What functions does the meowing of a cat or cat perform?
Cats literally meow from birth. For what? This is a way for kittens to tell mom that they are hungry or cold. Adult cats use meowing during the mating season when they are looking for a partner. Animals can “talk” to the owner or another pet, and the intonation of the voice changes depending on the mood of the cat. Thus, a loud “meow” expresses a certain demand, and a drawn-out “mrrauu” expresses a greeting for a pet. Cats use meowing to complain, be indignant, ask to be fed, and attract attention.
Dreams are what causes meowing
It is known that cats can have dreams just like humans. They can be good or bad, and it is quite difficult for the owner to understand which ones. Depending on the emotional state of the animal, in a dream it perceives visions calmly or becomes active. It happens that a cat purrs, sometimes meows in its sleep, and often also moves. The animal can move its paws or tail. Often, in addition to meowing, a cat also hisses and snarls. Such a reaction will mean that she cannot see anything good in her dream at the moment. In this situation, she needs help to awaken.
If the cat sleeps calmly, even meowing, and kneading the air or bedding with its paws, this is an indication that he is dreaming of his childhood, when he suckled his mother. The cat only gets pleasure from such dreams and should not be disturbed.
Duration, frequency and manifestations of estrus in cats
The period of sexual activity is associated not only with age, but also with the time of year. Hence the term “March cat”. It is especially difficult for owners whose six-month-old pet coincides with the spring period. At this time, females are most active. A pet in this state is capable of the following unpleasant actions:
- attack the owner;
- howl during the day and at night;
- jump out the window.
The animal does everything it can to get out of the house. The pet’s brain at this moment is geared only to performing the reproductive function. An animal may not show signs of sexual desire for a year. The most aggressive period lasts about two weeks after the onset of estrus.
First symptoms:
- The animal refuses food;
- Goes to the toilet frequently;
- The female develops discharge from the genitals, and organ enlargement occurs.
Cats are less aggressive than cats during the acute breeding season, but still their behavior can infuriate the most patient person. For a month they can disturb with loud screams, scratch and even bite the owner. A cat without a cat begins to rub against the furniture. Plus, during the day the animal wriggles and gives no rest to its owners.
Is a cat really sleeping when it meows?
Pets can deceive their owner by pretending that they are fast asleep, while they themselves are simply resting, with their eyes almost completely closed. In such a situation, if the cat has decided that it is time for him to get his portion of attention, the request will be expressed as follows: he begins to meow without opening his eyes.
At this moment, the person is completely confident that his friend is fast asleep, and the cat may begin to meow even hysterically - the way it is used to doing this during moments of activity.
Why does a cat meow very loudly and what to do about it?
If a cat meows loudly at night, this may signal an desire to mate. There are a number of other reasons. For example, the pet lacks attention or is stressed. Perhaps the cat has a sociable character and is naturally “talkative.” If such behavior is not typical for your pet, you should be more attentive to it - a change in behavior often signals an illness.
Cats are screaming - the cat is being called, cats are screaming strangely - they are looking for the cat
If an adult cat screams all the time in a bad voice and walks around the house, not finding a place for himself, it means he is looking for a cat to mate with. If the animal is not castrated, the “concerts” will be repeated periodically. There are two solutions: castrate (sterilize) the pet or wait until the end of the mating season. A male cat without reproductive organs (and, accordingly, sex hormones) will not stop screaming, since such behavior is inherent in nature. In this way, animals communicate to members of the opposite sex that they are ready to mate.
What to do and how to wean it off?
If a pet who has always had a calm demeanor suddenly begins to perform at night, and this behavior persists for several days in a row, it is recommended that he be seen by a specialist. In other cases, you can do this:
- If an uncastrated cat screams at night, the owner can either endure it or let the animal go for a walk. As an alternative, you can use special medications that help reduce the craving for procreation. But it is worth considering that such remedies do not always help and cause irreparable harm to health.
- If a castrated cat screams at night, what to do depends on how long ago the operation was performed. If a little time has passed since the surgical intervention, it is recommended to simply wait until the hormones finish their effect.
- There is one sure way to teach a kitten to sleep at night - just before bedtime, you can feed your pet heavily (preferably meat). Digesting food requires a lot of energy and strength; closer to night the animal will sleep soundly.
- If a cat is crying out of boredom, the owner needs to communicate and play with her. This will lead to the animal being exhausted during the day and sleeping “like the dead” at night.
- In the evening, the cat can be given a walk in the fresh air.
A walk will be beneficial . Important! As you understand, there are no 100% ways to stop a cat from yelling at night. The only thing that can be done is to understand the reason for this behavior and eliminate it.
Is a cat really sleeping when it meows?
Pets can deceive their owner by pretending that they are fast asleep, while they themselves are simply resting, with their eyes almost completely closed. In such a situation, if the cat has decided that it is time for him to get his portion of attention, the request will be expressed as follows: he begins to meow without opening his eyes.
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At this moment, the person is completely confident that his friend is fast asleep, and the cat may begin to meow even hysterically - the way it is used to doing this during moments of activity.
Why does a male cat continue to scream after castration or sterilization?
Castration or sterilization is the optimal solution to the problem of a pet’s nightly cries if they are associated with sexual instinct. The best age for an animal to undergo surgery is 1 year. If you spay or neuter your pet later, the behavioral skills may become fixed and the cat will continue to yell out of habit. The first week after castration, the animal continues to scream in search of a partner, because it takes time for hormonal levels to change.
If enough time has passed after castration or sterilization, and the pet still continues to organize nightly concerts, the veterinarian may have performed the operation poorly. Sometimes some of the gonads remain in the body, and they produce hormones that awaken the sexual instinct. If you suspect this state of affairs, you should contact a veterinary clinic.
Why do cats howl?
Interesting question, so let's find out! For some reason, I already hear from my beloved readers: “Spring has just begun, the month of March has arrived!” And this answer will, in general, be correct. But cats howl, sorry, not only in the first month of spring! Read the article!
The first thing we want to remind our readers of. Cats never do anything for nothing! And any sound they make is necessarily addressed to someone. Most often to the owners, if we are talking about a domestic cat. Experienced owners immediately understand where the wind blew from and what exactly your pet needs. We won’t analyze the usual “meows”, but will move straight to the characteristic low-pitched sounds. That is, to the banal howling of a cat. What lies behind it?
Hunger. Rarely, but it happens. In case of emergency. If your cat rolls around like a cheese in butter and howls at the same time, then we’ll discard this reason.
Boredom. Probable cause. Especially when, due to your busy schedule, you often leave your pet alone. And you don’t just leave - but leave you alone with yourself, not caring about leisure. Some animals experience loneliness relatively normally, and some are literally ready to climb the wall. In our case, they howl sharply and protractedly. Out of boredom and hopelessness. What to do? Keep your cat busy with something interesting. Buy some toys. Provide access to the windowsill. Do something fun on your balcony or loggia. Finally, buy a “cat town”!
Call of hormones. That same reproductive instinct! The month of March, with the mention of which we began this article. Indeed, cats, under the influence of hormonal changes, are able to produce truly terrifying sounds in timbre! Nothing can be done about them. My Murzik, for example, was constantly doused with water from his balconies by his neighbors. The effect was short-lived! What can you do? Spay or neuter your pet. These measures will help, at least partially.
How not to behave
Of course, when it seems that you have taken all the measures - fed, watered, caressed, survived the sterilization period, and the cat still screams at night, then even the calmest owner will lose his nerve. But under no circumstances should you use violent measures against an animal or shout at it. After all, a cat is a very smart creature; it has a sense of revenge. And how she will take revenge is unknown.
In addition, cats are also proud animals, they will not tolerate any violence against themselves, it is impossible to achieve anything with the help of force, you just need to try to show patience and attention. Only in this case is it possible to obtain a positive result.
When is it necessary to consult a veterinarian?
If your pet is restless, you need to pay more attention to it. It is important to spend leisure time together, timely satisfy the basic needs of the pet (feed, water, clean the tray). If the pet's behavior does not change despite all the efforts of the owner, most likely the reason lies in the disease. It is important to contact a veterinarian in time, especially when there are other symptoms besides meowing. The doctor will conduct an examination and prescribe the necessary treatment, which may include the use of medications and sometimes surgery.
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After meal
Meowing can also mean that the animal is in pain, especially if it is nervous, and the tone is not similar to usual, when the cat is simply communicating with you or begging for something. If your cat meows after eating, the food may have caused some unpleasant sensations; in this case, it is better to consult a veterinarian before complications arise.
But it could also be that she is simply thanking you, or is pleased that she ate well. This is usually done by pets who are already prone to being “talkative” and like to meow from time to time. Why are they doing that? One scientist, in his research, quite seriously claims that cats simply really like the sound of their own voice, so they like to listen to it often. Moreover, regardless of the pleasantness of the sounds, sometimes it happens that the cat meows hoarsely, disgustingly, but this can still bring them joy. Some can even pretend to have a conversation with their owner if they are asked questions with the appropriate intonation and if you enjoy listening to the sound of a meowing cat.
Sterilization
Sterilization is considered a cardinal method of solving the problem, which has its opponents and supporters. However, despite all the disadvantages, sterilization is the only long-term and guaranteed way to rid an animal of sexual desire and fertilization. There are two types of sterilization:
- surgical;
- chemical
In the first case, the procedure is irreversible and involves removal of the uterus or ovaries. Chemical sterilization of cats gives a temporary effect and is based on the administration of hormonal drugs that suppress the functionality of the genital organs responsible for reproduction.
Hormones often provoke the occurrence and development of cancer and diabetes, which must be taken into account when choosing one method or another. The chemical method of solving the problem also includes radiation exposure, which is considered one of the safest for animal health, but, of course, irreversible.
After operation
Injections for cats instead of sterilization in excellent health allow them to restore sexual function in the future, while drastic measures are aimed at the absolute cessation of sexual activity in animals.
Signs that a cat is wandering
A cat in heat causes a lot of trouble to its owners. The average duration of a cat's heat is 5-7 days.
There are also temperamental individuals that can walk for 10-14 days every month. The first time a cat begins to ask for a male cat is at the age of 6 months, but this is too early for mating. The characteristic symptoms of estrus are immediately noticeable:
- friction of the pet against objects - often, for a long time;
- loud screams with inviting notes, often at night;
- more affectionate behavior with the owner and others;
- refusal of food (the cat may not even eat its favorite treats);
- frequent urination, especially if there is a cat nearby;
- when stroking the tail area, the animal protrudes its back part, twitches its tail, and bends its paws;
- clear fluid is discharged from the vagina.
Symptoms may vary between individuals. There are animals that walk almost unnoticed, and the owner finds out about the heat after pregnancy. But more often the first signs are pronounced.
Why is this happening?
Hormones. During the period of sexual activity, unsterilized cats and female cats thus begin to communicate their desire to procreate. In addition, a loud cry is a powerful signal to the opposite side, which indicates that the sexual partner is ready for direct contact. If this is the only reason for cat screaming, then there are few methods to combat this phenomenon and you have to wait until the end of this period.
Disease. In cases of screaming in an old cat, this may symbolize painful manifestations and psychological disorders that arise due to age-related changes in the animal’s body.
If the cat is not old, then his cry can be a signal that he has injuries or pain in the abdominal area. In this case, it is necessary to carry out examinations, and if the stomach is swollen, hard, and the cat reacts inadequately, you need to consult a specialist.
Helminthiasis can also cause this reaction due to the fact that their presence can cause intestinal obstruction, which leads to discomfort in the animal.
Or can be a way to attract attention , a way to ask for food. Cats need affection, and if the owner spends most of the day outside the house, then when he appears, the pet thus tries to show his affection. To prevent this situation from happening again, you need to leave your pet food for the whole day and a favorite toy.
In this way the animal shows its anxiety and concern . This can symbolize changes in the weather, and also be a premonition before the onset of some event.
One of the instincts that is characteristic of a cat is the fight for territory. By screaming, the animal makes it clear to the other cats that this is its living space and there is no place for others here. You can observe a screaming cat after changing your place of residence.
A cry can be a manifestation of sadness . When a kitten appears in the apartment, he begins to yearn for his usual surroundings and for his mother, and he pours out his loss in a loud cry.
Screaming can be a reaction to the behavior of the owner. This is due to the fact that when a kitten grows up, it becomes an adult animal that has its own character, habits and disposition, which may not suit the owners very much. Constant persecution of a pet provokes it to display a defensive reaction. To calm the cat you need to change your attitude towards him, and he will calm down.
Why don't cats sleep at night?
Below we invite you to consider the most common reasons why a cat may not sleep and meow at night.
Natural instincts
The meowing of a cat gets on the nerves of many people.
If you remember from whom domestic cats originated, it is not surprising that for them, activity in the dark and a passive lifestyle in the daytime are their usual daily routine. Add to this the fact that small domestic predators spend most of the day, in most cases, alone - and how can you not fall asleep from boredom, it becomes clear that in the evening, when you return home, your cat wakes up, literally and figuratively. She is ready to hunt mice, and in the absence of any, to her meowing serenades. Do you need something to entertain yourself?
By the way, experts conducted research and they were able to prove that
Even domestic cats for several generations in a row, who have not seen the street and do not know the need to get their own food, adhere to the above-described daily routine: they are awake at night and sleep during the day.
So, before you bring a kitten into your home, weigh the pros and cons of this issue. Are you ready to put up with cat activity at night?
Stress
The nervous system of cats is complex, and is similar to a delicate musical instrument. If you upset him, expect mournful serenades. In a word, if something upset your cat during the day or put it into a state of stress, it may not let you sleep at night. If stressful circumstances drag on for weeks or months, you may experience chronic sleep deprivation. And the more you scold the cat in this situation, the more the stress and its consequences will worsen.
Lack of attention
If you pay too little attention to your cat during the day, then in the evening she may remind you of herself by starting to meow pitifully and preventing you from sleeping. Therefore, try to create a ritual for yourself before going to bed - petting, feeding the cat, playing with it, in a word, showing it how much you love it. Having bathed in the rays of your attention and love, the cat will calm down on its own and allow you to rest without any problems.
The desire to assert oneself
If a cat has a timid and fearful character, then during the day she can hide in the corners, but in the evening, with the onset of darkness and silence, she can fully try to realize her instinct - to show that she is the mistress of the house. During the day, your relatives, noisy children, and other pets prevent her from doing this, but in the evening the cat walks around the territory and tells everyone that these possessions are hers.
Disease
Cats cannot speak, and in order to attract our attention to their ailment, they can only meow. If you notice that the cat is meowing and this has nothing to do with its real need, it cannot find a place for itself, and hangs around in the corners - it looks like the cat is sick. And in order not to guess what’s wrong with her, the most correct thing would be to take her to the veterinarian. The earlier the better.
Illness may cause your cat to meow
Sex instinct
During heat, cats can meow mournfully, thereby calling for a male cat and annoying their owners. If you don’t want to hear this meow and have problems with kittens, it is better to sterilize the cat. As for cats, since they are always ready to reproduce, their meowing is more like a call from a male, in the hope that the cat will hear him. Castration can solve this problem, but... only if a cat that has not been out for a walk is castrated. If the cat has already been mated, then his memory stores pleasant memories, and he can continue to call the cat, and even try to mark the territory.
Melancholy and anxiety
Unless your cat is neutered, and you are sure that his health is in order, but he still yells and becomes agitated, you need to reconsider. Pets often anticipate some kind of trouble or natural phenomena. It is known that cats often have premonitions of bad things. This is confirmed by a large number of real stories about how a pet saved a whole dog from death seven times. For example, they reported an upcoming earthquake. But this is sometimes extremely rare.
A more common option is ordinary grief. An animal may simply feel sad if one of its owners has moved far away or died.
Often a shabolda screams after her cubs are taken away from her. They are especially worried about urine if the kittens were very small. After all, animals are also capable of experiencing emotions and suffering not only physically, but also mentally. In this case, their cries can only stir up sympathy. If you understand that this is the reason, the illiterate should scold the pet. It’s better to feel sorry for him and caress him.
Dreams are what causes meowing
It is known that cats can have dreams just like humans. They can be good or bad, and it is quite difficult for the owner to understand which ones. Depending on the emotional state of the animal, in a dream it perceives visions calmly or becomes active. It happens that a cat purrs, sometimes meows in its sleep, and often also moves. The animal can move its paws or tail. Often, in addition to meowing, a cat also hisses and snarls. Such a reaction will mean that she cannot see anything good in her dream at the moment. In this situation, she needs help to awaken.
If the cat sleeps calmly, even meowing, and kneading the air or bedding with its paws, this is an indication that he is dreaming of his childhood, when he suckled his mother. The cat only gets pleasure from such dreams and should not be disturbed.
Veterinary methods
Modern science suggests not to injure the mustache and not rack your brains with the question of where to give the kittens. There are several ways to calm a cat that is asking for a cat. These are drugs that reduce hormone levels and have a calming effect on the animal. More radical measures are resorted to when such methods to calm the animal do not have the desired effect.
Medications for solving the problem of estrus in pets include:
- Herbal infusions (“Cat Bayun”);
- Drops (“Anti Stress”);
- Suspensions;
- Pills;
- Various injections (“Covinan”).
Before you decide on the choice of product, you should consider that they all have side effects on the animal’s body. Making decisions on this issue on your own is dangerous for the health of your pet.
Common reasons
A veterinarian and a zoopsychologist will help to identify and eliminate the reason for meowing at night in the absence of visible reasons. They will identify and help overcome problems. But more often, owners are able to cope on their own, because a cat yells at night for a limited number of reasons.
Sexual hunting
The most common reason for crying at night is sexual hunting. A cat is a predator; it feels best at night, so calls from a partner occur at this time of day. Of course, man domesticated this type of animal and instilled in them comfortable habits. Therefore, despite its instincts, in a calm state and mood the domestic cat sleeps at night, often near its owners, but when the sexual call takes its toll, screaming cannot be avoided.
The animal is in pain
The reason for screaming at night may be a painful condition. It can be caused by inflammatory diseases in the joints, nausea and vomiting due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of stones in the bladder and other problems. If the cause of sexual anxiety is ruled out, it can be difficult to determine whether a pet is experiencing pain or not.
Causes of pain concern include a bloated abdomen, vomiting, inability to empty the bladder, diarrhea, or constipation. In such situations, the animal calms down slightly when the owner gets out of bed at night, turns on the light and pays a little attention. A cat that is in pain is reluctant to be handled and may hiss and bite. The behavior should alert the owners, and the animal should be shown to the veterinarian without delay.
Longing, anxiety and boredom
Cats can become depressed and bored. These two sensations are mixed. A cat rarely misses an absent family member. As a rule, it is enough for a domestic cat that nothing has changed in its usual life; it is fed and petted. And if something has changed in the animal’s life, for example, the decor, furniture, a child has appeared, the cat has been restricted from visiting a room that was previously open, then the owner may be faced with a bouquet of emotions consisting of anxiety and melancholy.
Why does a cat scream at night?
The cat yells at night: reasons
- Hormonal surges.
If your pet is not neutered, most likely the reason for night crying lies in a hormonal boom. Cats often start screaming in the spring. They feel the call of instincts within themselves, hear the cries of their relatives from the window, and romantic moods seem to float in the air - is it possible to sit quietly? So the pet is worried, screaming, demanding that the owner let him go in search of his soul mate. But, of course, you shouldn’t do this.
Cats who have experienced mating scream even more than their “innocent” brothers. It is a mistake to believe that it is enough to take your pet “on a date” once a year, and he will be calm. Nature has much more impressive appetites, and cats need to be brought together much more often. Therefore, if the pet is not involved in breeding, it is wiser to resort to sterilization.
But why does a castrated cat scream at night? After surgery, the hormonal levels do not level out immediately, and behavior returns to normal gradually. However, if you delay the procedure and the cat is already accustomed to playing serenades under the door, it will be much more difficult to wean him off this.
- Boredom.
Boredom is an equally common cause of nighttime screaming. Cats are nocturnal animals. When the whole house is asleep, they have nowhere to go, no one to run after, no one to “talk” to or play with. So they express their melancholy as best they can. In this case - orom.
- Attempts to attract attention.
Some pets are real manipulators. Perhaps they believe that it is harmful for the owner to sleep all night, and correct the situation with their vocal exercises. Of course, they would be more happy if the owner woke up happy and played teasing with them. But if you chase your cat around the apartment with a newspaper in your hand, that’s also not bad. Surprisingly, there are many cats in the world who love such “catch-up” games. After all, even if it hits you on the butt, the goal has already been achieved!
With nightly concerts, kittens express their longing for their mother, looking for attention and protection, because... feeling stressed when alone. As they grow older, this behavior goes away.
- The cat wants to go for a walk.
Sometimes owners themselves provoke unwanted behavior in their pets. For example, yesterday you decided to take the cat out for a walk in the yard “just like that,” without aiming for regular walks. But the cat liked it, and now she’s bored sitting in the apartment. Hence the screams at the door.
- Diseases.
Unfortunately, serious illnesses can also be the cause of cat screaming. The cat feels unwell, feels anxious, and possibly in pain, which is expressed by crying. Usually other symptoms indicate the disease. In any case, it is better to play it safe and take your cat to the veterinarian for an appointment.
Each of us likes to think that everything is always under our control. But do not forget that pets are living beings with their own characteristics and needs, with their own nature. And they may disagree with us on many things! If your cat’s “bad” behavior seems unreasonable to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is. Study your pet's habits, watch him and don't forget that you always, under any circumstances, remain a family and a team!
Needs feeding or attention
If from childhood he is accustomed to being the center of attention, it is time and honor for him to demand it in adulthood. If you are distracted by some activity, the cat may scream to attract attention. This is a kind of blackmail. The pet seems to make it clear that if he is not petted, he will continue to make such sounds in short.
If a cat has been accustomed to this since childhood, it is quite difficult to wean him off. The pet learns the manner of manipulation very well.
Sometimes cats, which suddenly begin to check their hunger at night, also make very loud sounds. They will harass the owners until they feed it. To avoid such manipulations on the part of your pet, there is no escape from stopping them from an early age. To do this, you need to unpretentiously ignore your pet’s blackmail, and he will understand why it doesn’t work. Having suffered several times, your sister will not have problems with this in the future.
Folk ways to help an animal
Long experience of cats and people living together has made it possible to identify folk remedies for calming cats. Herbs that help your pet calm down during a difficult period include :
- Mint;
- Chamomile;
- Melissa;
- Motherwort.
Some experts recommend using valerian in such situations. However, this question is quite ambiguous. Considering the effect this plant has on the animal, such a remedy is unlikely to help calm the cat.
Herbal decoctions are given to your pet 2 times a day. More frequent use of products can make the cat lethargic and apathetic. Such methods are acceptable for relatively calm animals. Animals of eastern breeds are more temperamental; they may come into heat 4 times a year . During a specific period, the behavior of such cats is more aggressive. Accordingly, radical measures are required to solve a more significant problem. In such cases, veterinary drugs come to the rescue. To achieve maximum effect, you should show your pet to a specialist. He will prescribe the necessary means to calm the animal.
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What products help a cat during estrus?
As noted above, there are sedatives that help cope with desire, but do not completely eliminate it. These include: “Fitex”, “Cot-Bayun”, which contain herbal extracts, as well as “Stop-stress”, which contains various chemical components. Regardless of which drug you choose, the effect will be the same - the cat will become passive, lethargic, and sleep a lot.
Fitex helps a cat cope with desire
It is also appropriate to use drugs that are sold in a regular pharmacy. For example, tablets with valerian extract, which, although they cannot stop the release of hormones in an animal, are quite capable of calming it down. Taking one tablet twice a day will make your cat want to sleep, which means it will make much less noise.
You can try using birth control drops. To do this, you need to put 2 drops under your pet’s tongue or into her food, and after making sure that she has eaten everything, take her for mating after 4 hours. This way you can satisfy the cat's needs and avoid the cat bearing offspring. However, you should give such drops to your pet strictly on the recommendation of a veterinarian, who will indicate how to use them correctly. It is also worth noting that it is not recommended to abuse funds of this kind.
The Sex Barrier will help prevent your cat from going into heat.
Hormonal agents such as “Stop-Sex”, “Ex-5”, “Sex Barrier” and others, which are given to the animal strictly according to the regimen recommended by the veterinarian, will help prevent a cat from going into heat. Often, taking such medications is not without consequences, and as a result, severe hormonal imbalance.
Important! Hormonal drugs should be used extremely rarely to avoid breast disease and uterine cancer.
In addition, it makes sense to consult a veterinarian about what to do if a domestic cat wants a cat, and which of the above methods he will recommend using. Typically, veterinarians are supporters of sterilization, which helps to forget forever about the question of what to do during the period of heat when the cat screams and wants a cat. However, only you can decide which method will be the most acceptable and humane for your pet.
