How To Tell When A Cat Is In Heat

Introduction

When a female cat is in heat, she’ll do anything to attract a male. She’ll yowl, spray urine, and flirt constantly—either to try and get pregnant or because she can’t stop herself. But how can you tell if your own cat is in heat? There are several ways, so keep reading to find out what they are!

Cats in heat—also known as estrus—are quite different from cats outside of heat.

Cats in heat—also known as estrus—are quite different from cats outside of heat. Here are some telltale signs that your cat is in heat:

She’s very vocal. Cats in heat will meow frequently and loudly, sometimes almost constantly. They’ll also be restless, moving back and forth across the room as if they have ants in their pants (which is actually what happens during estrus).
She sprays everywhere! A female cat’s hormones cause her to spray urine on vertical surfaces during this time, so if you notice an unpleasant odor emanating from around the house that wasn’t there before, it may be coming from your cat’s pheromones instead of something more mundane like garbage or dirty laundry.
Her vulva turns bright red! The external part of a female cat’s genitals looks swollen and bright pink when she has entered her breeding cycle; this is due to increased blood flow caused by high levels of estrogen being released into her system by ovaries responding to mating pheromones present within male cats’ urine (yes—we’re talking about how cats can smell each other’s pee!).

Heat behavior

The first sign of a cat in heat is erratic behavior. Cats may start to clean themselves more frequently and begin to roll around on the ground, even if they’re not dirty. This can be a way for them to attract attention from male cats, or it could simply be a sign that something isn’t right with their reproductive system.
If you notice any signs of an overactive sex drive in your cat, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible so she can determine whether your pet needs medical treatment for her condition.

Cat in heat sound

If you have a female cat, and she is in heat, she will exhibit the following signs:

A strong odor. This can be detected by humans who are sensitive to it. The odor is similar to that of urine but more pungent. If you’re not sure whether your cat is in heat, take her over to your significant other and ask them if they smell anything unusual.
A loud purr. This is like no other purr that you’ve ever heard before—it’s quite intense and almost obnoxious sometimes! A male cat may become very attracted to this sound and follow his nose right over to her rather than doing some actual hunting for food or even just sleep… he’ll just want to stay with his mate all day long!
A loud meow or growl (or both). These sounds are also pretty distinct from anything else we’ve ever heard our cats do before—they’re very intense bursts of noise that can be unnerving for those who aren’t used to hearing them yet! They often make us jump up from our seats because we weren’t expecting such an aggressive tone coming out of our usually quiet furry friends!

How long do cats stay in heat?

The length of the heat cycle depends on the cat, but it can last anywhere from one day to several weeks. The average length is two to four weeks, and it’s not uncommon for female cats in heat to experience more than one estrus cycle in a year. Cat sexual maturity can vary depending on factors such as size, breed and even individual personality traits. Some cats reach puberty earlier than others; some will remain kittens for longer periods of time before becoming sexually mature and entering their first estrus cycle.

The timing of your pet’s heat cycle will depend on age, breed and other genetic factors such as her body weight or overall health at birth—in short, there’s no way to tell exactly when your cat will go into heat until you see those telltale signs!

Estrus Cycle

The estrus cycle is the period of time when a cat is fertile and ready to mate. During this time, which lasts about 21 days in cats, the female will exhibit signs of heat (also known as “in heat”).

While we don’t recommend bringing home an unspayed cat or allowing one to go outside unattended before she’s spayed, if you do have an unspayed female that goes into heat on her own and hasn’t been spayed yet, here’s how you can tell when your cat is in heat:

The first sign will be that she’ll start to mark her territory more aggressively than usual by urinating on furniture or other objects. She may also become restless and vocal.
As the day wears on, she’ll begin showing other signs like an increase in affectionate behavior toward humans as well as other animals—even those who aren’t her own sex! Some cats will rub up against their owners’ legs or arms; others may even purr loudly or roll around like puppies. They might also display aggression toward some people while acting friendly with others (this behavior makes sense because male felines are drawn by pheromones). Cats usually get really active during their heat cycle too—they might run around wildly or climb onto high places where they shouldn’t be going! If you see any of these signs but don’t know what they mean exactly yet then consult our guide below so that you can better understand what’s going on with them:

She may have a bright red vulva.

A cat in heat will have a bright red vulva, or external part of the female reproductive tract. You may also notice that your cat is restless, vocalizing (excessive meowing), and urinating more frequently than usual. This can last anywhere from one to three weeks following ovulation.

She will behave differently.

You may notice that your cat is acting more affectionate than usual, or has a strong desire to spend time alone with you. She may also be restless, aggressive, or vocal with other animals.

She will urinate quite often.

You may notice that your cat is urinating more frequently than normal. This is because she will be in heat, which means she’ll have an increased desire to spray urine. Also, if you have a female cat who’s pregnant or sick and needs to urinate more often than usual, she may be marking her territory when she goes outside in the litter box.

The best way to tell if your cat is marking her territory is by observing her behavior in relation to other cats. It’s also a good idea to keep track of when this behavior occurs: If it happens more often during certain times of day (for example, at night), then it could mean that something stressful has happened recently.

She will be extremely vocal.

If you notice that your cat is being unusually loud and vocal, this could be a sign that she is in heat. Some cats can get quite chatty when they’re looking to mate, due to their heightened sense of arousal. If your cat starts meowing more or seems more restless than usual, you may want to consult a veterinarian.

You may notice that your cat is spraying, is restless, and has mood swings.

You may notice that your cat is spraying, is restless, and has mood swings.
Cats will spray more than usual when they are in heat. In addition to being extremely messy and difficult to clean up, the smell of cat urine can be overpowering. If you notice your cat spraying more frequently than normal (or at all), it’s possible that she’s in heat.
While cats may immediately begin to spray after entering heat, their male counterparts usually don’t catch on for several days or weeks later—so if your female cat hasn’t yet been introduced to anyone new around the house recently (and especially if she hasn’t been spayed), it could be a sign that she is entering her estrus cycle soon!

Conclusion

We hope this article was helpful to you! If you have any questions or concerns about your cat, please leave a comment below.