How long is a cat generally in heat?

Hi, this is Mabel's owner again.

Mabel has been in heat since we gave her kittens away last week on Wednesday. It basically started the minute the last one left. And yes, we intended to get her spayed but didn't know we would have to worry about it so soon after nursing.

I was just curious how long a cat is generally in heat? The two males that have been hanging around haven't been here today and I wondered if it was over already.

She gets spayed tomorrow. She is, however, most certainly pregnant again. She's a stray and is too wild to fence in. And those male strays, well, I chased them out of the yard a few times. They wait for me to leave and then come right back, but it was fun just the same.

They usually stay in heat about a week and then go into heat every 3 weeks.

Yes, females can get into heat a short time after giving birth. They will usually stay in heat for about a wekk or two and cycle every 3 weeks, like Sandie said. But if the female is mated, she will go out of heat, which is what happened to your cat.

You may want to read this article:
http://www.thecatsite.com/health/preg.html

It's about pregnancy and the heat cycle.