Queens come into oestrus otherwise referred to as ‘heat’ or ‘call’ many times a year. Each oestrus lasts approximately one week and if a female cat is not mated she will usually return to oestrus anything from 1 day to 2 weeks later. This cycle continues for several cycles or until a cat is mated. Exactly when a cat comes into oestrus is controlled by the season of the year (day length), the cat’s breed, and body weight. The signs of oestrus in a cat are mainly behavioural. They become very affectionate and vocal, demand attention and roll frequently. When stroked they raise their rear quarters and tread the ground with their back legs.