What to do when your cat is in heat?

Cat’s heat cycle usually occurs twice a year. It can be quite disturbing for both the cat and the owner, especially if you do not know how to deal with it. The heat cycle is pretty much like menstruation in humans. However, our cats cannot use tampons or pads! They bleed everywhere and there’s nothing that we can do about it except to make sure that our furniture, beds and clothes are protected from the bleeding.

What to do when your cat is in heat?

This is a guide for how to help your cat when she goes into heat:

1. Keep her healthy and clean. Cleaning up blood twice a week will be a difficult task but it has to be done. Blood stains can make your cat reek, so bathe her a few times a week.

2. Keep an eye on your cat and know if she shows any signs of being in the heat or going into heat. The first sign that you have to look for is the swollen private parts right before the bleeding starts. If you see this, keep her isolated from other cats as mating might occur. Make sure that you have a vet’s number on hand because cats in heat can get aggressive from time to time.

3. Isolate your cat from other cats who are able to mate with her until she gets better or until the heat ends. A male cat will sense the scent of a female cat in heat and he will not be able to control himself. You don’t want to get your cat pregnant at such a young age, right?

4. Prepare some spare cash before you start your cat’s heat cycle, as this is the time where she’ll bleed twice a week and will need regular injections of medication like progesterone if she has not been spayed yet. If you decide to spay her, the vet will give you injections of progesterone to avoid any cysts or tumors in the future.

5. Prepare your furniture for stains and buy numerous kinds of cat litter. Clumping cat litter works best because it does not stick to your cat’s fur while she is cleaning herself up. As for the fabrics, spray a lot of fabric repellent on them to avoid stains from the cat’s blood.

6. Know what to do if your male cat goes into heat as well. It is important that you keep him inside to prevent fights with other cats and unwanted litters of kittens. If he does not fight with other cats, he will be able to mate with your cat in the heat.

7. Keep your cat away from other pets who are able to mate with her as well. As mentioned earlier, you do not want another pet’s litter inside your house, especially if this is the first time that you have a cat.

8. Make sure that there are no holes or openings where other cats might be able to enter your house. If there are any, use some caulk or other efficient materials to block them off.

9. Make sure that you have all of the things that you need before the heat starts because this will be the time where your cat bleeds twice a week for about 3 weeks before she gets better. Prepare your wallet, some spare clothes and make sure that you have all of the necessary supplies. Most of all, make sure that you are ready to hear her screaming like crazy at night or whenever she is in heat.

10. Keep your cat away from other cats during this time because they will be able to mate with them if they go out together. This will also prevent pregnancy. Your cat might get aggressive once she enters her heat cycle, so make sure you know how to deal with it before the bleeding starts.