Cat Behavior Question - How Often do Cats Come Into Heat?

by Dorothy Johnson
(Nahunta, Ga. USA)

I have a cat that is about 6 or 7 months old. How often do they come into heat?


Reply from Liz (Editor): Un-spayed female cats come into heat repeatedly from mid-winter until late summer / early Autumn.

They come into heat every one to three weeks from mid-winter to the end of Summer / early Autumn. The actual heat cycle can vary from a few days to a couple of weeks.

When they're in heat they display certain behaviors - some of which can be pretty frustrating - including spraying and very frequent, loud meowing. It can also be frustrating for the cat, as she's desperate to mate. For these reasons, unless you're wanting to breed a cat, it's better to have her spayed.

Most cats will start coming into heat around 6 or 7 months old, but some can start at as young as 4 months.