Expert: Marcia Owen - 12/28/2009

Question
I just got a cat 1.5 weeks ago. She was a stray and was given to me. I love her very much, but I don't know anything about cats or about her. I do not know her age or her medical history. Anyhow, I am wondering if she is in heat or if she is just displaying a normal cat personality? I will describe her...
- She is very vocal, she will meow if I talk to her or even look at her sometimes
- She has been staring out our glass door but I opened the door and she didn't go very far before she came back in
- She comes up to me and rubs her back on me and gets affectionate
- She purs A LOT!
- She always seems hungry and tries to get me to feed her wet food by meowing and running into the kitchen
- She doesn't like her dry food
- She does raise her booty up if I pet her back almost like she moves her body up with my hand.

Any advice is useful, thanks!

Answer
Hi Sara

This sounds like the behaviour of an affectionate cat.

If she were to be in heat she would be extremely vocal all the time and would be rolling and putting her back end up without any encouragement and 'treading' with her back feet.  Most cats will raise their back end when being stroked so that is not a real indication.

I think you'll find she is just happy to be in a normal home with you.

Regards

Marcia.