Q&A How to

How to help a cat in heat calm down

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Unspayed female cats go in heat every so often once they’re old enough to reproduce. For most, this occurs when they’re around 4 to 6 months old. From then on, the cat will continue to experience a heat cycle every few weeks, a period that can last anywhere from a few days to over a week.

If you haven’t spayed your cat, she will continue to go into heat for the rest of her life. Fortunately, there are ways to help calm her during these cycles.

Signs of a cat in heat

There are several signs that your cat is in heat. These include:

Excessive yowling or mating calls that last for several days
Loss of appetite
Restless or anxious behavior
Unusual displays of affection such as frequently rubbing against your legs
Excessive grooming, especially of the genitals
Spraying or marking its territory
Persistently trying to go outside

Tips to calm a cat in heat

Introduce catnip

Catnip, or Nepeta cataria, is an herb you can give to cats. It comes either dried or as fresh catnip grass. While some cats become hyperactive or even aggressive when exposed to catnip, others become mellow and relaxed.

For a cat in heat, the calming effect won’t last long, but it can stave off the effects for 10 minutes or so. This is particularly helpful if your cat is constantly yowling or otherwise behaving in a way that’s difficult to manage.

Play with your cat

Playing with a cat in heat can distract it from such behaviors as scratching, yowling or wanting to go outside. Give your cat toys she can shred — the best are either filled with catnip or are puzzle feeders. These give your pet a better way to get out excess energy and can keep her calm for a while.

Get a heating pad

A heating pad or blanket where they sleep can help calm some cats in heat. This is because these pads give them a sense of comfort and safety.

Use Feliway

Feliway is a natural calming solution for cats, whether they’re in a heat cycle or are otherwise aggravated or anxious. It works by releasing a synthetic pheromone similar to the one cats excrete through glands on their faces when they’re feeling calm.

It comes in forms including diffusers, wipes and sprays, and is safe for pets and children. Diffusers tend to last the longest — up to 30 days at home — and have a proven calming effect on up to 90% of cats.

The great thing about Feliway is that it works on both male and female cats. It’s also effective in multi-cat households. However, it doesn’t start working right away, so it’s a good idea to start using it at least two weeks before your cat’s next heat cycle.

Keep your cat away from male cats

A cat in heat is more likely to become agitated or excitable around male cats. If you also have a male cat, it’s a good idea to keep them separate. If possible, see if you can move the male out of the house until the heat cycle ends.

If that doesn’t work, put them in separate rooms so they can’t interact. This might not completely prevent excessive meowing or other behaviors related to heat, but it can lessen them.

Keep your cat indoors

Unless you’re OK with your cat getting pregnant, keep her inside. Not only will this prevent accidental kittens, but it can help calm her, since she won’t be around other felines.

Go to the vet

If you don’t want to spay your cat, but you also don’t want her to go in heat, another option is to ask the vet to prescribe a synthetic progestin hormone injection such as Provera or Proclim. These hormones are meant to postpone or lessen the effects of the heat cycle.

Before prescribing the medication, the vet will conduct a physical examination of the cat to ensure there aren’t any hidden health problems. After that clears, you need to administer the medication by mouth, as it comes in either liquid or tablet form. To make this easier, you can hide it in something more palatable for your cat such as a Greenies Pill Pocket.

What you need to buy to calm a cat in heat

Petstages Interactive Cat Puzzles

These toy mice make sounds and have feathers and a burlap material to stimulate cats. They also hold treats and catnip, both of which can distract and help calm felines in heat.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Pet Craft Supply Premium Potent Catnip

This container of natural catnip is chemical-free and potent enough to work for most cats. You can add it to your pet’s toys, bed or a scratching post to alleviate signs of anxiety or heat.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Relaxivet Pheromone Calming Spray For Cats

This spray helps keep cats calm and reduces unwanted behaviors such as fighting or inappropriate scratching. It’s drug-free, but releases a synthetic pheromone that keeps cats calm. For best results, spray it in the main areas where your cat spends her time and reapply it every six hours.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Kaspiu Calming Collar for Cats

This three-pack of calming collars releases a pheromone that helps anxious or stressed cats calm down. It has a breakaway design so your pet won’t get caught or injured.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Catit Senses 2.0 Food Tree Cat Feeder

This puzzle feeder is designed to stimulate a cat’s natural hunting instincts, as well as slow down while eating, making it ideal for cats that need distraction, mental stimulation or are on a diet. It doesn’t spill easily and is easy to clean.

Where to buy: Sold by Chewy

OurPets North American Catnip-Filled Cat Toys

Available in seven vegetable shapes, this interactive catnip-filled toy is a great option for stressed, anxious or bored cats. It also provides a welcome distraction for those who would otherwise engage in behaviors such as scratching or yowling.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Chewy

Vetriscience Composure Calming Treats For Dogs And Cats

Formulated to calm cats experiencing a great deal of stress, these treats start working within half an hour. The effects can last up to four hours.

Where to buy: Sold by Amazon

Angela Watson writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.

Unless you’ve neutered or spayed your cat, it will go into heat. In other words, it will enter the mating season and will want to find a mate to reproduce with.

Regardless of the cat’s gender, the heat period isn’t easy for the kitty or the pet parent. Loud vocalizations and various types of problematic behavior may occur. While female cats tend to vocalize when in heat, male tomcats get more physical. They pee on carpets and furniture pieces, scratch everything, and basically mark their territory in any way they can.

And whether you own a female or a male cat, it will become unbearably restless. Calming down a cat is usually easy. However, when it comes to cats in heat, the task is a bit trickier.

How To Help Calm Down Your Cat When It’s In Heat

It’s safe to say that when felines are in heat, they can go out of their minds. Stress, anxiety, excitement, and other similar emotions affect the cat.

Here are the most efficient ways to calm your fluffy pal.

Isolation

You’ll need to isolate your pet from other cats. When cats are in heat, other felines can easily sense them. Your furball will notice any strange kitty roaming your yard. Chances are your pet will even try its best to attract the other animal.

Cut off all contact with the outdoor world. If you’re one of those pet parents who take their cats on walks, skip them. Put blinders/ curtains on your windows so your cat won’t see the possible mates waiting for it outside.

If you can’t isolate your kitty in its current surroundings, opt for taking it to a friend’s house for a few days. You can get a pet camera for the separation period and play recordings of your voice to your pet.

Keep The Kitty Warm

Get a warm towel, blanket, or pillow for the cat to sit on. You can either put it inside the cat bed or place the kitty on top of it.

This method works on most cats out there, but that doesn’t mean it will do magic for yours. Each feline creature is unique. Nevertheless, you should give this calming technique a try at least a few times before completely ruling it out.

Distract The Cat

You don’t need to ship your cat to the other end of the world in order to distract it. Sometimes something as simple as a play session with interactive cat toys can do wonders. Another option is to start petting it by hand with gentle strokes or with a soft cat brush. The idea is to find something else that will occupy your pet’s mind.

Clean Up The House

Peeing, spraying, and scent marking the house are common for both female and male cats. Thoroughly clean your house or apartment in order to get rid of any scents. Clean the litter box too. If you leave any scent marks in your home, the cat won’t calm down. Moreover, leftover scents will encourage it to keep marking the territory.

Even if you have an automatic self-cleaning litter box, you should get rid of any waste in it.

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Find The Best Pheromone Sprays

There are numerous pheromone sprays on the market. If you can’t get your fluffy pal to relax, you can opt for getting one of those.

Feliway Diffuser

The Feliway Diffuser is an undisputed best-seller when it comes to pheromone sprays for cats.

The pheromones are soothing for felines of all breeds and ages. They do wonders against stress, anxiety, and restlessness.

Feliway will keep the kitty calm and relaxed. It can be used when your cat scratches the furniture, scent-marks your home, or starts acting out in any other way. It’s also great for helping your feline furball settle down into new surroundings with strange people or other pets.

The package includes two 48 ml. diffuser refill bottles. This Feliway product is not only efficient when it comes to calming cats in heat or in general, but it also won’t break your wallet.

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Helping your cat when it’s in heat is essential. The heat cycle can last for anywhere between a couple of days and a week. If the kitty doesn’t find a mating partner, the heat cycle can repeat itself in a couple of weeks. Cats act out in various ways during this period of time, so it’s important to help them relax, as they can’t do it on their own. .