DO FEMALE CATS HAVE PERIODS AND BLEED? HOW TO ACT?
Do female cats have periods? Have you wondered if your cat has periods and if she is bleeding? Or have you seen blood, and you are wondering if that is happening because of the period? Let’s find out.
Like other mammalian animals, cats have a menstrual cycle every 28 to 38 days, and thus they have a period. Their period normally doesn’t result in bleeding because cats, instead of bleeding out the uterine lining, they reabsorb it. The reabsorbing of the uterine lining is commonly referred to as “going into heat” in cats. Sometimes, there can be light bleeding; some spots may be found on the bed or other surfaces, it should be really minor, and normally it is not even seen.
Let’s see what is happening during this time.
DO FEMALE CATS HAVE PERIODS AND BLEED?
A cat owner with a female cat may have questions about the monthly period and what happens when the cat is in heat. One can wonder if female cats have a period if they bleed if it is going to happen every month, and what happens to the cat during this time.
I will make it very simple for everyone to understand what is going on with a female cat. Here are some stable data to know:
1.CATS HAVE PERIODS EVERY 3 WEEKS ABOUT: When cats reach the age of 5 months, they start getting their periods. We refer commonly as being in heat.
2.THE REPRODUCTION PROCESS IS ALSO CALLED ESTRUS: Being in heat or having the period may also be called estrus. Therefore if you read or hear estrus, you know that it means basically that your cat is in heat. Being in heat, or having an estrus cycle, means that your cat can mate and become pregnant.
oestrus ( /ˈiːstrəs,ˈɛstrəs/) Learn to pronounce noun, noun: estrus: a recurring period of sexual receptivity and fertility in many female mammals; heat.” a mare in oestrus.“
3.CATS DO NOT HAVE MENSTRUAL CYCLES AS HUMANS: Humans have periods of bleeding because of the shedding of the uterine lining. But Contrary to humans, cats do not shed outside and, therefore, do not bleed. They reabsorb the lining.
Uterine lining: The inner layer of the uterus (womb); the cells that line the womb; anatomically termed the endometrium. This tissue is normally shed monthly in response to the hormonal changes of the menstrual period. (Ref. Medicinenet.com)
4. CATS DO NOT BLEED: Since their period is not going through a shedding, they do not bleed. However, sometimes there can be a little bit of blood lost. It should be really minimal; maybe you find some drops around the house. If your cat bleeds a lot, it is time to have her checked up.
5.OBSERVE YOUR CAT PERIOD TIMES: Once you see that your cat is in heat, you can figure when again she is going to have another period; in this case, if you see a little bit of blood, you can figure out why. Cats are very vocal when they are in the heat; they put themself in a mating position, with their rear upwards and other signs.
So, Do female cats have periods? Not as in humans, as you can see, it is not a “traditional period.”It is important to recognize the signs of heat or estrus cycle in your cat.
Your cat is going to show a different behavior throughout that period. If you see those signs and it happens that there is light bleeding, you can be assured that it is due to her period. In most cases is not going to be any bleeding. But her behavior can be erratic, like in male cats.
FEMALE CATS HEAT SIGNS
When a female cat goes into her period or goes in heat, she will start showing a different behavior and act erratically. So what are the signs to look for to check if your cat is in heat or not?
Here the list of female cat heat signs:
- VOCALIZATION: This may be the most evident sign; your cat suddenly starts to meow and howl; she wants to call or signal male cats that she is available. She is looking to mate. She can become very insistent and loud.
- SHE IS AGITATED: When a cat is in heat, she has many hormones in her system. She is trying to mate, and she would be restless in her search. She may be pacing back and forth, trying to go out, open doors, and so on.
- LOW CRAWL: You may have seen cats doing it already; they walk with a lowered stomach and raised butt. She is preparing to mate.
- WANTING TO GO OUT: It is not uncommon for your cat asking you to open the door; my cat goes toward the front door and meow, looking at me in the hope I open the door for him. They know where doors and exits are, they will try to get out, or they are going to demand you do.
- TOO MUCH GROOMING: She may clean too much of her private parts due to the period’s discomfort and its effect on her body.
- INCREASED AFFECTION: Your cat may come to you to get cuddles and scratches from you. She may be unusually affectionate. If she hasn’t done it before or is not an affectionate cat, it is usually happening because she is in heat.
- MARKING TERRITORY: She may pee around the house to mark her territory. Even female cats can do that if they are in heat. If she starts doing it, it means she is having her period, and she is in heat.
- SHE MAY EAT LESS: Due to her period and the need to mate, she may come to eat her food much less. It is like when humans are in love; the thoughts are not on the food.
- ROLLING ON THE FLOOR: Your cat may roll on her back several times, and she can do it often during the day; she tries to rub herself on any surface to release a bit of the pressure from the desire to mate. She has not become an acrobat suddenly; she is in heat.
- RUBBING ON HER FACE: She will try to rub her face on your hand, on objects, and everywhere. When you see a period where she is doing it a lot, she is in heat.
- TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION: She has only you to interact with; she will try to get your attention often, being all over you, wanting to be petted. If you see her doing it more than usual, it is because she is in heat.
Those are all signs that should tell you when your female cat is in heat. So, if she is acting like this and you find a little bit of blood, it may be that she is bleeding because of it. If it is just a little bit, there is nothing to worry about.
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CAT IS IN HEAT?
When a cat is in heat can be annoying in many aspects, your cat is relentless, noisy, needy, she can become an escape artist, and she can have a major impact on your furniture.
So what to do during this period of time? Of course, the best solution is to get the cat spayed at some point. Short of this, you have to interact more with your cat and make her comfortable. Here somethings that you can do:
- PET HER AND CUDDLE A LOT: You have to be patient with your cat during that period and spend the time to give her cuddles and extra petting, especially on-demands. Your cat may come to you often, reaching for your hand to pretend you pet her. My cat does this multiple times a day, so you have to bear with your cat and help her through. I like to pet my cats. Therefore it is not a struggle, sometimes it can be a bit annoying if you are working, but there is nothing better than a little cuddle with a cat.
- PERSONAL SPACE: Some cats may like to go somewhere alone and cool down; if you try to touch them when they are in this state of mind, they may swing at your and bite you. It is not because your cat is mad at you; she needs some space.
- WARM: Some cats like to have a warm place to read when they are in heat. You can try to move their beds near the heater or use some water heater under her blanket.
- PLAY WITH THE CAT: spend extra time playing with your cat; she needs attention and can release some energy, which can be a good distraction.
- EXTRA TOYS: You may want to get her some extra toys that can entertain her, maybe a moving mouse or a rolling ball. Anything she can spend her time with.
There are also environmental things that you can do, to prevent unpleasant surprises:
- LITTER BOX CLEAN: Clean often the litter box so that she is not going to spay around the house in case she feels that she has to mark territory. My cat, fortunately, when in heat, goes to the litter box, meowing and complaining, of course, but he keeps the habit.
- NATURAL REMEDIES TO CALM HER DOWN: Some people advise using catnip or other calming herbs to keep the cat calm without overdoing it, of course.
- CAT PHEROMONE SPRAYS: Cat pheromone sprays can have a calming effect on cats; it is something you can try if your cat is really agitated.
- WATCH YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS: if your cat can escape from doors and windows, you have to keep them closed or keep the cat in another room. They will try to go out when they are in heat.
Those are some tips. Cats can give us extra work, but they are very rewarding. They go through periods as well, and it is important to know them and know what can be done.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Here some related questions to “Do female cats have periods?” and related answers:
- Do female cats have periods after being spayed?
Cats that have been spayed should not have periods and should not go in heat. Going in heat and periods are coming about with hormones produced from female cats’ reproductive organs.
Those are not there anymore after being spayed. If you see that they are in the heat after the surgery, it can be incomplete surgery. You have to bring your cat back to the vet for inspection.
It can also be other medical reasons that can create hormones able to send your cat in heat. In this case, you have to bring the cat to the vet still.
- Do cats get period cramps?
Fortunately, our kitties will not get cramps; their period is not like a human period; there is no shedding involved, and thus no cramps. Cats have other symptoms to deal with during their period.
- How often do female cats have periods?
Cats have their periods every three weeks, sometimes for two weeks. So it is not a thing that happens once a year. It is a repeating cycle every month.
- At what age do cats stop going into heat?
Cats have periods all their life; they do not have menopause-like humans. This means that cats can go in the heat all their life. Of course, the older they become, the less drive they have.
CONCLUSION
Do female cats have periods? I hope we were able to answer all your questions. If you want to add something or add anything, please write it in the comments below.