Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi there - I am currently fostering a 5 year old cat that went into heat 2 days ago and I wanted to see if anyone had suggestions on how to manage a cat in heat. Specifically what I can do to distract her, make her more comfortable, and overall relaxed. This is the first time I’ve taken care of an intact cat so any tips/suggestions you may have would be helpful! Thank you :)

Hi,

I had the exact same issue last year with a 5 y o foster. I had never experienced living with a cat in heat before and it was quite the situation. The good news is that it only lasts about a week or so. The bad news is that there’s not much you can do except wait it out, and, obviously, keep the poor thing under lock and key so she doesn’t get pregnant! Good luck and invest in a good set of ear plugs! At least this will be her last time going thru this agony...

 I am in no way being flippant when I say, PLEASE have her spayed immediately. There are so many cats and kittens in desperate need for homes, bringing more into the world is an unkindness and compounds the problem.

Understood! We have the surgery scheduled for Monday with the shelter I’m fostering her from. I was just hoping for some advice on how to keep her relaxed until then :)

Now I understand better. I didn't realize that you had scheduled her spay but were, in the meantime, dealing with her misery and upset and pain. I think some other people responded with some good ideas and I dearly hope they helped. My gratitude to her for caring for this girl and caring for her deeply.

Erica

Hi there! I totally understand how intense it can be - for both of you. A few tips that have worked for me:

• Interactive playtime – Laser toys or wand toys can really help burn off that extra energy.

• Warm blankets or heating pads – The warmth can help soothe her and make her more comfortable.

• Keep her space calm – Soft music and dim lighting sometimes help reduce stimulation.

Check out starting a Chewy my account, for all your pets nutrition needs

Hope that helps a bit - you're doing a great thing fostering her! 💛

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enzo Dirienzo

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