Ragdoll cats often howl during their heat cycle, as it is a natural way for them to attract mates. However, if you don’t want your cat to breed, neutering is a great option. It can spare your cat the discomfort of heat cycles. If you plan to breed your cat and don’t want to neuter it, there are ways to help your cat through its heat cycle and reduce the howling.
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Feed Tasty Food Most cats are food – lovers. Owners can provide strongly – flavored food to divert the cat’s attention. When the cat calls, feed it a small amount of food but don’t let it get full. This way, the cat’s attention will be drawn to the food, and it will keep clinging to the owner for more, temporarily stopping the heat cycle.
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Play with Your Cat More Use cat toys to play with it. This shifts the cat’s focus to the toys. Extend playtime to tire it out. Once tired, the cat won’t have the energy to howl and will just want to sleep. If you want a good night’s rest, play with your cat in the evening and try to keep it from sleeping during the day.
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Use Music to Distract Some owners play music at home during the cat’s heat cycle to grab its attention and calm it down. Upbeat and distinctive music is recommended. But this method doesn’t work for all cats. Some may not be interested in music, so owners can try other methods.
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Feed Miao Jingqing If you’re busy with work and have no time to care for your cat, you can feed it Miao Jingqing for 7 – 10 days. It can be mixed with water or food. However, Miao Jingqing should not be given on an empty stomach, so it’s best to feed it after meals or mixed with food.
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Massage Your Cat’s Body If the cat is really uncomfortable during heat, you can massage its body to ease its physiological needs. For example, stroke the cat’s body from head to tail repeatedly, then gently massage and pat its buttocks, and finally, pat the base of its tail. This can give the cat a sensation similar to mating.
After neutering, Ragdoll cats usually stop howling because the surgery reduces the hormones that drive heat – related behaviors. However, each cat is different, and some may still occasionally vocalize. If your Ragdoll continues to howl excessively after neutering, consult your veterinarian to rule out other health issues.