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Confused by Female Kitten
We recently took in two stray female kittens. One was adopted by our veterinarian and we have the other one - Laverne. For years the only cats I've had were males and I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that I can't tell if Laverne is in heat or not. She meows this extremely irritating meow similar to what our old male cat (who has passed on) used to do when he wanted something. Other than that, I have seen no discharge or anything else to indicate that Laverne is in heat. I was hoping to have her spayed before her first heat. Is spaying a cat more difficult after she has been in heat? How long does a cat stay in heat? Can they be spayed during heat?
Male cats are so much easier. Not as intelligent as females maybe but easier.
Male cats are so much easier. Not as intelligent as females maybe but easier.
It's been longer than that. I think she wants human companionship.
Thank you for everything you have done to help me with my pets.
Thank you for everything you have done to help me with my pets.
The best way to tell if a female is in heat, other than listening to that lovely meowing all the time (!) is to see if she flattens her butt. If you give her a scratch on the backs of her knees or on her lower back by the tail, if she's fully in heat she'll flatten out her rear end and raise in up a little.
If you don't get this reaction but she is doing the calling (meowing) behavior, just try again the next day. It might just be too early in her cycle for her to react.
In my experience it is unusual for a female cat in heat to have any discharge or wetness back there, except for perhaps if she has had intercourse. But not otherwise.
The whole process shouldn't last more than a couple of days, maybe three, especially if she's young and it's her first time.
If you don't get this reaction but she is doing the calling (meowing) behavior, just try again the next day. It might just be too early in her cycle for her to react.
In my experience it is unusual for a female cat in heat to have any discharge or wetness back there, except for perhaps if she has had intercourse. But not otherwise.
The whole process shouldn't last more than a couple of days, maybe three, especially if she's young and it's her first time.
We'll probably take her to one of the vet's my daughter works for. He's cheaper and doesn't do all the unnecessary tests and she gets a discount. Laverne is a lot quieter when she's around people and doesn't show any inclination to go outside. But she does have to be spayed and better to have it done soon.
I bet she's in heat! It's been such a long time since I've had kittens, but I think they start their heat when they're 5 mos old! It would only cost more to spay during their heat or when they're pregnant. Isn't there any low cost places to take her to get her spayed in Canada? There's got to be something!
I find it more noticeable in dogs but at least female dogs don't meow. Laverne just meows; otherwise, her behavior is the same. Thankfully, we have two neutered male cats so we won't have little Lavernes .... or Lennies or Squiggies ....
PS. Sarah, I never noticed Sweetpea bleeding but I knew she was in heat and she got fixed while she was still in heat, so maybe it's not as noticeable as dogs? I don't know.
Cats in heat can be pretty annoying. Does she keep you up all night yowling, wanting out? Is she acting extremely affectionate to you and the other cats, rubbing herself on you, etc.? Is she sticking her butt up in the air a lot? Then she's probably in heat! You can get a cat spayed that's in heat. It will cost a little more but I had to do that with Sweetpea (when I was taking care of her all those months) and she did just fine. In fact, I just went over to my friend's house today and let me tell you, Sweetpea is much more laid back and calmer than she was before being spayed!
And I'm the other way around, I prefer females over males any day! I always said I'd never have a male anything and here I've got a male dog!
And I'm the other way around, I prefer females over males any day! I always said I'd never have a male anything and here I've got a male dog!
I do know that female cats that are in heat have a really annoying meow. Is she sticking her "business" in anything that moves??
Dont the females bleed during this? I know dogs do.
Dont the females bleed during this? I know dogs do.
Ugh..cats in heat can be so annoying!!! Well, if I can remember correctly, one entire heat cycle can last from 18 to 24 days. Estrus itself, the phase in which cats act a little crazy and are receptive to being mated, lasts approximately four to 10 days. You can spay her during heat. The way I do it is I wait for them to be over that estrus/diestrus cycle because the spaying is a bit more difficult due to the engorgement of the tissues and larger blood vessels. Laverne may not have side effects from being spayed while still in heat; but you may get charged a bit more for that extra time during surgery. It depends on the vet, though. You once said they offer low cost care? No? Am I going senile at a fast rate?
And is yowling the only sign she is showing? Yowling sometimes means: I am in pain, or I am extremely annoyed!! Abby yowls when he wants to go out!!!
And is yowling the only sign she is showing? Yowling sometimes means: I am in pain, or I am extremely annoyed!! Abby yowls when he wants to go out!!!
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