About spaying a female cat?

Question

I just asked a question about spaying or not a female cat when there is no risk of pregnancy. Thanks all who answered. A couple more things:
1. When should she be spayed? Is it important to spay her before the first time she is in heat and why?
2. Will being around a neutered male affect her in any way if she goes in heat?
3. I've heard there are contraceptive pills for cats. Anyone know about those?

Answer 1

Get her spayed ASAP. There is never any guarantee that she will not manage to escape and then you will be trying to find homes for the kittens.

The neutered male will still attempt to mount her. She will be willing to allow him to with pleasure though neither of them will be happy with the results.

I checked on birth control pills for cats and from what I read it is just a temporary fix and not guaranteed or even recommended for long term use. According to what I read it must be supervised by a vet and the medications are available by prescription only. So, figure expensive in the long run. Cheaper to just get her spayed.

Answer 2

1) If you spay her before her first heat the chance of developing mammary cancer is cut way down. Spaying after the first heat still cuts the risk down, but not as much as before.

Cats is heat are miserable and will do anything to get out and breed. They will tear the screens, or jump out a high window just to get at a male cat.

Spaying is the fastest and easiest way to assure your cat a healthy life free from the dangers of pregnancy.

2) Being around a neutered cat shouldn't have any affect on her.

3) Yes, there are birth control pills for cats and dogs, but they are not good to use for long term. They have negative health risks. They are mostly used on show cats who are used for breeding, but aren't being bred at the moment, and in the 3rd world where people don't have access to spaying.

Purrs,
The Cat Lady

Answer 3

There is always a risk of pregnancy with cats. Believe me, if she is not spayed, she will find a way to sneak out of your house and find a male. According to the Humane Society, most female dogs and cats become sexually mature around 6 to 9 months of age so spaying your cat before she turns 6 months old would be best. Spaying a dog or cat before her first estrus cycle (or "heat") substantially reduces her chance of developing ovarian or uterine cancer. Spaying early may also reduce her risk of developing breast cancer (the second most common malignancy in pets). In addition, spayed pets will not develop pyometra (an infection in the uterus), which can be life threatening and require emergency surgery.

I've never heard of contraceptive pills for cats. Also, being around a neutered male will not get you cat pregnant but it may affect her behavior. She may pace incessantly and engage in plaintive meowing. Spaying your female can help prevent many of these undesirable behaviors.

Answer 4

My kitten was spayed at 6 months before she came into heat. Even if she is an indoor cat and will never be outside, she will still howl and cry when she comes into heat.... and that can be nerve wracking !!!! So, unless you want to breed her, you will want to have her spayed. I have not heard of contraceptives.

Answer 5

She can be spayed as early as four months old. Just as long as she's not in heat.

A neutered male will be as amorous as if he wasn't fixed when she goes into heat.

I haven't heard of a pill for cats. Maybe your vet knows something, as them.

Answer 6

We had our cat spayed as soon as we found her. I'd suggest that you get your cat spayed before she starts going into heat. We had to sort of rush her in because she was getting pretty old to be spayed.

Answer 7

My one cat was done at the age of 3 months. I thought it was to young but the vet begged to differ.