When does a cat/kitten normally enter her first heat?

[Flaxbee]

My friend's kitten (7-8 months old) is acting "weird" according to my friend Jen; this is her first kitten and she doesn't know what's going on; I've always adopted from the shelter so the female cats have usually always been spayed so I'm rather clueless.

Anyway, cat people who have been around reproducing female cats, please analyze this behavior if you can: Kitten seems to be happy, purring, liking to be petted, has eaten pretty normally and used the litterbox normally, but kitten is meowing weirdly (different from normal meow) at night and/or when she's in her room by herself; kitten is sorta walking funny, my friend says "slithering" or sorta creeping along about an inch off the ground, often holding her tail up in the air. My friend also says the fur on the front of her hind legs is sorta worn thin/off.

Sounds to me, not having seen the kitten, like she's in heat but I really dunno. What do you think?

[Roon]

1. She's in heat eom

[CatWoman]

2. Female cats go into heat at around six months old

that's my rule of thumb when spaying a cat.

[Not_Giving_Up]

3. Yep, she's in heat...

If she'll let you, give her a good scratching right above the tail. My females loved that. They're both fixed now though.

[CelticWinter]

4. She's in heat

and I have seen cats as young as 6 months go into heat. And if she doesnt get preggo she can throw herself into heat every few weeks until she does (or she is spayed).
Blessings
~~Celtic

[Flaxbee]

5. yup, I thought so but my poor friend was so worried I assured

her I'd get DU second and third and fourth and etc. opinions.

Thanks!

[gollygee]

6. absofreakinlutely in heat

Mine first went into heat at 5 months I think. My vet wanted to wait till she was 6 months to have her spayed so we had to endure a bit of that.

[n2mark]

7. Yep

she's in heat, can happen anywhere between 4-6 months. Good Luck, get ear plugs please!

[AllyCat]

8. Tis the season!

And the age. Get through this one and then get her to the vet when it's over.