My cat hit puberty, should I still spay her?

Question

ok, just this week we booked an appointment to the vet's to get my cat spayed. However, she's in heat for the first time andfrom what I hear, cats become lazy (only sleep and eat) if neutered/spayed after puberty.
What do I do? Is it still better getting her spayed or should I let it pass? Maybe it's not too late?

Mind you, she's an indoor cat. My mom is thinking we could introduce a male cat just once and let her have kittens so she'll get it over with. Will *this* work maybe?

Answer 1

Hi Alex...cats will not become lazy after being spayed rather they become more calm and as they age over the years will slow down.

It would be a huge disservice to allow her to become pregnant. One of the most important reasons is that for every kitten who is born several will have to put to sleep due to overpopulation problems. If you could visit any local shelter this would confirm this fact for you and encourage you and your mother to do the responsible thing by spaying your kitty.

Additionally, nearly all shelters in the world will spay cats for a low fee (e.g. $25-50). They do this daily and it is usually much less expensive than a what a vet clinic charges to perform the same identical service as well.

Here's a website that explains the benefits of spaying and common myths such as laziness: http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/spayneuter.php

Answer 2

Definitely get her spayed after her being on heat. She will not be lazy. All my cats are spayed and they're no different than before.

Getting her to have kittens is not a good idea. She may have 4 - 6 kittens who will need homes and there are already so many cats and kittens looking for new homes that adding more would not be responsible.

Answer 3

Yes, get her spayed.

I don't think you have to wait for her to get over her heat, but your vet will know for sure.

Please don't let her breed unless you're prepared to take full responsibility for all the kittens, including being ready to keep them if you can't find them good homes. Also, remember that a young kitty in her first heat really isn't ready for parenthood, any more than a human girl is who's barely reached puberty. She's barely an adolescent, still more of a kitten than a cat.

It sounds like your mom doesn't have much of a responsible attitude towards pet ownership! It speaks well of you that you're doubtful about her idea! It sounds like you're going to be the one who will try to learn how to do right by kitty. Kitty is lucky to have you!

As far as getting lazy after spaying, that's a myth. Cats will have a slightly reduced activity level after spaying because they won't be aggressively seeking mates, but that should be the only difference. Cats get lazy because they're bored, not because they're spayed. Keep kitty interested in life with plenty of stimulation and lots of play and she won't get lazy.

Since you seem new to cats, here are a few links you may find interesting and will certainly find informative:

http://www.catinfo.org

http://web.vet.cornell.edu/Public/FHC/FelineHealth.html

http://www.vas-awareness.org

http://www.catshots.com

Answer 4

Don't let her mate and have kittens "just once". Any heat cycle or pregnancy can make her more prone to having mammary cancer at some time in her life. That is not something you want to have to deal with - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation.

Cats just become "lazy" as they mature, not because they have been spayed or neutered. Spaying is the best thing you can do for her and will make everyone's life more peaceful and less stressful.

Answer 5

SPAY her!

There are hundreds of thousands of cats and kittens put to sleep or worse every day in the United States due to the lack of a good home, or someone decides they are "tired" of their cat "or it's a bother"...

Please do not hesitate to spay and neuter ALL animals.

Not all animals become lazy and only eat due to spaying or neutering. Your interaction of play, and stimulation is critical for her healthy well being regardless of spaying her.

I promise you, if you were involved in animal rescue, there would be no doubt what you need to do. It's depressing and very sad to see all these animals left to defend, look for clean food and water or avoid being hit by cars, tortured, abused, etc.

Take care and spay and neuter!

Not meaning to be so harsh. Just stating the facts of overpopulation of animals and the cruel reality of it.

Catwoman

Answer 6

(sigh) does anyone notice that it gets harder and harder not to judge...not to lose all patience with people on this forum?

Alex, do NOT, under any circumstances, listen to your mom and introduce a male cat to the mix so that your female cat will have kittens and "get it over with." First cats don't "get it over with." They'll mate every single chance they get, usually producing litters of kittens with several different fathers!

I need to ask you, because I am continually appalled at the complete lack of common sense that so many parents possess today: did your mother introduce you to a man right after your first menstrual cycle so that you could have sex and a baby in order to "get it over with?" If you think about this, I mean REALLY think about this, you'd see how twisted her logic is when it comes to your cat. So many times a cat is allowed to get pregnant and have a litter so that the kids in the house can watch first hand this "miracle of birth." Unfortunately, they don't get to view first hand the tragedy of overcrowded shelters that result from such logic -- and irresponsibility.

Your female cat can and must get spayed, and soon. If she's in heat, the surgery is still possible although a little more expensive as it will take longer and require IV fluids. Please please please do not let this deter you. Get her fixed. You'll be doing her a favor on so many levels....

As for fat and lazy...house cats, by nature, eat and sleep. That's what they live for. In between these important assignments, give her plenty of chances to exercise: interactive toys , cat trees, jingle balls, scratch posts just to name a few.

Please, do the right thing here...and don't let anyone stop you. Please

Answer 7

Wait until she is out of heat to get her spayed. Cats that have been spayed are much healthier then their non spayed counterparts. having one litter increases her chances of getting cancer and other horrible and expensive diseases. Do not let her get pregnant, for every kitten you bring into this world another one dies at the pound. millions of animals are euthanized at shelters every year because they do not have homes. And if you do your cat becomes pregnant she has a higher rate of cancer also.

Answer 8

It probably won't matter if she's in heat, but make sure your vet knows just in case. Your cat will not be lazy as long as you play with her and keep her healthy. If you don't spay her the heat cycles will become closer and closer together until it seams like she's constantly in heat and will annoy your family something terrible.

Answer 9

cats are lazy it is in their nature.

having your cat spayed is the best route to go. You will have a horny cat on your hands every time she goes into heat who will meow as loud as she can non-stop and rub her scent on EVERYTHING.

Allowing her to have kitten will only stop the behavior for one cycle. Then you have the added complication of a litter of kitten on your hands

Answer 10

No, letting her get pregnant once will not cure her. And yes, you can still have her spayed even though she is in heat. If you don't, you will go through this every 6 months. And she has a greater risk of cancer if you don't. She will also try to get out of the house when she's in heat. You risk losing her or she could end up with FIP or Feline leukemia or a bunch of other deadly diseases.