Spring exacerbation in cats
Do cats ever get spring fever? We've survived another winter and are now happily turning our cheeks to the first warm rays. It seems as if the world is transformed with the arrival of spring: the days are longer, the birds are singing mantras of reborn life, and young blades of grass are already poking through the snow. Somehow, all these little things fill us with energy and motivate us to "move the planet" even faster.
Are March pheromones only affecting humans, or do pets also experience spring fever? If you're a seasoned cat/dog owner or are just considering welcoming a furry new addition, you probably know that this is a busy time for all owners of furry little creatures.
Pet behavior
In spring, pets begin to behave somewhat unusually in their quest to find a mate. Felines are especially proactive during this period. With the arrival of the long-awaited warmth, the streets and apartments fill with their persistent serenades.
This spring surge of hormones is no accident: most animals in the wild are ready to reproduce only once a year, and in this case, the offspring will be born in the summer, giving the newborns a better chance of survival and food.
Apartment whiskers
Of course, apartment pets are a bit different from their wild counterparts: constant lighting and heating can trigger estrus and sexual activity more than once a year. Females typically reach sexual maturity at 5-6 months, while males reach sexual maturity a little later, at 7-8 months. Don't think that dogs are indifferent to the passions of love; after all, you've probably heard the expression "dog wedding season."
In spring, man's best friend may become hyperactive and even aggressive. Dogs become reproductively active at approximately 8-12 months.
What to do?
What should you do if your cat has a spring fever? Of course, you can't go against Mother Nature, but you still have a few options. First, understand that your pet's unusual behavior is due to natural needs and hormonal changes, so there's no point in scolding or punishing them; it's better to take action and ease their suffering.
Sedatives and other drugs
The safest way would be sedatives or, in other words, herbal sedatives.
Some owners often use hormonal pills or injections to enhance the effect and relieve animal anxiety.
This measure also has a temporary effect, but it is important to understand that even short-term use of hormones is fraught with various side effects, such as the development of cancer and internal organ pathologies.
Castration
If you acquired your beloved dog or cat as a pet and you don't plan to participate in breeding programs, you might want to consider a more drastic option: castration.
This decision may be made not only for the sake of sound sleep and clean parquet floors, but also for the sake of the domestic predators themselves: while the tailed gentlemen will not suffer any particular harm from abstinence, the ladies are potentially at risk of inflammation of the reproductive system.
Veterinarians recommend performing this procedure from 6 months of age for male and female cats and from 10-12 months of age for female and female cats.
If, after much deliberation, you've decided on the latter option, it's important to understand that your furry companions are now especially sensitive and require a special, balanced diet rich in minerals, vitamins, and probiotics. Alternatively, you might consider the first domestically produced super-premium food. If you believe your best friend should receive only the best, you're absolutely right.
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