A cat “in heat” means she is fertile and ready to mate. It’s a normal reproductive phase in unspayed female cats, and it usually comes with strong behavior changes like loud meowing, restlessness, rubbing, rolling, and holding her tail to one side.

Quick Scoop

  • What it means: Her body is in the mating cycle, so she can become pregnant.
  • Common signs: Loud calling, extra affection, rubbing on people or furniture, rolling around, crouching with the rear raised, tail shifted aside, and sometimes more grooming or spraying.
  • When it starts: Many cats begin around 4 to 12 months old , often near 4 to 6 months.
  • How long it lasts: A heat usually lasts about 4 to 6 days , and if she doesn’t mate, it can repeat every 2 to 3 weeks during breeding season.

What to do

If your cat is not spayed, the only permanent way to stop heat cycles is spaying. Until then, keeping her indoors and away from unneutered male cats can help reduce stress and prevent pregnancy.

When to call a vet

If she seems in pain, has unusual discharge, won’t eat, or is acting very unwell, it’s worth checking with a vet, because those signs are not typical of a normal heat cycle.