Cats and Spaying: It’s That Time Of the Year

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Written by

Dr. Maja Platisa

In-House Veterinarian, DVM MRCVS

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Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and Miki, the kitten who made me a cat person.

Having had only one cat in my life so far, and him being a male, I had absolutely no experience with female kittens and their first heat. Well, when I say first, it’s actually the first few as they keep coming one after the other every two weeks. It was so peculiar when it first happened with Nara that it left me puzzled for a day. Now it makes so much more sense, and I am starting to see the first signs in Minnie, too.

It Started Off As Strange Meowing

Nara is not much of a meower. She is around 7 months old, and she chirps and trills all the time. It’s the cutest sound ever. And she loves doing it when she talks to me, asking for food and attention, especially in the mornings as I just wake up. One day, however, well it was actually overnight, she started meowing. I was so puzzled at first that I wasn’t sure if it was really her. Then I got up and indeed, Nara started meowing. I figured she must have a UTI or was experiencing some sort of pain or discomfort. As she didn’t show any obvious signs of a UTI, and remained bright with a good appetite the next day, I started to think she must be coming into heat. Within the next two days, she became even more cuddly, which was strange as for the first month of her life with us, she would barely allow brief touching, so this was a pleasant surprise. She was rolling on her back, seeking attention from me, loving the cuddles, and rubbing her chin against my legs. She was also very sweet towards Minnie and Miki and even the dogs. And now, her heat seems to run on repeat every 2-3 weeks.

Minnie Is Different

Minnie is a bit younger and so far it seems like she had a little bit of a subtle heat. She is usually very affectionate and loves attention, sitting on my shoulder and sleeping on my chest. So when she started seeking me out more for a few days, I didn’t think much of it. Until I realized she did indeed seem more cuddly than usual, and even Nara looked at her a little differently. Being so small and the runt of the litter, it’s no surprise that everything is a little bit slower.

Miki Couldn’t Care Less

Miki was neutered in January 2024 when he was around 8 months old and had just started showing an intent to mark. And now that the girls are in heat, he seems totally uninterested, which is great to see. There are no stray or feral cats where I live for miles, so I am fairly confident that no unwanted pregnancies will occur. It’s just so different now having a male and two female cats, knowing that they will require more recovery time after their spaying procedures, unlike Miki, who was back to normal the next day, like nothing happened.

Week For Spaying

The big day is scheduled for next week, and I figured it best to “kill two birds with one stone.” Of course, I will likely regret this decision, but because the nearest clinic is more than an hour away, it’s more convenient to get both kittens done at the same time. It will probably be mission impossible to keep them both quiet for a week while they’re recovering and healing, but I thought maybe this way we can get it out of the way quickly so both of them can safely enjoy the outdoors. But from a cat parent perspective, next week also brings a degree of stress and worry. Despite having absolute faith in my colleagues and their work, there is always a small risk with anesthetic and surgical procedures, and these cats have become my family. I won’t be able to think with my vet brain that day and will stay in the clinic with them during the procedures, purely as their owner. A bit of anxiety also hits me knowing they need to be tested for some of the common feline infectious diseases, which they may have contracted before getting their vaccinations, but this is something that needs to be done.

So, next week will be a little tough, but I know we’ll get through it with the help of my dedicated and caring vet colleagues. Next time I write, my two girls will have been spayed and will be on the road to recovery, nearly ready to take on new adventures.