Is there any reason to spay a female cat if there is no risk of pregnancy?

Question

Specifically, I want to know the following:
1. Will she feel bad when she is in heat? How often will she be in heat and for how long?
2. Do females mark their territory with urine if not spayed?
3. How does spaying/not spaying affect her personality and her attitude towards other cats?

PS. Don't base your answer in favour of neutering on the diminished risk for sicknesses of the uterus (cancer etc.), I know that already.

As for not getting pregnant, I can be sure because i live on a flat on a high floor, and the only way to get out of here (apart from taking the elevator and pressing the correct button) is to jump off the balcony, which means she would die, but I never let the cat on the balcony unattended to avoid that.

Answer 1

Cats are what are called induced ovulators, which means they ovulate after breeding. They are virtually in heat every few days or so. It is frustrating for the cat because hormones and instinct tell them to search for a mate. They will roll on the floor and yowl a lot! It is not fair to put her through that. Yes, females can mark territory, but not as often as males. Spaying will not affect her personality other than to make her a better pet. It may or may not change her attitude toward other cats--some cats get along and others don't. And yes, spaying does help prevent uterine infections, cancers and tumors! :)

Answer 2

I am the daughter of a veterinarian and you always spay or neuter any animal you have. There is no reason not to, even if you think there is no risk for pregnancy now, there may be in the future. And you don't want your cat getting pregnant if she escapes accidentaly.

1. She will feel bad when she is heat (she wants it=frustration!)

2. Females do not mark, but I had a cat that was not spayed for 8 months and she peed everywhere until they day we got her spayed.

3. Changes in personality is just an old wives tale, unless you want your cat screaming for a mate all night long, get her spayed. Usually the changes come about because your cat is getting older.

Answer 3

I'm not an expert though I do have 5 katz. It's been a long time since I've seen a female kat in heat and I seem to remember she acted very uncomfortable/irritable and there was a small amount of bleeding. I've never seen a female mark territory in any way but I've read that females in heat will spray to attract males. As for personality/attitude, katz need time to get to know other katz regardless of spay or not. My katz have been altered/spayed and I have only noticed personality changes with age, not with spay/alter.

So two reasons I'd lean toward getting your kat spayed. You may not always be around to care for her. A vacation or illness might require your kat to be cared for by someone else. Accidents happen. And I believe female katz are happier without the trauma of going into heat.....which can last up to 7 days, and 4 - 6 times a year, usually in the summer.

Answer 4

I'm a big fan of spaying cats, even if you think there's no risk of them encountering a male.
First off, there's always the risk that they get outside somehow, no matter how careful you are to avoid that.
The heat process will keep you up while you try to sleep, and get close to driving you mad during the day. It cannot be comfortable for the cat, either.
I do not believe they mark their territory like males.
It doesn't effect her personality either way, and the only way it'd effect her attitude towards other cats, is if she's spayed, she'll no longer show a pushy interest in unaltered males.

I would never let a pet cat NOT be spayed.

Answer 5

it is best to have it spayed, being a female cat in heat makes the worst noises and it will last for up to 2 weeks, and they will mark their territory and they will physically feel pain from it. The effect spaying has on a cat as far as personality goes they become less tempermental and it makes them a better pet and it makes them friendlier with other cats. Also how can you make sure that their is not a risk of it getting pregnant all it takes is one slip out of an open door or window and then kittens are on the way, most female cats in heat will go to great extremes to get outside and mate.

Answer 6

You should absolutely spay her because it will make life easier for you and if you do not plan on breeding your cat there is no reason to put yourself through extra trouble, however if you do choose not to spay your cat, here is what you should know: 1. cats ususally have their first heat when they are nine or ten monthes old 2. While in heat your cat will start howling in the middle of the night trying to attract a mate 3. Your cat may lose its appetite 4. Your cat will proably become over affectionate (which may sound nice but is actually kind of annoying) 4. Your cat will not bleed as people and other animals do at the culmination of their menstaral cycle, if your cat bleeds at all it will be very little and she will keep herself so clean that you may not notice

Answer 7

Because their are too many pets in the world, and people breed for the wrong reasons. For me I believe if you only have one cat/dog you really don't have to fix if it's inside or home all the time. People rather the public adopt a pet from the shelter but I have been their and adopted at least four times and each time something was wrong with the pet so I gave up and finally got a pure breed because I was sick of feeling bad for shelter animals sometimes they are their for a very good reason. I do agree with you on the spaying/neutering. I don't know the breed you have but Bengals and Savanahs never become lazy after fixing just make sure you do you're research before you buy one.

Answer 8

1. Cats will pretty much stay in heat. There will be only brief times when she's out of heat. Cats can even go right back into a heat a very short time after delivering a litter. She probably will not feel physically ill. But, when she's in heat she will feel like she has to breed. Cats differ in terms of how much they act out in heat. But, some will yowl almost constantly and back up to even inanimate objects with their tail in the air.
2. Not all of them do, some do, some don't.

3. She'll be more likely to be catty with other female cats especially. She may pester you just about constantly while in heat. Of course, since they're hardly ever out of heat you won't want her around an un-neutered male. The smell of her in heat may even cause a neutered male to start marking around the house, especially if he was neutered after he was 6 months old.

Answer 9

It is an individual choice at the end of the day. We had our bengal cat (a house cat) spayed recently at the age of 6½ months for our own reasons. You have mentioned the cancer benefits but just to suggest something else, you won't have to worry about a moody cat that frequently gets frustrated. I might be wrong but I think I read the typical female cat has a period every 3 weeks.

Answer 10

Have you ever been around a cat in heat? It is horrible! They meow all the time! And it is not their cute little meow, it is almost like a howl and they are constantly all over you and rubbing on evertything. You will lose sleep. And she will do just about anything to get outside. And if you slip just once and she makes it out, well then you will have kittens.
I don't know how she will feel, but you will be miserable. My cats heat normally last anywhere from a week to two weeks.
I don't know about the spraying, but it would make sense that she would.