How long are cats in heat?

Updated 24/04/2024

How long are cats in heat? Well, when a mommy cat and a daddy cat love each other very much… actually, let’s go back a few steps. A ‘going into heat’ is all part of the complicated kitty language to let other cats know it’s breeding season. But how long does it go on for? Can indoor cats go into heat? And do spayed cats go into heat?

All great questions, ones we’ll hopefully answer below. Whilst the courtship of cats isn’t a particularly romantic affair - lots of hissing, growling, and general feline aggression - it’s still im-paw-tant to understand when the breeding season starts and how long it can last.

Remember, if you notice any odd or changeable behavior in your feline family, be sure to alert your vet immediately. Whilst some weird cat behaviors are simply cats being cats, some strange symptoms can be a sign of another underlying illness. It’s always better to be overly cautious!

Right, let’s learn a few things about the birds and the bees, and understand how long are cats in heat.

How long do cats stay in heat?

Or, how long does a cat's heat cycle last? First things first, we must point out that only female cats technically go into heat. It is also referred to as the estrous cycle as this is when a cat’s body has its highest estrogen levels. Estrogen is a hormone (also found in humans) that prepares a cat for fertility and potentially baby kittens. Aw!

How can you tell if your cat has started their heat cycle? Well, firstly, any neighboring male cats within a mile radius (we’re not exaggerating) might start appearing on your doorstep. Alongside this gang of furry groupies, your female cat may also start to:

• Increase their vocalization - expect loud yowls, cries, and meows (known as “calling”) all intended to attract cat mates.
• Increase their affection towards you - probably the best symptom of a cat’s heat cycle! Whilst they may just be feeling the love, the extra rubbing and bumping is a sneaky way to spread their scent.
• Spray urine around the home - yeah, not so cute. This is another way of alerting suitors of their readiness to start cat dating.
• Show signs of menstruation or bleeding in their litter box - this should only be a very small spotting of blood, but always check with your vet first. 
• Put their furry butts in the air and gives it a little wiggle - cat carers either find this weird, funny, or both. But, as you can probably predict, this is another way to indicate their availability. 
• Arching their backs, being restless, low crawling, and showing signs of general discomfort can also be signs of being in season, sometimes it can be hard to differentiate between being in season and medical issues, so if in doubt, check with your veterinarian. 

And people these days complain about dating apps, try being a cat in heat!

How long is a female cat in heat?

Just like humans, a cat’s estrous cycle varies from kitty to kitty. However, they usually come into season each year between Jan - October and within that time have several cycles averagely lasting 7 days, roughly 2-3 weeks apart. Female cats will have several heat cycles in one breeding season, meaning unspayed cats can have many litters of kittens every year. The breeding season can also last for months!

According to PetMD:

“The number of daylight hours typically has the largest impact on when cats will reach sexual maturity. Cats normally go into heat when there are 14-16 hours of daylight (natural or artificial). In the Northern hemisphere, this falls from mid-January to mid-October.”

Yikes!

Do male cats go into heat?

Quick answer, no. Heat cycles in cats are only found in those born female. All the males have to do is listen out for some intense yowling and follow the scent of urine. Lovely.

At what age do cats go into heat?

As always, this will vary from cat to cat, but the average age of a cat in heat is 6 months old. But, you can sometimes notice a female cat go into heat at as young as 4 months old. On the flip side, some female felines won’t reach sexual maturity until they’re 18 months old. If you’re planning to not spay your cat, be sure to keep an eye out for heat cycle behaviors from the youngest age.

If you’re ever worried or concerned your kitty hasn’t reached cat puberty (yes, that is a thing), talk to their vet and see what they recommend.

Do spayed cats go into heat?

Speaking of spayed, do spayed cats go into heat? Nope! The operation to spay a cat removes all of their reproductive organs, meaning they’ll no longer experience heat cycles and your furniture and garden can hopefully remain urine-free.

Can you spay a cat in heat?

Technically, a vet can spay a cat in heat, however, it’s often not recommended. With so many kitty hormones racing through their bodies, it’s best to let the cycle pass naturally and then take them to have the operation. But, in some cases, if spaying needs to happen immediately, your vet may decide to do this when they’re in their estrous cycle.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lily

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lily Richards BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lily qualified from Liverpool University in 2011 and spent 5 years as a veterinarian working in mixed animal practice. As Lily’s passion for exotics and exploring more complicated small animal medical cases developed, she stepped into small animal-only practice. By 2018 Lily was leading a busy branch of a large hospital practice with a fantastic team, enjoying working on both surgical and medical cases. Since falling poorly in 2021 Lily has found a new passion in medical writing. Sharing medical knowledge and writing for the public is a particular passion. 

Purr parents who are also Premium and Standard TrustedHousesitters members have free access to our 24/7 Vet Advice Line, so if you’re ever worried about any new furry behavior this line is always open to you. Even if you’re not (yet) a member, you can still visit our Community Forum if you have your own experience or advice on cat breeding seasons. Join the conversation with other cat carers and feline fanatics!