Cats have a pretty good reputation for being the quiet and collected type, especially when compared to dogs. And generally Snickers, our only girl cat, is the quietest in the bunch. In fact, she has anxiety issues and spends a lot of time in her cardboard cat house.
However, when Snickers was in heat, she was a totally different cat.
It only happened once, before we got her spayed, but it was pretty obnoxious. She writhed on the floor like she was at a Nicki Minaj concert. She kept raising her little cat bottom up in the air, especially when we were petting her. She was desperate to go outside.
And she was LOUD.
Like, banshee wails in the middle of the night that would wake me from a dead sleep, kind of loud. No amount of burying my head under my pillow would block it out. And sure it was driving me crazy, but I couldn’t help feel bad for Snickers too. She was obviously uncomfortable, and I wasn’t sure what to do to help us both get through it.
Video — Help! My Cat is in Heat and Won’t Shut up!
By the end of this article, you’ll be more prepared than I was when your cat goes into heat. Not only will you know what happens when your cat goes into heat and how to help her, but also how spaying works and when and why you should spay your female cat.
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Furhaven Pet Cat Bed Heating Pad
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✅ What Happens to My Cat When She’s in Heat?
A young female cat will have their first heat before they are even a year old, usually between six and ten months old. During heat cycles, your cat will be receptive to mating with other male cats, in the hopes of becoming pregnant.
(By the way, if you want to sound intelligent at social gatherings, you can refer to it as “the estrous cycle.”)
There are plenty of signs that your cat is in heat the estrous cycle, including:
- “Mating call” (yelling)
- “Mating position” (butt wiggling)
- Excessive grooming
- Restlessness
- Displays of affection (not only toward you, but toward the furniture as well)
- Marking the walls and other vertical surfaces
- Loss of appetite
- An intense desire to leave the house
✅ How Long Does Cat Heat Last?
A typical heat cycle will last four to six days, but will vary depending on your cat. Her heat could last as little as one day or as long as three weeks.
Why is My Cat in Heat all the Time?
If you could swear that your cat is constantly in heat, it’s not your imagination.
Here’s the thing: Cats (like most species) have a strong biological need to reproduce, so if your cat didn’t get pregnant during her first heat … well, nature will just have her try, try again a few weeks later. And then again a few weeks after that. And so on.
This is stressful for both you and your cat, so I highly recommend that you get her spayed after her first heat (if not sooner).
✅ Are Cats in Pain When They’re in Heat?
We don’t know for sure, since we can’t ask them, but mostly likely your cat is just very uncomfortable and distracted, most than being truly in pain.
✅ How Can I Help My Cat in Heat?
Sure, the very loud meowing might be driving you crazy and keeping you awake at night. But you also just feel bad for your poor little kitty and want to help her.
Here a few things that may help calm and quiet down your cat during heat:
- Giving her lots of petting and brushing
- Playing with her
- Keeping the litter box extra clean
- Catnip
- Cat Heating Pads.
- Feliway Calming Pheromone Diffuser
- Calming music
- Calming Collars
- Patience
Furhaven Pet Cat Bed Heating Pad
Yeowww Catnip Tub
Feliway Classic Cat Calming Diffuser Kit for Cats
What is the Best Age to Spay a Cat?
According to the ASPCA, it is generally considered safe for kittens as young as eight weeks old to be spayed or neutered. In animal shelters, the surgery is often performed at that age so that female kittens are good to go by the time they get to adopted.
Ideally you should get your cat spayed some time before 4-5 months old. (Snickers was a stray that we found — or rather, who found us — which is why we weren’t able to get her spayed before her first heat.)

What Does Spaying Do to a Cat?
According to the MSPCA, spaying is a 15-20 minute procedure that’s done under general anesthesia.
Your cat will have an incision made into the abdomen just below her belly button into. Her reproductive tract, both ovaries, and the uterus are completely removed through this incision, and then the incision is closed with two layers of stitches under the skin that will dissolve and be absorbed by body over time.
According to Pets WebMD, Spaying your kitten when she’s 3-6 months old will virtually eliminate the risk that she will ever develop mammary cancer and also prevents many different kinds infections and cancers. There are also studies showing that spayed cats live significantly longer.
It’s a myth that spaying cats causes them to be overweight and less active.
Can You Spay a Cat in Heat?
If your cat is in heat and you absolutely need it to stop, you could consider calling your vet for a spay appointment. Some vets will go through with the surgery, but others will want to time the surgery between heats to avoid complications in the surgery.
If you need to have your cat spayed during heat, expect to pay a premium.
How to Keep Male Cats Away From Female Cats in Heat
If you have a cat in heat, you may notice the stray toms might come a-courtin’ in the dead of night. They’re attracted to your cat’s pheromones and meows, so the best thing to do is cloister your cat. Like a princess in a tower, block the exits, close the windows and blinds, and do everything you can to keep your cat comfortable.
The wrinkle in this plan is you may have male cats already at home. Hopefully they’re already neutered, but even so, it may be wise to separate the boys and the girls. Choose a room (preferably with a lock) and designate that the ‘boy’s room’. Make it complete with a litter box, food, water, toys, and a robe for you so they don’t smell the girls on your clothes. This way you can still spend time with all of your cats, without anyone getting overly frustrated.
Are cats in Heat Attracted to Human Males?
There’s a fair amount of testimonial evidence of cats in heat being ‘attracted’ to male humans.
Pheromones are pheromones after all, so if you have a pubescent boy in the house, your cat may notice and try and get extra attention. Your cat doesn’t have a human fetish, mind you, but if it’s irritating, it’s just one more reason to get your cat fixed.
✅ Why is my Pregnant Cat Acting Like She’s in Heat?
There’s a couple answers to this question, so I’ll try and address them separately.
- If the pregnancy wasn’t confirmed by a vet, it’s possible the breeding didn’t ‘take’ and she’s back in season. It’s a totally normal thing to happen, though uncommon for cats. It may be best to make an appointment with a vet if this is your suspicion.
- If the pregnancy was confirmed, heat signs could be infection or complications in the pregnancy. Look for other indicators of illness, including discharge from the genitals, and call your vet.
Cats are induced ovulators, and can have litters from multiple fathers, so she just may be ready to go another round.
More often than not, a cat’s heat cycles cease once they become pregnant, and won’t start again until they give birth.
Why is My Spayed Cat in Heat?
Bad news … it’s possible (although unlikely) that your female cat might
According to VCA Hospitals, Ovarian Remnant Syndrome can happen when ovarian tissue remains inside the body after a female cat is spayed.
This remaining tissue can produce estrogen, triggering signs of heat in the cat even though she’s spayed.
This condition can be diagnosed by your vet taking a swap from your cat’s vagina while she’s showing signs of heat, possibly combined with a hormone stimulation test and/or an ultrasound.
In your cat does, indeed, have Ovarian Remnant Syndrome, she can be treated by having the remaining ovarian tissue surgically removed, ideally when she is in heat.
Bringing a cat into your life is a big responsibility, and having your pets spayed and neutered is part of that responsibility. But now if your cat goes into heat, you’ll know what to do to keep them comfortable, and how to avoid a whole new litter of responsibilities. Good luck!