DEAR PET TALK: Does it hurt a cat to go into heat? -Barry
DEAR BARRY: Felines will first go “into heat” (become capable of getting pregnant with kittens) around four or five months. That is when they should be spayed. If they are not spayed, they can go into heat as frequently as twice a month – that’s every two or three weeks.
The reason for this accelerated cycle (to our human perspective) is because they have a “polyestrous reproductive cycle,” or multiple estrus cycles all year. This cycle can last from three to 14 days. When females are in heat, they don’t bleed, but other symptoms noticed by owners include the following: showing frequent and deep affection towards humans and other cats; loud and frequent cries, especially around male cats. Inappropriate or frequent urination can be a symptom, as can rolling on the ground, and against objects. Pain? Hard to say. Discomfort – definitely.
The goal of a cat in heat is to get impregnated. Get your cat spayed!
However, if your cat is pregnant, many shelters – and we recommend Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue in Winchendon – will offer to spay/neuter your cat for free. They will also spay and neuter the kittens and find them good homes.
What I’ve found, speaking to many school children, is that families don’t understand how “just one litter” of kittens turns into dozens of cats that need homes. Say your cat has her first litter – it’s two or three kittens. Two females, and one male, let’s say.
How cute! They are adorable! All the friends come to see the kittens, and pressure you to give them one. The friend promises to get the cat spayed, but they don’t get around to it, or can’t afford it. The kitten is still a kitten when it goes into heat, gets out of the house and comes back pregnant. Now, the first cat still isn’t spayed, the daughter cat is pregnant, and three or four months later (domestic feline gestation is about 60 days), here come more kittens.
This is how our shelters become flooded with kittens who are old enough to have kittens. They weren’t spayed.
Your vet can spay or neuter your cat, but we also recommend that you reach out to area clinics, who can do this operation at a lower cost. The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society comes to Fitchburg every third Thursday; their cost is $175 for a female; $125 for a male. That’s hundreds below what a private vet will charge. Second Chance Animal Services, E. Brookfield (see “Pet of the Week” information) is also inexpensive, and they fix dogs as well.
Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Email questions to: bepawsitive01420@gmail.com.
