Do Female Cats Prefer Male Humans?

Dealing with your cat when it’s in heat is one of the most challenging aspects of owning a cat. They will behave differently and vocalize loudly, and you may even feel sorry for them as it seems like they are in so much pain. You might have noticed that your feline prefers the males of the house and following around them more, and you may have heard that female cats in heat prefer male humans more. So is all this true? Do female cats prefer male humans? Are female cats sexually attracted to male humans during this time?

Female cats go into heat every 2-3 weeks from February to October. Cats in heat can sense male pheromones, so they follow male humans around more. However, this does not mean your feline is sexually attracted to its male human.

Why Are Female Cats Attracted To Human Males More?/ Do Female Cats Prefer Male Humans?

Generally speaking, cats don’t have a preference for their owner’s gender. In fact, it is reported that cats prefer women over men. However, the story is a bit different when your cat is in heat. During this time, felines are more affectionate to everyone around them but are particularly more affectionate towards male humans. This is because of the cat’s ability to sense pheromones.

Pheromones are volatile organic compounds that send messages between the same species and are present in urine, sweat, and other bodily fluids. Cats have an incredible sense of smell; with 200 million olfactory receptors, felines can easily pick up on pheromones. A particularly sweaty man or a boy going through puberty releases pheromones picked up by female cats. In the heat, they respond by being particularly affectionate towards male humans and following them around. That being said, female cats do this merely because they’re in heat, not because they are sexually attracted to male humans.

Find Out: Why Do People Hate Cats?

Why Are Cats More Affectionate In Heat?

You might have noticed that your cat is more affectionate in heat and is constantly rubbing off you and nearby objects. This is because while in heat, cats are very hormonal and need attention, affection, and a mate to release their sexual tension on.

Why Does My Cat Follow Me When She Is In Heat?

For your cat, you are its provider and guardian. You are where it gets comfort, food and water from. So during this turbulent time, she seeks you out for comfort and affection, which is why she follows you around.

Signs That Your Cat Is In Heat

The tell-tale signs of your cat being in heat are fairly obvious and right in your face, sometimes even downright annoying. Such as:

• Making loud, weird sounds
• Being very restless
• Grooming her private parts often
• Crawling low on the ground
• Making sexual positions, with her behind in the hair and tail on the side
• Urinating around the house on vertical surfaces of the house
• Loss of appetite
• Trying to go outside to find a mate
• Being affectionate with inanimate objects and male humans

Also, Check Out: When Do Male Cats Go Into Heat?

Things To Do When Cat Is In Heat

Here are some things that you can do for your feline as its owner:

1. Lots of Petting and Cuddles

Being in heat is a very stressful time for your cat, so giving her extra attention can help alleviate some of the stress she is going through.

2. Play With Your Cat

Playing with your cat is a great way to burn off some of its extra energy and help keep its mind off its desires. It is important to keep your cat physically and mentally engaged during this time. Investing in a puzzle feeder and many cat toys might be a good idea. Also, provide your cat with hiding places to retreat if she needs some downtime. 

3. Calm Her Down

There are a few ways you can calm your cat’s yowls:

• Installing a Feliway diffuser will release calming pheromones into your cat’s environment. Keep in mind that these take a few days to work, so installing them a few days before your cat is expected to go into heat would be best.
• Using L-Theanine: An amino acid called L-theanine has been found to have calming effects on both people and cats.
• Using catnip: Catnip is a natural herb that can be used for a short amount of time to calm your feline.

All the above methods can be used together to make things easier for you and your cat.

4. Keep Yur Cat in a Cool Room with Dim Lighting

This will signal to her body that it is autumn or winter, which should help reduce the effects of the heating phase.

5. Free Feed Your Cat

During this time, felines lose their appetite, so leaving food out will allow them to eat whenever they feel hungry.

6. Keep Your Cat Indoors and Away from Male Cats

If you don’t want your feline to get pregnant, you will need to lock your doors and windows. Chances are that her yowling and the scent that she has sprayed everywhere have caught the attention of a few stray cats. You will also need to keep your other male cat away from her in a separate room if you have one, as it will be very attractive to her in this phase. 

7. Talk to a vet

A vet can prescribe medication that prevents pregnancy and avoids heat cycles altogether. However, these have side effects in the long run, like diabetes and infections, so thoroughly educate yourself about these before starting your feline on these medications.

8. Get a Neutered Male Cat

If nothing works, allowing your feline to have a neutered male cat could help subside her desires without her getting pregnant.

9. Consider Getting Your Cat Spayed

Lastly, if dealing with your cat’s heat cycles is getting too much for you, and you don’t want it to have kittens, getting your cat spayed is a great option for saving her from these uncomfortable heat cycles.

Check Out: Why Do Cats Meow Back At You When You Talk to Them?

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line on Do Female Cats Prefer Male Humans

Although it may seem that felines prefer male humans while they are in heat, they are simply attracted to male pheromones during this time and are looking for affection and comfort. You can take various measures to make life simpler for you and your cat during this period. However, the best way to handle all this is to get your cat spayed, especially if you don’t intend it to get pregnant.