Female Cats In Season Options

[AmandaJ]

My female cat is in season! Yes I know she is calling out for a mate but she is a indoor cat, her calls are sooo loud at odd hours of the night I'm worried this will be disturbing our neighbours!! Any idea on how to comfort her so her calling will settle?? Really need help

[kittenmitten]

Are you a breeder.? If you are then you are not alone and sadly the only thing that will stop her calling is mating her. Whilst there are some drug treatments you can use, not a believer in those. If you aren't a breeder once she comes off call ( which should last 7 - 10 days then take her to the vets and get her desexed. Females can run the risk of pyometra or uterine cancer if left to call continually without being mated and these can be deadly. No reason not to get them desexed this day and age if not a breeding queen.

[ChocolateDots]

Calling girls are not fun to live with, I don't use pills on mine but do use acupressure which takes them off call for 8-10 weeks.

You can try placing her in a cool dark room, mine are louder if left to wander the house.

[AmandaJ]

No I'm not a breeder! I've been thinking about letting her mate, but she can still be at risk of catching a disease from male cat...... I was aware of not mating can cause cancer and things! Defiantly don't want that to happen! My babies are my everything...... I have 3 girls I've always had males so this is all new to be :) 7-10 days?! Think we are halfway lol...... I didn't realize females, went into season so often was shocked this is Bella's 2nd time she is 10 mths old so I should expect her to go in season every 2-3wks? Sleepless nights are starting to take toll on me & the family...... Think I will be looking into the desexing option! Do you roughly how much desexing will cost?? Cheers!! Thank you so very much xx
P.s The more I scratch and pat her head & face her calling calms down, then she sounds like a pigeon bird that's how she got her nickname lol...... Once again thanx heaps!

[AmandaJ]

Yes a huge handful I must say but it's all worth it in the end.... No!! Me either, defiantly prefer not to give them drugs..... What is acupressure?? OoOh ok didn't think about putting her in a dark room!! Thanx :) I might jus try that and see how things go...... We have tried sooo many things to prevent her calling to be so loud, only last for a short time..... Bella was very loud a couple of night back for several hours at odd hours of the night/early morning that we ended up putting her in our bed under the blanket she was good and so quiet for around 2-3hrs was bliss I must say lol the things we do to get some sleep lol..... Was jus thinking then OoOh geez I've gotta go thru this 3x over all three cat are female lol..... Thank you so much for the info and help!!

[ChocolateDots]

You're best to desex them before the first heat cycle, which can happen at 4 months. Generally you want then fixed by 6 months at the latest

If she's already called twice I'd be booking her in ASAP as she's at risk of pyometra which can be deadly and the risk increases with each cycle

Desexing costs vary greatly I'd expect $150-$180 but it's been a long time since I desexed a female at normal rates. Ask your vet

[kittenmitten]

totally agree with Chocolate Dots, if you are not a breeder, then just letting her have 1 litter just to "experience motherhood" before being desexed can be way more expense than it is worth - she may need an emergency c section and that can cost $1000's, there is also all the time and effort in getting the kittens to 12 weeks before they can be rehomed, (and that is assuming no problems with her feeding the kittens), and vet expenses for the kittens along the way. that is all going to add up to way more than you will get for the kittens, not to mention then trying to find them all homes. You will be doing her (and her sisters?), a favour by getting them desexed ASAP - they can be desexed once they hit 1kg, and the earlier the better - as you already know health risks from calling and not being mated are then easily avoided, plus she will be a lot calmer and will stop the calling!!!! (something I am sure you and your neighbours will be happier about) Expect it to be around the $150 mark, and wait till she is off call to get it done

[stephm1188]

If it's a financial thing (gosh knows we don't all have $150 laying about!) perhaps it's worth looking into this;
http://www.ndn.org.au/about-ndn.html

There's some good, down to earth info on there too.

Desexing her will make both of your lives much easier, I don't imagine it to be much fun for her being a young cat, existing in a state of pretty high stress and anxiety with no release!

Have a chat to your local RSPCA etc too, they can probably suggest some other options for having her fixed cheaply!

[AmandaJ]

Thank you all so very much for the advice and the link I will be looking into desexing now while she is no longer in season!!!

[Heather Sharada]

That is a great link....definitely go the desexing route - females that are eager to mate are difficult to avoid escaping and inevitably one of them will get out and those wandering Toms are often AIDS positive or Leukaemia positive - both terminal diseases if one of your girl was to met the wrong cat.

Good luck. Ear plugs help in the meanwhile...

[EmilyMay15]

I always wondered why you can't get the cat spayed during her heat. Is that dangerous to the queen?

[kittenmitten]

Increased blood flow to the area just increases the chances of complications, so it is generally better to wait until they have come off call for that reason. Of course if a kitten is desexed early (I do mine at 11 weeks), they never come onto call first, so no problems there, plus they bounce back a lot quicker than the older cats tend to

[EmilyMay15]

Increased blood flow to the area just increases the chances of complications, so it is generally better to wait until they have come off call for that reason. Of course if a kitten is desexed early (I do mine at 11 weeks), they never come onto call first, so no problems there, plus they bounce back a lot quicker than the older cats tend to

Eight weeks is old enough if the kitten weighs 2 pounds. Many kittens are spayed and neutered that early.



I would never let a queen go into heat, of course, but may rescue one who is already calling someday.

[Furrballz]

Most breeders (me included) wait until they are 10wks old, eating well and over 1kg (or 2.2pnd)

They bounce back ALOT quicker.

Pregnant girls and on call all can be desexed, but yes, it they are a higher risk and trickier surgery, especially with on call cat, moreso