A cat's estrus: when to wait for her and what to do

On the issues related to breeding a pet, it would be nice to think about the moment you bought a furry fluffy lump. Then, it will not be a surprise for anybody that the baby is already growing up, and the instinct of procreation takes its toll. If you do not want the animal to participate in breeding, it is best to sterilize it. In another situation, the owner needs certain knowledge in order for the process of mating, pregnancy, delivery and feeding of kittens to be successful.

So, first of all, when is the first heat in cats? Puberty occurs at them rather early, at the age of about six months. However, the growth and formation of the body is not yet complete, you can not knit an animal. Felinologists recommend that the first pairing be carried out no earlier than in the third hunting period. This means that your furry favorite will be about a year and a half. The owner should remember that the first estrus needs to be endured. Drugs that suppress the manifestations of hunting should not be given to the animal, they will change the hormonal status and may be the cause of the development of tumor diseases in the future.

A little about the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system

In female cats and dogs there are paired sex glands - ovaries. Their uterus is unpaired, has a small body and two elongated horns. Developing fruits are located in them. The sexual cycle in cats, like in humans, is regular, but menstruation in a woman and estrus in an animal have cardinally opposite meanings. The principal difference between them is this. At home pets, it is a sign of the approaching ovulation and the willingness to mate and is necessary to attract a cat. Whereas in women the presence of bloody discharge is a period when the possibility of fertilization is minimal.

Let us consider in more detail how a cat's estrus occurs. The entire sexual cycle proceeds in stages, four periods are distinguished:

1. Proestrus is the time of animal preparation. His behavior changes, the cat becomes more affectionate, but the cat does not admit. She is restless, her appetite is usually increased. External genitalia slightly swollen.
2. Estrus - this is the period that we call "the estrus of a cat." She has light, scanty discharge. It should be remembered that the bloody tracks, like dogs, do not leave cats. In addition, since the animal carefully observes the hygiene of the genitals, the owner may not notice any discharge at all. It is necessary to focus on the behavior of the pet: she mewes meekly, rolls on the floor, arches, pulling off her tail and stepping over with her hind legs. In general, it becomes more affectionate and seeks communication. Urination is frequent, the appetite is usually reduced. How long does the cat live? The period of estrus lasts from 3 to 10 days. Of course, like the frequency of cycles, its duration is individual and depends on many factors: breed, season, age, conditions of animal maintenance, reproduction frequency. Ideal for coverage is the third to fifth days, although for each "lady" it is also very individual.
3. Metaestrus - the duration of this stage is an average of 8 days. The cat drives the cat away. If there was a conception, sexual instinct fades, after 58-74 days, kittens are born. Sometimes the cat's estrus resumes during pregnancy or against the background of feeding the babies some time after the birth. In the absence of fertilization, the animal enters a new cycle of reproduction, again there will be proestrus and so on.
4. Anestros - this period is characterized by absolute sexual dormancy and is most often in winter, when the light day is short.

The frequency of occurrence of sexual hunting in cats can be from once every three weeks to two episodes a year.

It is known that a cat's estrus is sometimes muffled, "hidden," in such cases, the owner may not know that she passed. If the "lady" is held in the same house as the "knight", this usually does not happen. If there are signs of estrus in the cat's apartment, they become brighter. In order to distinguish between "hidden" estrus and its complete absence, it is necessary to visit a veterinarian.