ways, too. It can prevent medical problems, such as mammary tumors, from developing later in life, and it also protects against cancers of the uterus and ovaries. Your pet will also be more likely to stay home, and her temperament may improve by becoming less restless and agitated.
The only other alternative to spaying your female cat is to have your veterinarian give the animal hormones to stop the estrus cycle. Contact your veterinarian to discuss this treatment option.
