Do cats play less when they are in heat, or does it vary by cat?

First of all, avoid the hormonal injection as it is known to cause cancer! it's normal for a persian cat to stop playing at that age, especially when comming in heat. i would strongly recommend having her spayed ASAP.

Pregnant cats do not go into heat. I would recommend having her re-evaluated by the vet to make sure she is pregnant and that she isn't having a false pregnancy or a pyometra (a potentially life-threatening infection of the uterus). Rough play shouldn't affect unborn kittens. They are well-protected in there!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, changes in appetite and behavior can be observed in cats and dogs in heat. However, it could of course be due to many other possibilities. If she is otherwise fine, just continue to monitor her. This should only be transient if it is only due to her heat. If this continues past a few days, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment. Good luck!

Hi and thanks again for your question. I think in this case there are basically two possibilities: either she did not go into heat (that can happen anytime up to the 18th month or she went and she showed few signs. It is not common to observe vaginal bleeding from a cat in heat. The most notable signs of estrus in cats are behavioral. Most cats become very affectionate, even demanding; they persistently rub against their owners (or objects such as furniture), constantly wanting attention. They roll on the floor. When stroked along the back or spine, they raise their rear quarters into the air and tread with the back legs. They also become very vocal. These behavior changes often become annoying to owners, and sometimes owners think their cat has some unusual illness.

Hello, there isn't a determined time which cats should play. As long as your cat is playing then she is likely happy and healthy. Some cats are more active than others. Therefore some, may be more playful as well. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Thank you for posting this question. If there has been a dramatic change then I would encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian to make sure he is not sick or having any complications. However, it is also possible that he is just getting more mellow as he matures as well. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Kittens go through different stages where they are more or less active, so it may be that he just doesn’t want to play right now. If he seems very lethargic, if his appetite is decreased, or if you notice changes to his urination or defecation habits I’d recommend having him examined by your veterinarian to rule out a medical problem.