How to Tell If Your Cat Is in Heat

Co-authored by Jean Johnson

Last Updated: February 5, 2024 Approved

An unspayed female cat will become sexually mature between the ages 5 ½ and 12 months, depending on how well-fed she is and the day-length.^{[1]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.} Unlike a feral cat that must compete for food and experiences the short days of winter, a house cat has the luxury of plenty of food and artificial light. This means that while feral cats have a breeding season, with kittens born in the spring and early autumn, your house cat can go into heat at any time, and will probably do so every three to four weeks. The behaviors of a cat in heat can be alarming if you can't recognize the cause, but these instructions will allow you to determine whether your cat is in heat.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Recognizing Behavioral Signs

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Listen for calling. Another term for being in heat is "calling." This is because the female becomes very vocal and will frequently walk around the house wailing or otherwise vocalizing.^{[2]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.} This can sound like a plaintive, distressed cry, and can be loud and persistent enough to keep you awake at night.^{[3]
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Jean Johnson. Cat Expert.}
- If your cat is naturally chatty all the time, vocalization is not necessarily a sign she is in heat.
- When a cat is "calling," her cries typically becomes much louder and more persistent, and occur alongside other behaviors noted below.
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Watch for restless behavior. Restless behavior and an inability to settle are characteristic of a female cat in heat.^{[4]
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Jean Johnson. Cat Expert.}^{[5]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- This restlessness usually occurs at the same time as calling.
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Expect increased affection. A female cat in heat is often much more affectionate than she would typically be.^{[6]
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Jean Johnson. Cat Expert.} If you cat is naturally stand-offish, this will usually change when she is in heat.^{[7]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- While in heat, your cat may rub around your ankles in such a persistent way that she becomes a trip hazard when you're trying to walk.
- This behavior will also manifest in the rubbing of her cheeks and chin (where her scent glands are located) against furniture, and especially entrance and exit points such as door frames.
- When in heat, a cat's scent changes subtly, and she enjoys spreading this around to advertise to that she'd like a mate to come visiting.^{[8]
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  Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
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Pay attention to your cat's tail. A typical sign of a cat ready to mate is the tail deflection reflex. This simply means that when you rub her lower back, especially over her pelvis and tail base, the female sticks her bottom in the air and moves her tail to one side.^{[9]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- This reflex is her way of making it easier for a male cat to gain access to her vulva to mate.
This is a behavior in which the cat flattens her front quarters to the ground while sticking her bottom in the air, and then crawling along the floor in this posture.^{[10]
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Jean Johnson. Cat Expert.}^{[11]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
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Watch for rolling. Some female cats in heat will roll around on the ground and wail at the same time.^{[12]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- Understandably, if you don't know this behavior is entirely normal, it can appear alarming, and is a common cause of a panicked phone call to the on-call vet. However, this is not a sign that your cat is in pain.
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Watch for excessive licking. When a cat is in heat, it is typical for her vulva to become swollen. This mild swelling is uncomfortable, and will likely lead your cat to spend a lot of time washing the area.^{[13]
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Jean Johnson. Cat Expert.}^{[14]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- This swelling is too slight for the casual observer to notice, so don't expect to see a physical difference.^{[15]
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  Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
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Expect the cat to disappear. Even home-loving cats get adventurous when in heat. If a male cat doesn't come calling, then she is likely to go wandering for a day or so to seek one out for herself.^{[16]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- If your cat is not spayed and you don't want her to get pregnant, keep her indoors during her heat and lock the cat flap so that intruders can't get in.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Understanding Your Cat's Reproductive Cycle

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Understand the estrus cycle. Female cats are polyestrous, which means they go into heat many times a year. ^{[17]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- This is in contrast to dogs, which experience a diestrus cycle, coming into heat only twice a year. ^{[18]
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  Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- While in heat, your cat's womb will become swollen as its blood-supply increases in anticipation of a pregnancy. You will not be able to observe this, however, as there are no external signs of this process.^{[19]
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  Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
Even young cats can go into heat. "I was worried my kitten had something wrong with her because she seemed to be in heat at 5 months old. I learned that this isn't all that unusual, and I was able to get her fixed right away." - Darla N.

Listen to your cat. "My female stray started howling all the time and I didn't know why. This helped me figure out she's in heat. I scheduled her for an appointment next week to be spayed!" - Christina M.

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Understand the role of seasons. The breeding season of feral cats is between spring and late summer. This means kittens are born away from the harshest of the winter weather, when their chances of survival would be reduced.^{[20]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- Artificial light can fool a pet cat into thinking it is not winter. As such, if your cat spends much time indoors, the changing of seasons will have little or no effect on her reproductive cycle.^{[21]
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  Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}
- Expect a cat that lives indoors to come into heat all year around.
The reproductive cycle of a female cat is, on average, 21 days. Of these three weeks, expect her to spend as many as seven days in heat.^{[22]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}

Expert Q&A

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Question

Is it painful to the cat when she goes into heat?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

No. Cats sometimes roll around and yowl when they are in heat, but this behavior is meant to attract a mate. It is not a sign of pain.

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Question

Do they pee once they are in heat?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

This is a tricky question because a female cat in heat does produce hormones which she passes in her urine, so she does value her pee as a way of advertising she wants a boyfriend. This can show itself as urine marking in the house. However, the signs are pretty similar for a urinary tract infection, which needs attention from your vet. If your cat has developed strange toileting habits then it's safest to get her checked over.

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Question

Can I spay my cat while she is in heat?

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Veterinarian

Expert Answer

Yes, although it can be more dangerous. Some vets do charge more for the surgery if the cat is in heat.

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Tips

Keep your cat indoors and away from any potential mates when she is in heat, unless you want kittens.

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Cats normally remain in heat for four to seven days.

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Due to the immense issue of overpopulation resulting in countless homeless and euthanized cats each year, you should spay your cat unless you are a professional purebred cat breeder.

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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Watch for behaviors like excessive vocalization, restlessness, and affection, as these are signs your cat is in heat. Her personality may seem different.
Schedule your cat's spay surgery promptly if you don't plan to breed her. Heat cycles are stressful, and continuous breeding is unhealthy.
Talk to your vet about birth control options if you need to delay spaying for any reason. There are some short-term options.
Female cats in heat often roll around and stick their bottoms in the air. Don't worry, this is normal mating behavior.
Separate male and female cats, especially kittens, if you don't want litters of kittens. One cycle is all it takes.
Keep an unspayed cat indoors while in heat so she can't wander outside and get pregnant. Lock the cat flap, too.

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Warnings

It is not normal for a female cat to have a vaginal discharge during estrus, so if you notice either blood or a yellow-green discharge while your cat is in heat, contact your veterinarian immediately.^{[23]
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Reproduction in the Dog & Cat. Christiansen. Publisher: Bailliere Tindall.}

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