How often do cats go into heat?

Cats generally go into heat every 2 to 3 weeks. If heat cycles occur repeatedly without successful mating, the interval can shorten to 7 to 10 days, with each heat lasting about 3 to 7 days.

Driven by hormones, cats are often irritable during heat. Female cats yowl at night and may become unusually clingy or arch their backs, while male cats spray urine to mark territory and try to escape to find a mate. Therefore, once a cat is over 6 months old and her heat ends, it is best to have her spayed at a veterinary hospital as soon as possible.