Puberty in kittens

As pet parents, it is quite overwhelming to see your little furry pal act very different. Suddenly she is looking to escape out through the doors or windows. She howls loudly at nights. A male cat will probably do some territorial spraying.

These are the signs you need to look out for that signify your pet reaching the stage of puberty:

• Female cats, also known as Queen cats, reach the stage of sexual maturity at 4 to 10 months of age. Male cats, also known as Tom cats become sexually mature at 4 to 7 months of age.
• If your female cat has not been spayed then she goes into heat very soon and is ready to reproduce. She may exhibit behaviour like night time howling, become overly affectionate, restlessness, pacing, trying to escape outdoors and loss of appetite. Similarly, male cats that have not been neutered exhibit behaviour like urine spraying to mark their territory, which acts as a warning signal to other male cats and to lure female cats. Male cats also howl loudly at nights and escape from home to go searching for female cats. In this process they may also get into fights with other tom cats.
• To prevent diseases, fatal injuries and to control the feline population in your area it makes good sense to get your kitten neutered or spayed. If he is neutered by 6 months of age he would not exhibit such negative behaviour. Always consult with your vet before making this decision.

Happy parenting!