There are many people who do not seem to mind having a pet, but are afraid of all sorts of problems provoked by the appearance of another living creature in the house. For example, many people think that female dogs and cats living in the house are in heat almost 4 times a year and lasts a very long time.
Those who intend to have a pet are often advised to buy a female, because both kittens and puppies of this sex are calmer, less aggressive and more attached to the owner than males. Often, the owners are worried about the fact that the female periodically has estrus, in which the animal is actively looking for opportunities to mate with the male, and can also stain anything in the house with its secretions.
Heat in dogs
The age at which a bitch begins her first estrus can range from 7 months to a year and a half. Interestingly, in small breed dogs, in most cases, estrus occurs much earlier than in representatives of medium and large animal breeds. The physiological manifestations of the onset of maturity is the appearance of bloody discharge from the genitals of an animal, which has an insanely attractive odor for males of all breeds. Do not be afraid that the animal will stain the whole house - during estrus, the dog constantly licks the noose, but it is still better to remove expensive carpets for this period.
Heat in dogs lasts 21-28 days and usually occurs twice a year. If you intend to mate an animal to obtain offspring, it is best to do it 10-15 days from the beginning of estrus, because the bitch is as excited as possible during this period and is ready to let the dog in without any problems. During this period, the external genital organs of the dog swell, and the discharge becomes mucous in consistency and almost transparent.
Feline heat
The age at which the first estrus occurs may vary among representatives of different breeds. Some cats have their first estrus when they are 7 months old, while others only at 10 months of age. Interestingly, the timing of its onset is influenced not only by the breed of your pet, but also by the conditions of its maintenance, and its diet, and a number of other factors. Despite the fact that estrus is evidence that the animal's body is ready for pregnancy, it would be the height of folly to specially knit a cat in her first estrus - this should be done no earlier than she reaches one and a half years of age.
On average, cats are in heat for 12-14 days. You can accurately determine the timing of its onset by carefully observing the behavior of your pet: when a cat starts screaming loudly, takes a mating position and seeks to run away into the street at any opportunity in order to be able to mate, it is safe to say that estrus has begun. Keep in mind that scolding a cat for bad behavior during this period is simply useless, and punishing it is the height of cruelty: your animal now does not belong to itself, it is controlled by a powerful procreation instinct. If you do not intend to breed your cat, it is best to neuter it.
