Caring For Female Cat During Her Heat Cycles
A Note on Stimulating Ovulation in Female Cats to Ease Their Heat Cycles
Cats are induced ovulators, meaning they have to be stimulated in order to ovulate, which is releasing an egg. If ovulation is stimulated or takes place, the female cat will come into heat every two months. If ovulation doesn’t take place, she will come into heat every two weeks.
Cats are induced ovulators, meaning they have to be stimulated in order to ovulate, which is releasing an egg. If ovulation is stimulated or takes place, the female cat will come into heat every two months. If ovulation doesn’t take place, she will come into heat every two weeks.
Methods to Stimulate Ovulation in Female Cats
Q-Tip Method
- Have the cat on the floor or the table, preferably the floor.
- Have the cat in front of you, facing away from you and with her bottom facing you.
- Have a sterile q-tip. Don’t use Vaseline or any other lubrication on the q-tip.
- If she hasn’t already lowered her shoulders and lifted her bottom, stroke at the bottom of the back (or the base of her tail) to get her to lift her rump.
- When she lowers her shoulders and lifts her bottom, insert the sterile q-tip into the cat’s vagina. Don’t insert the q-tip into her rectum.
- Move the q-tip in and out or rotate the q-tip in the cat’s vagina slowly and gently.
- Move the q-tip in and out or rotate the q-tip in the cat’s vagina more quickly, but still gently.
- When she yowls, which is the reaction she gets when she is mounted and mated by a tom (intact or vasectomized), you can take the q-tip out.
- The cat will have an orgasm and roll around on the floor.
The Needleless Syringe Tip Method
- Have the cat on the floor or the table, preferably the floor.
- Have the cat in front of you, facing away from you and with her bottom facing you.
- If she hasn’t already lowered her shoulders and lifted her bottom, stroke at the bottom of the back (or the base of her tail) to get her to lift her rump.
- When she lowers her shoulders and lifts her bottom, insert the needleless syringe tip into the cat’s vagina
- Keep it in only a few seconds
- Repeat the process about 4 times during the heat
Pictured is a needleless syringe.
Don’t do or try this method when she is not in heat. Don’t try this with an unfamiliar cat. Ask and talk to your vet about this method.
Don’t do or try this method when she is not in heat. Don’t try this with an unfamiliar cat. Ask and talk to your vet about this method.
The Thermometer Tip Method
- Have the cat on the floor or the table, preferably the floor.
- Have the cat in front of you, facing away from you and with her bottom facing you.
- If she hasn’t already lowered her shoulders and lifted her bottom, stroke at the bottom of the back (or the base of her tail) to get her to lift her rump.
- When she lowers her shoulders and lifts her bottom, insert the thermometer tip into the cat’s vagina
- Keep it in only a few seconds
- Repeat the process about 4 times during the heat
Finger Acupressure Method
- Have the cat on the floor or a table, preferably the floor.
- Have the cat in front of you, facing away from you and with her bottom facing you.
- If she hasn’t already lowered her shoulders and lifted her bottom, stroke at the bottom of the back (or the base of her tail) to get her to lift her rump.
- When she lowers her shoulders and lifts her bottom, see which side the tail she holds her tail to.
- Press the index finger of your dominant hand under her tail right next to where her tail starts. If she holds her tail to the left press your finger on the right side of her tail. If she holds her tail to the right press your finger on the left side of her tail.
- Press under and right next to her tail until you feel a hollow. Don’t press on her anus or vulva.
- Once you feel the hollow, press down firmly and curve your finger a little toward yourself. Don’t press hard.
- When she yowls, which is the reaction she gets when she is mounted and mated by a tom (intact or vasectomized), you can stop pressing.
- After you release your finger, the cat will have an orgasm and roll around on the floor.
The Modified Q-Tip Method
- Have the cat on the floor or the table, preferably the floor.
- Have the cat in front of you, facing away from you and with her bottom facing you.
- Have a sterile q-tip. Don’t use Vaseline or any other lubrication on the q-tip.
- If she hasn’t already lowered her shoulders and lifted her bottom, stroke at the bottom of the back (or the base of her tail) to get her to lift her rump.
- When she lowers her shoulders and lifts her bottom, see which side the tail she holds her tail to.
- Press the Q-tip under her tail right next to where her tail starts. If she holds her tail to the left press your finger on the right side of her tail. If she holds her tail to the right press your finger on the left side of her tail.
- Press under and right next to her tail until you feel a hollow. Don’t press on her anus or vulva.
- Once you feel the hollow, press down firmly and curve the Q-tip a little toward yourself. Don’t press hard.
- When she yowls, which is the reaction she gets when she is mounted and mated by a tom (intact or vasectomized), you can stop pressing.
- After you release your finger, the cat will have an orgasm and roll around on the floor.
The Modified Needleless Syringe Tip Method
- Have the cat on the floor or the table, preferably the floor.
- Have the cat in front of you, facing away from you and with her bottom facing you.
- If she hasn’t already lowered her shoulders and lifted her bottom, stroke at the bottom of the back (or the base of her tail) to get her to lift her rump.
- When she lowers her shoulders and lifts her bottom, see which side the tail she holds her tail to.
- Press the needleless syringe tip under her tail right next to where her tail starts. If she holds her tail to the left press your finger on the right side of her tail. If she holds her tail to the right press your finger on the left side of her tail.
- Press under and right next to her tail until you feel a hollow. Don’t press on her anus or vulva.
- Once you feel the hollow, press down firmly and curve the needleless syringe tip a little toward yourself. Don’t press hard.
- When she yowls, which is the reaction she gets when she is mounted and mated by a tom (intact or vasectomized), you can stop pressing.
- After you release your finger, the cat will have an orgasm and roll around on the floor
The Modified Thermometer Tip Method
- Have the cat on the floor or the table, preferably the floor.
- Have the cat in front of you, facing away from you and with her bottom facing you.
- If she hasn’t already lowered her shoulders and lifted her bottom, stroke at the bottom of the back (or the base of her tail) to get her to lift her rump.
- When she lowers her shoulders and lifts her bottom, see which side the tail she holds her tail to.
- Press the thermometer tip under her tail right next to where her tail starts. If she holds her tail to the left press your finger on the right side of her tail. If she holds her tail to the right press your finger on the left side of her tail.
- Press under and right next to her tail until you feel a hollow. Don’t press on her anus or vulva.
- Once you feel the hollow, press down firmly and curve the thermometer tip a little toward yourself. Don’t press hard.
- When she yowls, which is the reaction she gets when she is mounted and mated by a tom (intact or vasectomized), you can stop pressing.
- After you release your finger, the cat will have an orgasm and roll around on the floor.
Other Ways to Help a Female Cat in Heat Relax
Feliway
Feliway is a synthetic cat pheromone that soothes and relaxes cats when used. It may take a few weeks of exposure before it begins to calm cats. For intact female cats, you might want to plug in a Feliway diffuser at the end of winter or the beginning of spring for whenever she goes in heat. That way, she’ll have Feliway built up in her system by the time she goes into heat.
Feliway is a synthetic cat pheromone that soothes and relaxes cats when used. It may take a few weeks of exposure before it begins to calm cats. For intact female cats, you might want to plug in a Feliway diffuser at the end of winter or the beginning of spring for whenever she goes in heat. That way, she’ll have Feliway built up in her system by the time she goes into heat.
Something Warm for Sitting On
Giving a heat pack, a warm wet towel, or an electric heat pad or blanket for an intact female cat might keep her still and calm. A microwaveable heat pad may be easiest to use, since you can reheat it quickly to calm an intact female cat when she comes into heat again.