How To Quiet a Cat In Heat?

Cats don’t bleed during heat cycles like dogs, but their behavior can get extremely obnoxious and irritating.

A cat’s heat cycle has two phases: inter-estrus, the period between heats, and estrus, the actual heat period. Although estrus lasts under a week, it can be unbearable for both the cat and the owner.

Fortunately, owners can help their felines feel better by administering natural remedies and creating a comfortable home environment.

Isolate Your Cat From Male Cats

When your cat is in heat, her main goal is to find a male cat to mate with. Therefore, the first step in quieting a female cat in heat is isolating her from intact male cats.

A common mistake of pet owners is believing that cats won’t mate if they’re related. However, cats don’t have a moral compass. Isolation is vital even if your female and male cats are from the same litter.

By keeping a female cat with a male cat, you make the female cat restless and run a risk of her becoming pregnant.

Note that female cats in heat may also be attracted to neutered cats. Although your cat won’t become pregnant from a neutered cat, you may have trouble quieting her. Furthermore, some neutered cats don’t appreciate the attention and may attack the female.

Apart from keeping the female cat in a separate room, ensure she can’t sense male cat odors. Get her individual bowls, litterbox, and toys.

Even if you only own one cat, you may notice male cats lurking in your window, attracted by your female cat’s smell.

Never leave the window open without supervision because your cat may run away. Cover the window with curtains to prevent your cat from seeing the male cats.

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies to calm a cat in heat are a temporary but effective solution. Catnip is the most popular herb used to quiet a cat that’s anxious, scared, aggressive, or in heat.

There’s no universal catnip dosage for a cat in heat. You’re unlikely to find any guidelines on the package because catnip is perfectly safe for cats, and your pet will know when to stop eating the herb.

However, it’s best to start with a small dose if you’ve never given catnip to your cat before. Alternatively, buy your cat a toy filled with catnip.

Unfortunately, catnip only works for about 70% of cats, and the effects are short-lived, lasting about 10-30 minutes depending on the dosage. Furthermore, the refractory period when a cat becomes insensitive to catnip lasts for about an hour.

Another herb to quiet a cat in heat is valerian – it’s commonly used to treat people with insomnia. Valerian’s effect on cats is similar – it makes them sleepy. The effect lasts longer than catnip’s, but the dosage should be lower.

You may also give your cat to smell dried chamomile, hops, Bach rescue remedy, or lavender. Try out different herbs and see what works better for your cat. Although the solution is temporary, it’s helpful when you have guests or are trying to work.

Other Remedies

Assuming natural remedies are of no help, you may give your cat synthetic pheromones. One of such pheromones is Feliway, which is available in sprays and plug-in diffusers and has a soothing effect on cats.

The main drawback of using pheromones to quiet a cat in heat is that they only start working after a few weeks of exposure. Considering that a typical duration of a cat’s heat is five to seven days, it isn’t particularly helpful.

Some cats in heat are restless and don’t react even to lengthy pheromone exposure. The issue is prevalent with cats exposed to male cat odors and certain breeds, including Oriental, Siamese, and Burmese.

In this case, your vet may recommend administering your furry friend medications for cats in heat that contain synthetic progestin, such as Megestrol Acetate.

Megestrol Acetate comes in the form of pills or hormonal injections. Consulting with a vet before starting Megestrol Acetate treatment is vital because, like any chemical medication, it does have side effects, including liver damage and diabetes.

Hormonal therapy is a reasonable solution for owners who would like to breed their cats in the future but need to suppress the heat temporarily.

Play with the Cat

Herbs, pheromones, or medications aren’t the only ways to help your cat during the heat cycle. Play with your cat – although that’s a temporary solution, distraction will help to quiet the cat for some time.

Any environmental enrichment will stimulate your cat’s brain and let her express her predatory instincts. Consider getting her a puzzle feeder and toys she can play with alone.

Provide Warm Areas To Lie On

Another life hack to quiet a cat in heat is giving it something warm to lie on. Ensure that your cat has a cozy bed, preferably on elevation rather than a cold floor.

Alternatively, you may provide your cat with an electric blanket or heat pad. Pay attention to the temperature in your home, especially during colder months – it shouldn’t be lower than 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Note that this method isn’t universal. Giving something warm to lie on is highly helpful for some cats and has zero effect on others. But if you notice that your cat is attracted to radiators or the TV, it may be an excellent solution.

Some cats in heat become extra anxious when confined indoors because they can’t meet their natural needs. The owner must ensure their four-legged friend has a safe and private spot to rest in.

Don’t Touch The Cat Too Much

Cats in heat are affectionate to the point it becomes a nuisance. Petting a cat that comes to your knees purring and meowing may be intuitive, but it’s counterproductive in quieting a cat in heat.

A little bit of attention can ease your cat’s anxiety. However, rubbing her too much may actually make her even more active. Avoid touching your cat’s stomach, lower back, and tail. Instead, rub her forehead and neck.

Keep The Litterbox Clean

Cats in heat may spray urine on walls, furniture, and other surfaces outside of the litterbox to attract male cats. Clean your cat’s litterbox more often to encourage her to use it instead of spraying all around.

If you notice any spray marks outside of the litterbox, neutralize the smell as soon as possible. Use warm water and a mild cleaning product to get rid of urine marks, and a vinegar solution to remove the odor.

Spay the Cat

The only guaranteed way to quiet a cat in heat is to spay her. That’s a permanent solution that brings peace of mind to both the owner and the pet. Unfortunately, many owners are skeptical about the operation.

Some people think that spaying a cat is cruel because she can never experience the joy of parentship or that the operation is painful and unsafe.

Other popular myths about spaying a cat are that the operation leads to changes in personality and weight gain. A cat’s personality will remain unchanged, but spaying will reduce unwanted behaviors and make the cat calmer.

Weight gain in spayed cats is typically caused by overeating and lack of exercise rather than hormonal changes. A correct diet and sufficient activity will help to keep a spayed cat fit for many years.

The best age to spay a cat is between seven and six months old, but there’s nothing wrong with spaying an adult or senior cat. However, the owner should wait until the heat ends.

Of course, no surgery comes without risks. Potential cat spaying complications include uterine infections and inflammation, but the risks are minimal with an experienced vet. And, of course, the operation isn’t painful because the cat will be given anesthesia.

The truth is that spaying a cat has more benefits than drawbacks, including a reduced risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. Pregnancy is significantly more dangerous for cats. Overall, spaying is recommended for all female cats that are not intended for breeding.

How Not To Deal With a Cat in Heat

Cats in heat can be exceedingly annoying, and some owners go overboard trying to get some quiet time. However, some methods can do more harm than benefit.

Never administer your cat synthetic hormonal medications without consulting a vet first. Chemical drugs may help to quiet your cat but lead to severe complications.

Be patient with your pet. Remember that the cat suffers more than you do, so don’t yell at it or punish it for being affectionate and loud. Punishment will only increase your cat’s anxiety and prolong its heat.

A google search for “my cat is in heat and won’t shut up” may reveal to you the “Q-tip method of quieting a cat in heat.” The method is strongly discouraged by vets because it can lead to reproductive tract infection and injuries.

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