What to do when your cat goes into heat?
After five months of age, your cat can go into heat and that cycle can be repeated every two months. You will probably notice some changes in their behavior: different meows, more frequent outings to the streets, apparitions of male cats near the house, and so on. Generally the cat is restless, with its tail and back lifted and the rest of its body more against the ground.
If you think there is a place where you could never escape, it is likely that during the period of estrus you will escape anyway. You can hardly prevent their flight throughout their zeal.
Trying to keep other cats away so that there is no mating is necessary, although very difficult, since the instinct of preservation of the species will lead the cat to make all kinds of attempts to escape to find a male. Likewise, isolation is a valid option. Try to keep the animals in separate places if there is a male cat in the house.
How long is the cat's zeal?
The estrus period can last up to 10 days, although it varies according to each animal. A duration between 8 and 12 days can be considered normal. In case the period extends for more than that, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
If the cat does not get pregnant, the most common is that her heat cycle occurs approximately every 2 months, but it can also be variable. On the other hand, if she is pregnant and has a baby, a month after the birth, it is possible to return to heat.
Medicines to inhibit heat?
It is not recommended to use medications for heat.
Various medications to delay or interrupt the period of estrus of the cat are available in the market. None of them should be supplied without prior consultation with a veterinarian.
The injections so that the cat does not come into heat are based on hormones and can bring with it various health problems for the animal. If they are used with the intention that the cat can still be fertile, these products are administered to delay estrus, and that is why the risk of the pet developing serious problems increases substantially.
A higher incidence of infectious processes and tumors can be found in the uterus or in the breast, as a consequence of the administration of some products of that type. In addition, if these products are administered at the wrong time (after the cat has already mated, for example), all kinds of disorders can happen, such as spontaneous abortions or abandonment of the offspring by the mother.
Many of these complications will involve a surgical intervention to the cat. You should never use this type of medication without consulting a veterinarian because it would be putting the life of the pet at risk.
Castration is the best solution
Castration prevents the cat from entering heat.
Castration is undoubtedly the best way to avoid jealousy. It is a surgical procedure performed exclusively by veterinarians, in which the ova and ovary are removed.
A cat can be subjected to castration at any age, even shortly before the occurrence of her first heat, when she is between five and six months old. If this does not happen, it is best to perform the procedure when you have had at least three episodes of heat, if possible, which will allow it to fully develop.
Providing this surgery is a very beneficial procedure for your pet. Recovery requires some simple care, such as wound sanitation and the administration of some medications that will be prescribed by the doctor.
That the cat has at least one baby is important for their health?
It is not necessary that the cat have babies. It is a myth.
Contrary to what is usually said, there is no need to wait to neuter a cat until after she has had her first offspring or her first period of heat. Your health will be perfect even if you are castrated before your first heat. In addition, castration decreases your chances of getting breast cancer. The procedure can be performed on a young cat that has not yet had calves or has not come into heat.
Castration is beneficial for the pet and also for its owner, who does not have to deal, every two months, with changes in animal behavior. In addition, it avoids the risk of having to take care of several offspring (between four and five most of the time) in each gestation. Cats reproduce very quickly and it is very difficult for one to have the conditions to take care of all the offspring or to get responsible owners for all of them.
So the recommendation is: do good to your cat, choose castration.
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