Menstrual cycles for animals

[Anyeeta]

This may be a bit of a sick question, but I was just wondering whether or not female animals ever go through monthly or quarterly period cycles. I'm curious, as cats, dogs, rabbits etc. are all mammals.

[d+dwidow]

Yes, female animals do come into season during the year. Dogs come into season twice a year, Rabbits have 8 cycles a year and with cats it can be between 2-4 times a year.

[andy hughes]

In pack animals, a group of females will eventually synchronise their menstrual cycles in order to maximise the potential for breeding. This is one hangover from our primal forebears that we still have today - as the recent advert for sanitary pads is keen to point out.

[Nelli]

and it is so true!!! I just wanted to add that as a female, the above is no myth, and really quite odd! as I wouldn't really pick my female work colleagues to be in my pack!

[nykkieberry]

Nelli - I second that! It happened at Uni in a house full of girls and now in the office - the only bloke in our office hides under his desk once a month - sychronised periods, synchronised PMT!! As for eeeeeewwwww, what's ewwwww about? Surely we have evolved beyond the eeewwwww stage? It's quite nice being in rhythm with the moon and tides....very good food for the soul : )

[hal]

Should animals ride their menstrual cycles in a thunderstorm?

[hal]

Isn't an egg (as in a nice soft boiled egg) the equivalent of a menstrual cycle?

[hal]

I mean, they are unfertilised eggs aren't they?

[nona suomy]

When animals are in season, do they bleed? I've never seen this but then all our pets have been spayed. If they do - how do their owners deal with it.

[d+dwidow]

nona suomy - yes they do bleed, before we had our dog spayed we had to wait until she'd come into season. it's very messy and lasts for about a week (like us) We had to cover all our furniture/bed etc with throws. You can actually get pet sanitary wear (they're like little nappies) but didn't think our pup'd appreciate it!!!