Is this cat in heat?

artyjill

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Hi

As l have always had male cats or ones that have been spayed  l am not to sure about  it.  As  most of you know Daisy was,nt socialized when l got her and as she has improved a lot she still wont let me catch her and won't go in her carrier and l don't want to spoil what she is doing plus l use a wheelchair. I was going to wait a bit longer before l had her spayed.

Two days ago she started yowling is the only word l can call it, she is very talkative normally but this is lot louder. Do they lose anything as years ago a friend told me they did but looking around on the web. l haven't seen any thing. She is a indoor can so that is good.

She has learned to go on my  bed now so need to know.

Does anyone know if there is a UK website were l can buy some strong gloves as am going to try touching her.

Jilly
 
 
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Columbine

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Yowling is very definitely heat. It's very loud and insistent. Is she more interested in outside too? Or rolling around on her back a lot more? Those are other signs.

I font know about specific websites, but gardening gloves or thick sheepskin gloves should be plenty thick enough, and not to hard to find. I've used sheepskin riding gloves for boxing a semi feral we care for when she's needed the vet. They work brilliantly, but aren't the cheapest...I had them anyway for riding. The brand is SSG and it's their deerskin gloves code 4650. Mark Todd winter (thinsulate lined leather) gloves also work well but are a little thinner. The Mark Todd gloves are on amazon uk, the ssg ones seem only to be on ebay in this country now. Gardening gloves will be cheaper and easier to find though.
 
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artyjill

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She isn't bothered about going out as she doesn't know about it but rolling about on her back she is doing a lot. Thanks for telling me as l would have never known. When she is doing it l always want to rub her tummy  but she just runs  if she sees me coming near her.

 Jilly
 

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Don't try and rub her tummy (however tempting) until she's really relaxed with you touching the rest of her body. She's showing trust (and that she's in the mood for love :lol3: ) by exposing her tummy - kind of a 'cat hug'. It's not an invitation for a tummy rub. Some cats never allow their tummies to be rubbed, no matter how much they like cuddles elsewhere. Cali (avatar pic) was my (late) cream bsh. He would always 'attack' if anyone tried a tummy rub with him, even though he loved cuddles elsewhere. On the other hand, his brother (my blue bsh) loves tummy rubs. It just depends on the cat.
 
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artyjill

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Hi

No i won't be rubbing her tummy  as she won't let me close to her, would love to stroke her but it will take time with her not being socialized. I just think of all the other things that she does now and that's in 8 weeks. I was thinking at first that nothing would change but it  has. She loves to be in the same room as l am now and when i talk to her,  her eyes never leave my face and only two weeks ago l as keeping my head down away from her.

Thanks  Jilly
 
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artyjill

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Daisy was coming  on great l just had to get her coming to me and let me stroke her but she started to run away into her safe room again. When l am on the PC l just have to turn a little way on my PC chair and she has gone and she is peeping around the door. I only have to walk on the opposite side of the room and she is gone. She has her unhappy face on from when she used to be terrified. She won't eat her treats off the floor and l was hoping she would be taking them out of my hands now.

She came on heat  last Monday and was making a din but l used to answer her in a softer tone and she used to stop and then  talk to me  how she does normally . She was only yoweling for 4 days. I was wondering if it was because of  being on heat but she is still running away. She runs when i throw her treats to her. The other cats l have had  were always spayed early on but as l can't catch her its impossible to catch her for her carrier. The vet said its best to leave it till she has settled down as it might undo what have managed up till now.  She is a indoor cat thank goodness, Anyone got a miracle cure for her.

Jill
 

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I don't have an answer for you. I do know that the heat cycle just runs in an almost constant loop once it starts - cats barely get a break from it. Hormones make some people act a little crazy; it wouldn't surprise me if the same were true for some cats. She might benefit from flower essences (ie Jackson Galaxy's Spirit Essences range or Bach flower remedies ). Composure liquid or treats might help her settle a bit too. Sadly, there's rarely a miracle cure where animals are concerned - just like people really. I know it must seem like forever, but it all needs to be no big deal in your mind. The more desperate you are for professional the more anxiety you will project. She will settle in time...its just a long process because she wasn't properly handled before you got her. :hugs:
 
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artyjill

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Thanks for your answer, we have got to the bit in the middle and she has stopped yowling so it was about 4 days which isn't to bad but now she has started shedding her fur so l wish she would let me get close to her them l can groom her. When l had my Persian l used to groom her and was her bathing her

eyes every day so am used to it. The other night l had left something in my room in the night so came to get it and l noticed Daisy was in there so was waiting for her to run but she did;t and let me walk real close to her , even that small thing made me think  we were turning the corner but in the morning when l got up she was running as ifshe didn't know me.

So still more patience  needed    

  Jill
 

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I think the thing to keep in mind with all animals is that progress comes in fits and starts - its all too easy (for me, anyway ;) ) to fall into the trap of 'we'd got 'x' far yesterday, so today should be 'x+1' etc' (hope that makes sense). Animals are not machines. I know I'd have saved myself hours (probably years :lol3: ) of heartache if I'd just kept hold of that simple fact. It really will be one step forward, two steps back, or (as is often quoted with horses) two good days and a disaster! When you get discouraged, just look back to when you first got her and how far you've come. Cats work to their own schedule. The full, affectionate and loving bond will come when she's ready. Just think how much more it will mean when you do finally get there :)
 

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Honestly, if you can find someone who can catch her and get her to the vet to be spayed now it would be better. If you do it after she trusts you she'll really backslide, and hormones just make cats nuts. She'll probably settle down a bit after being spayed so that could help with her socialization. Those of us who work with feral cats have found this to be true :).

But, yes, until she's spayed she'll keep cycling in and out like that. Cats don't ovulate until mated so they don't have a set heat period like dogs do.
 

Columbine

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Honestly, if you can find someone who can catch her and get her to the vet to be spayed now it would be better. If you do it after she trusts you she'll really backslide, and hormones just make cats nuts. She'll probably settle down a bit after being spayed so that could help with her socialization.
That's a really good point. If someone else catches Daisy and takes her for spaying she won't connect the experience with you. Very often, when we've taken cats to the vet, the person they get mad at is the person who puts them in the carrier. I've lost count of the number of sulks I've been subjected to for doing the dirty deed :rolleyes:
 
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artyjill

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Thank you so much for your reply, l am going to keep it in my inbox so its there to remind me every time l think i am not going to get any further with Daisy.

Jilly 
 
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artyjill

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A GETTING ME DOWN QUESTION

I did post a question 'is that heat' well before ,now l know it is, she is on her second one after a week and half break between them,this is louder day and night.

The problem is getting her to a vet and  they only do it when she isn't on heat. But as some of you know that my short hair wasn't socialized  when l got her 16 weeks ago. I am still trying t o get her to trust me. But this last heat has sent her back to the terrified stage. The worrying thing is that l can't lift her up to put into the carrier, if l walk close to her she shoots of into her safe room.

She is really not feeling great and i seem to have gone backwards with her, if she would only let me touch her it might feel better for both of us.

I just can't see an end to this as she is only getting a  few days between, is there anything l could get to calm her down. I did think the vet could give them something to either stop one or just to make her a little calmer, does anyone know about this or have l been dreaming about it.

      Jilly
 

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Some vets will prescribe a mild sedative to assist with crating and transportation. Some vets will spay in heat cats too - tnr programmes demand that the feral is spayed when it's caught - there's no guarantee of getting the female at the right point in her cycle. It might also be worth seeing if you can get a vet (or even a vet tech) to do a home visit - especially if they don't want to prescribe without seeing Daisy.

Have you tried Composure treats or liquid on her? They're not like a veterinary sedative, but as she has gained more confidence in you thet might be enough to tip the balance.
 
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artyjill

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I have never heard about Compuser or the other one. I used Bach flower remedy with one of my Persians l used to have. It was just for travel but it didn't do a lot to help. Have used Feliway on different things fo Daisy but haven't seen any difference when i don't use it.

Are you in the UK  as anywhere else it might not be available, l Will do a search for them.

Jilly
 

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Ok. First of all, do you use the Feliway plug in diffusers or just the spray? I've had little to no success with pheromone sprays, but the plug in really has made a difference.

Composure is available on Amazon UK. It's listed as 'Vetri-Science Composure Feline'(treats) and Vetri-Science Composure Liquid'. You can also get a product called Zylkene. It looks to be very similar in composition to Composure, but is in tablet form.

With Bach Flower Remedies, the key really is getting the right blend. I suggested the Spirit Essences range because it's all pre made blends for different situations. Based on what I know of Daisy, I think the following remedies would suit her :-

Mimulus
Star of Bethlehem
Water Violet
Walnut
Honeysuckle (?)
Rock Rose (?)

I have a question mark by the last two because I'm less sure about them for Daisy. They won't do any harm (if the wrong remedy is given its just excreted via the urine), they just don't fit her symptoms as perfectly as the others. Basically, they may help or they may not. I will say that I've had great success with Bach flowers with my cats, dogs and horses - the key is making the right choice for the animal and situation.

To use the remedies you need to get a 30ml mixing bottle. Put 2 drops of each remedy into the bottle then top up with water. Give 4 drops 4 times a day. You can also add 1 drop of each individual remedy to her water bowl. You need to persevere a little with flower remedies - its not instant, but it's well worth trying.

It's worth noting that if you go to
they will custom make the blend for you - definitely a cheaper option.

Good luck with Daisy. I hope some of these suggestions help her.
 
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artyjill

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I used the Feliway plug in and the spray, have got her carrier out today and put some spray in it. She went up to it and was smelling it which is more than she did when l last brought it out.

That was the only good bit today.

With not being able to get near Daisy l will have to use liquid in her food.  I did like the great feedback there was about Composure, do you think its a good match for Daisy. I was hoping to start it quickly so l get her neutered but if the heat is coming every  other week l think it will be after the next heat.

Next problem is finding a taxi that handles pets as a lot don't. I had to stop driving when my reactions got worse. Its quite a big carrier so its impossble to have it across me and work my wheelchair.

Just seen my bed and it look's like Daisy has had a fight on it as it looks like my duvet has been in a wheel lol

   Jilly
 
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artyjill

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I forgot to ask this on my last email,

On your last post you put ( its worth noting that if you go to  ) and no word at the end.

Thanks for all you help,

       Jilly
 

Columbine

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Oops - it was meant to be a link :anon: I'm not the most technically minded person when it comes to computers. http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/shop/treatments_uk.htm was the link I was talking about.

I've not needed to use Composure, but I do think Daisy would benefit from it. I've used calmers for traumatised horses a few times, and they really can make a huge difference. The feedback on Composure is so positive that it's definitely worth a go. :nod: Nothing available without prescription is instant, but I would expect that you'd see a difference fairly quickly - within a week or so at a guess.

It's great news that she's feeling a little more relaxed about the carrier. Just sniffing it is huge for her :clap:

You should find that taxis are more willing to transport cats in carriers than they might be with, say, a dog on a lead. It's worth calling round the local cab firms now to find out which of them would be willing to transport Daisy with you. You've mentioned, I think, that you have care workers who come in to assist you. Is there any milage in asking one of them to help with transport? Or do you have any friends or family nearby who'd be able to help.

You're doing so well with Daisy. It's been a hell of a ride for you both so far. I really do sympathise, and I get how much harder it is when you have limited mobility (I'm nowhere near as bad as you, but between fibromyalgia, mild scoliosis and regular muscle spasms that pull my spine and/or pelvis out of line, I know what it's like to have pain and movement restrictions).

Hang in there. It will come good. :hugs:
 
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