At What Age Do Female Cats Go Into Heat

While a cat in heat technically means that the cat is ready for mating it s not advised to breed a kitten or allow her to get pregnant during her first heat.

Cat estrus begins as animals reach sexual maturity usually at about six months of age although some cats will go into heat as early as four months and others as late as 10 to 12 months. Male cats are born ready just kidding. The average female cat will first go into heat or cycle between 6 9 months of age but heat cycles can start as early as 4 months of age and as late as 12 months. Cats who don t mate can go into heat as often as every two to three weeks during the breeding season.

Anywhere from five to 12 months is the age range a cat can have her first heat. If you plan on having your cat spayed and are just waiting until she s old enough you may want to adjust that timetable. However there are kittens as young as 4 months old showing sexual maturity and if mated will become pregnant. Female cats may start their heat cycles at a very young age and as polyestrus beings are doomed to continue these heat cycles for life.

Female cats queens can go into heat as early as six months. Traditionally it is believed that female cats go into heat at around 6 months of age. Your sweet leggy kitten could be in hormonal turmoil well before she hits the 6 month mark. Male cats do not go into heat.

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It will be different with each cat. Here s how you ll know when she s in heat. A cat s first heat usually occurs during puberty which is between six and ten months for a kitten. Non spayed female cats can start going into heat or estrus as early as four months of age.

The average of 6 8 months of age is often given but an individual can may be. This first heat cycle is associated with puberty and a cat can get pregnant during any of its heat cycles including the first one. Unlike a feral cat that must compete for food and experiences the short days of winter a house cat has the luxury of plenty of food and artificial light. Therefore early spay and neuter is being advocated to reduce the changes of younger kittens becoming pregnant and contributing to the overpopulation problems.

March 29 2019 references approved an unspayed female cat will become sexually mature between the ages 5 and 12 months depending on how well fed she is and the day length. Short haired breeds will typically begin to cycle earlier while long haired or larger breeds may not show signs of heat until 18 months of age.