My unspayed cat is suddenly aggressive. Is it because she's in heat?

It could be that Ochan is in heat, and her behavior of being super affectionate when you pet her makes me suspect this is the case. Cats do not always have constant behavior each time they go into heat, and they can act aggressive. If you do not want to have to deal with this constant cycle of behavior (and it can get worse with constant vocalization), I would recommend having her spayed as soon as possible.

It does sound and look like Eevee is in heat. Increased vocalization, ‘presenting’ her genitalia /arching her back, and often increased affection are typical signs of estrus/heat in cats which typically first starts after 6 months of age. Each heat cycle lasts around 5-6 days and unspayed cats typically come back into heat every 2-3 weeks. The ASPCA and many shelters offer low cost spay options such as mobile spay/neuter clinics that may be an option. If not, there is nothing that you need to do other than keep her away from intact male cats unless you want kittens in about 2 months’ time! Good luck!

Hi, I think this behaviour is due to the hormonal changes linked to heat. It can be distressing for her and for your other cat to be in this situation, I would definitely try to book her in to be spayed as soon as possible. Hope things get better soon !

Aggression can often be a response to pain. I recommend getting her checked by your vet as soon as possible, especially since she just finished a heat cycle. She could have an infection that is making her uncomfortable and in turn making her lash out against the kitten. You vet may run some labwork, do a physical exam, and based on these results, will be better able to tell you what is going on with your cat and how to treat her from there.

This is the time of year when cats start to come into heat again, and if she isn't spayed and there is an intact male nearby, she may be going into heat and trying to push away her previous litter in order to make room for a new one. If you do not wish to have more kittens, I highly recommend having Chloe (and the kittens) spayed if the male cannot be. 5 cats (plus the others you mentioned) is also a lot of cats, and the sheer number may be very stressful for her. Finding homes for the kittens, or making sure everyone has access to their own food, water, bedding, litter, etc can help decrease tension.

It's possible but unfortunately, with out being able to observe the behavior, it's impossible to say. This link may help: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/estrus-cycles-in-cats I recommend to have Cheddar examined by the veterinarian. I also recommend to have her spayed. There are many health and behavioral benefits as well it stops any potential for kittens which will contribute to pet over population: https://www.petcoach.co/article/spaying-ovariohysterectomy-the-benefits-in-cats/ I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

I see that Honey isn't spayed. I suspect she is in heat, and that is causing this behavior. Cats in heat are extremely annoying. If you want this behavior to stop, I would have her spayed. Best of luck.