How to calm a cat during heat?

Why do cats scream during heat?

Estrus is a regular process in the life of any unsterilized cat, due to which they begin to desire a male for mating, while experiencing physical pain, which is why the animals scream.

A cat feels especially unpleasant during her first heat, since this is the first time she has experienced something like this. On average, estrus lasts 2-3 weeks, but in some cats it can last up to a month. Most often, the animal goes into estrus in the spring and summer.

So that during the first heat the animal’s condition does not worsen, any diseases do not develop, and the health of the animal and the mental health of the owner are not undermined, it is better to immediately find out how you can help the cat so that she does not scream and her health returns to normal.

Periods of estrus in cats

Estrus (scientific name: estrus) is the ovulation period in females, including cats, when they are physiologically and psychologically ready to mate and have offspring. At this time, the behavior of animals changes far from being for the better for those around them, as they try in every possible way to find and attract males to mate. Physiologically, estrus is divided into four periods. It is unlikely that the owner will be able to accurately distinguish one from the other, but an attempt can be made to determine the approximate start and end dates of estrus.

The first period of estrus lasts about two days. During this period, the animal’s appetite decreases, a slight increase in the size of the external genitalia is observed, and slight discharge appears. It is worth noting that the latter must be homogeneous, transparent and odorless. If there are any abnormalities in color, texture or smell, you should visit a veterinarian. At the same time, the cat can maintain a calm behavior.

The second period of estrus marks the cat's readiness to mate. There is an increase in the level of sex hormones, and the discharge becomes more abundant. She becomes nervous, vocal, and may walk with a quivering tail or roll convulsively on the floor. If you touch the cat's back, she begins to raise her pelvis and tilts her tail to the side, demonstrating her readiness for intercourse. This period lasts up to a week, in some cases less, and is considered the most unpleasant for both the animal and its owners, who can try to calm the cat’s heat at home.

The third period is a gradual decrease in hormonal levels and the cat’s condition returns to normal. At the same time, behavioral features characteristic of the previous stage may remain. Finally, the fourth is the rest phase, the duration of which can vary from several days to several months. The more time a cat spends outside and has the opportunity to actually mate, the more often she will return to estrus.

Calming a cat during heat using folk remedies

With such problems, there is no critical need to run to the veterinarians. You can do without medications. As is the case with humans, using folk remedies, you can ease the process of estrus in a cat and save it from suffering.

• You can make a solution from water and vinegar by mixing them together in a 5:1 ratio. After the cat drinks it, it will calm it down for a short time, as vinegar affects the animal's receptors.
• Solutions based on various herbs, such as chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, and motherwort, have a positive effect.
• If you dilute soda in a basin of water and, if the animal’s health worsens, partially dip it in the basin, this will have a positive effect on the cat, albeit not for long.

How to help a cat in heat

To alleviate the cat's suffering, there are many simple measures and sedatives that will help relieve the animal's stress and calm the pet for a while and without pills.

• To calm the cat, you should distract it with active games with various toys: plush mice, balls of thread, strings.
• It is necessary to adhere to a diet. During the day you should reduce the amount of food to a minimum, and leave a small dinner in the evening.
• In addition to reducing food, it is worth increasing the amount of water given to the cat.
• Massage, ironing in the head and neck area - all this has a positive effect on the animal’s well-being.
• If the cat's period of maximum activity occurs at night, it is worth completely isolating the cat in an empty room. If there are no irritants, this will calm the pet.
• During heat, you can try giving your pet catnip, it should help the cat, but this does not guarantee that your furry friend will calm down.
• When in heat, the best thing to do is to pay attention to your furry, to prevent loud sounds, bright flashes, and the like.
• The radical method, which requires the presence of a neutered cat, is to give the cat the opportunity to mate with this same cat. If the problem lies in the need for sexual activity, then this method will have a beneficial effect on the cat.

Sedative: motherwort for cats. How much motherwort can you give to a cat?

Pets sometimes also require sedation for a variety of reasons. The most commonly used and recommended by veterinarians is, for example, motherwort for cats. A remedy such as motherwort for cats can be found on sale today in a variety of forms.

Sometimes the owner of furry pets is faced with a situation where his calm and affectionate pet suddenly suddenly becomes angry, overly active and even aggressive. If you cannot calm him down with the usual means, for example, gentle stroking and favorite treats, then you will probably have to resort to the help of special medications or traditional methods.

By the way, most often the cause of such a change in behavior is stress in the animal. For example, as a result of a long trip, moving to a new place of residence, visiting a veterinarian, or any unpleasant procedures in a specialized clinic. A member of the feline family can experience stress even when a large number of guests visit the house. This condition usually manifests itself in the same way in all cats. They begin to hide under the bed, table or any other secluded, quiet place. In addition, the animal may refuse to eat. Even from your favorite treats. The pet agrees to eat only if the owner brings treats to his hiding place.

If the animal is unable to cope with stress on its own, then the owner should help him with this.

Some pet owners decide to simply add human-grade motherwort drops to their pet's water or food. But this is not the best option. Firstly, in this case, you can miscalculate the dose and lead to serious poisoning. And, in addition, the alcohol contained in most of these sedatives for humans will be very harmful to representatives of the cat family.

If you nevertheless decide to give your cat motherwort drops intended for humans, since no other suitable sedative drug is at hand, then you should at least reduce the dose as much as possible. It is necessary to give the medicine to the animal after or during a heavy meal.

Therefore, you should not risk the health of your pet. It is best to purchase a ready-made sedative based on motherwort extract for him. Currently, such medications can be found in almost every veterinary pharmacy, as well as in specialized stores that sell products for animals. They usually fall under the “homeopathy” section. True, such remedies do not act instantly, but after some time. They seem to have a cumulative effect. Active substances entering the animal’s body accumulate in it and then begin to act. It is for this reason that veterinarians advise giving such drugs to cats in advance before an expected stressful situation. For example, in 4-5 days.

If you want to somewhat speed up the action of the product and at the same time strengthen it, then you should choose options that, in addition to motherwort, also contain phenibut. You can ask the sales consultant of the selected store or pharmacy about this.

Conveniently, these drugs, which use motherwort as the main active ingredient, are available in a variety of forms, from which the owner can choose the most convenient for himself. For example, in the form of tablets, injections or drops. Of course, for independent use without the help of a veterinarian, it is better to choose the latter option. The drops can be given either pure or diluted (you can learn more about this from the attached instructions for the purchased drug). They are either poured onto the back of the feline's tongue or simply mixed with his favorite treats, such as ready-made wet canned food.

Actively used by many pet owners, “valerian” should be completely excluded from your first aid kit. Of course, it will quickly calm down a cat and is very loved by them, but it can cause addiction and real dependence in them.

Motherwort is included in many sedative preparations intended for pets. It would be useful for every cat owner to have such a product in their first aid kit so that, if necessary, for example, they can help the animal endure a stressful situation.

Use of medications: drops, tablets, injections

If various massages, herbal tinctures and other remedies do not help in the problem that has arisen, you should turn to various sedatives, the price of which may not differ from the prices of drugs for humans.

But can they be used on animals? It is possible, but before using medications, you should definitely consult a veterinarian so as not to endanger your cat. It is worth considering that most medications are hormonal drugs, which can negatively affect the pet’s health.

List of the most effective drugs used for estrus in cats:

1. Drops for cats during estrus "Gastrenol" block sexual arousal and interrupt estrus.
2. Anti-estrus drops “Sex Barrier” regulate the sexual attraction of cats to the opposite sex and prevent problems associated with estrus.
3. An effective remedy is to dissolve a few drops of Valocordin in water. This drug will calm the cat for a fairly long period.
4. For cats, you can use a non-hormonal drug - Suprastin tablets, calculating the dosage of 1/5 tablet per 5 kilogram of weight. The course of admission is 3 days. But there is no scientific basis for such treatment, and it may not be very effective.

“What to drink for cats when they are in heat” should be decided by specialists; you should not self-medicate. In addition, a treatment method such as “homeopathy” is considered ineffective, and what’s worse, can lead to the death of the cat.

Our recommendations for calming a cat during heat:

1. Pay more attention to your cat
   , this is the easiest way to calm a cat. Namely, hug her more, stroke her, hold her on your knees, in your arms, and this will help relieve tension.
2. You can distract your cat with games
   . The cat has an additional supply of energy, which must be released, otherwise sleepless nights are guaranteed. To do this, buy her a new toy and interest her. It is better to give preference to those games where you need to run around the entire apartment and jump very high.
3. The less food the better
   . A cat in heat has a reduced appetite and therefore should not keep full bowls of food. Veterinarians recommend not feeding the cat at all during the day, but only at night, but there should be plenty of water throughout the day and night. Fasting and cats are not compatible, so we feed our pussy with regular consistency, in small portions. As they say a lot, but a little at a time.
4. Music of the great classics
   . It is the music of musicians such as Bach or Mozart that will help your cat calm down.
5. Isolate the cat
   in a separate room; if this is not possible, then a bath will do. This method is great for minimizing nightly mating calls. Don't forget to leave a cup of water for your cat, and also put out your favorite bed.
6. Try using pheromones
   , for example, Feliway. They give excellent results on many cats.
7. Homeopathy
   . Widely used, but does not help everyone. These drugs can be purchased at homeopathic pharmacies.
8. Sedatives
   . These can be special preparations for cats or a decoction of medicinal herbs, for example, thyme, chamomile. Quite natural, safe and gentle method.
9. Suprastin
   is one of the successfully proven methods.
10. Hormonal drugs
    . There is no need to buy everything; it is better to consult a veterinarian or a salesperson at a pet store. Caution is what should come first when using these drugs. Long-term use of them causes endometritis and ovarian cysts.

If a cat endures empty heats for several years, this leads to many gynecological problems, including mammary cancer and pyometra.

So you are left with two options:

1. You can wait out two or three heat periods using our recommendations for calming your cat. But then the cat needs to be bred with a cat, otherwise you are putting the cat’s health in danger. A neutered cat can be used for one or two heats, as a temporary option.
2. Castration or sterilization is generally perceived as a desperate step and a last resort, even if the owner plans to take care of the kittens.

A cat is physiologically designed to give birth. Otherwise, despite artificial ovulation, this leads to gynecological diseases. Estrus that does not end in pregnancy causes changes in the ovaries and uterus, complicating subsequent pregnancies.

After an unsuccessful mating, the next estrus begins approximately 3 weeks later. After the kittens are born, the next heat will occur within 2 months.

Many people are not willing to tolerate a cat going into heat; this is a fairly common problem.

First of all, you need to remember that there is no need for any sex barriers, contra-sex, or anything else. This greatly undermines the cat's reproductive system. That is, it completely kills her.

During the period of estrus, it is fashionable to carry out the castration procedure. If a cat is in heat and you are no longer able to tolerate it, you should not immediately rush for contra-sex, only as an exception and once, it is better to make an appointment with a veterinarian for surgery. There is no need to wait until your brain is completely blown. But don't think that cheap hormonal medications for animals will save your ears. If you love your pet and want the best for him, then do the right thing.

We wish you many happy hours with your beloved pet.