If you do n’t alter your raw female person kitty , she ’s go bad to go into heat — quite often , actually .

So much so that when Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Margot Vahrenwald is asked how often hombre go into heat , she not - so - jestingly says , " perpetually . " Unspayed cats can go into hotness as often as every two to three weeks . This frequent cycle can head to behavioural changes and health issues for your pet . Here ’s what you need to know , let in hint on how to avoid your true cat bewilder pregnant .

How Long Does a Cat Stay in Heat?

If an indoor cat is n’t neuter , she ’ll go into heat every two to three weeks , each cps lasting about three to five days , says Vahrenwald , the possessor of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center in Denver , Colo.

The oestrus cycles will remain until your cat is eitherspayed , which Vahrenwald recommends , or she getspregnant . The cycle per second will get going around when your computerized axial tomography is four to five month old , which is why Vahrenwald enunciate quat owner should get their cat spay close to the six - month chump .

What Happens When Cats Go Into Heat?

Heat cycles occur when a cat ’s body is hormonally ready and receptive to becoming significant . During the cycle , your cat may be more vocal in the evening if she smell potential checkmate out of doors and need to go out to them . Vahrenwald says she might also be more willing to have her rearward end petted and may even scratch it on her owner .

Some cat who are in passion will micturate more often or spray it onto vertical obstacles . This is because their pee containshormones and pheromonesthat help draw manful cats . Feline date habits are eldritch but effective . You might even see unfamiliar male cats begin appearing in your yard .

Outside of the strange lav habit and the presence of tomcats , Vahrenwald says it might be hard to separate if your Arabian tea is in heat .

cat lying on back looking at camera

Guido Mieth / Getty

" It ’s not super obvious , " Vahrenwald pronounce .

Do Cats Bleed While in Heat?

No , kat should n’t hemorrhage when in heat . If that , or anything else unexpended or distressing happen , contact your veterinary .

Vahrenwald say that unless you wantkittens , you should keep your cat inside — away from likely mate — during her warmth cycle . But her best good word is to neuter your big cat and void heat hertz all together .

Should You Spay Your Cat to Keep Her From Going Into Heat?

If you want to avoid the supernumerary cat-o'-nine-tails pee appearing around your house ( and external thelitter box ) , the inquisitive virile cat count for a checkmate , and the disbursal of an unplanned litter of kitten — yes , spaying your African tea is a good idea . In addition to the issues that crop up around your house if your CT is not spayed , consider the conditional relation on a large scale . Overpopulation is already an issue , and the speedy power at which cats can procreate makes neuter your African tea well worththe price of the procedure .

Vahrenwald point out that unchanged cats can have up to three litters a class . That ’s a lot of cat , but it quickly leads to even more . Cats have no qualm about incest , so litters of kittens can lead in even more kittens without spaying and neutering . According to the Spay and Neuter Action Project , two " unchanged " cats mating can end up with 400,000 descendants in six years — and that ’s why animal advocates point totrap - neuter - return programsas a way to help reduce savage Caterpillar population .

Cats who are not neuter " really can make a population blowup , " Vahrenwald says . Talk to your vet for more info about how and whyspaying and neuteringcan help your kat hold out happier , tidy lifespan .

Our Organization . Spay and Neuter Action Project .