When do kittens start to go into heat?

Kittens generally start going into heat between 7 and 8 months old, and by the age of one, they will have their first heat cycle. The timing can vary depending on the breed and living environment of the cat. After reaching sexual maturity, kittens usually go into heat in both spring and autumn, with an estrus cycle of every 20 to 28 days. The estrus period lasts about a week, with a mating period of approximately two to three consecutive days. After successfully becoming pregnant, the female cat will no longer go into heat until after giving birth.

Cats are seasonal multiple-estrus animals, and the estrus cycle of female cats can be divided into four stages:

1. In the pre-estrus stage, the female cat's vagina secretes fluids, and the external genitalia become congested and swollen.

2. During the estrus stage, the female cat shows anxiety and emits loud meows, similar to a child's cry, and the meowing continues continuously. When touched or pressed on the buttocks, the female cat will instinctively lift her hindquarters, and her front paws will make milk-sucking movements. If there is no male cat around, the female cat likes to rub against people's legs, often raises her tail high, and rolls around on the floor. During this time, some cats may urinate everywhere, with a strong urine smell. The female cat is in an excited state during estrus, and her appetite decreases significantly, even refusing to eat.

3. The female cat accepts the male cat's mount.

4. In the late estrus stage, these behaviors gradually decrease until the cat returns to normal and stops going into heat.

It is recommended to keep both male and female cats indoors during their estrus period to prevent them from escaping and searching for mates outside, which can easily lead to lost cats. If you do not plan to breed, you can have the cats spayed or neutered when the female cat is around 6 to 7 months old, which can improve the cat's quality of life and extend its lifespan.