What to expect from not spaying?

Question

First let me say I am a avid believer in spaying and neutering animals and every animal I have ever owned has been (aprox. 15 cats and 3 dogs over 22 years and none ever had offspring). Since moving out and buying my own house I aquired two kittens--one in Sept of last year and one in April of this year. I got Tess spayed as soon as the vet reccommended however I have been more reluctant with Maddie. No real reason other than I like the status quo and don't want her to be away from me overnight. There is absolutely no possible way for her to get pregnant so that is not a concern. I am just curious what to expect since I have never had a cat past 6 months without being spayed. Maddie is a very social kitten who has never met a stranger so being more affectionate as I have read really won't be noticeable ( from the minute I walk in the door til the moment I go to bed she is wrapped around my neck like a scarf--its her fav place). She was born in Feb so about 9 months now.

Answer 1

Certain cancers are a much higher risk if spaying does not take place. Also, heat cycles can be dreadful for both you and the cat. Yowling, marking, clawing, fighting, and all kinds of bad behaviour.

I had a cat who didn't get spayed until late in life and she marked and yowled like she was still in heat. She especially liked spraying the curtains and the fireplace. And let me tell you, that smell never really comes out.

I recommend calling your vet and really doing a advantage/disadvantage list with him. You may find that one night away is well worth a clean mattress, couch, carpet, etc.

: )

Answer 2

In the short run you can expect a lot of "crawling on her belly like a reptile" sort of behavior with a mix of whines and yowls in there for good measure. Maddie will try to get outdoors where any number of suitors awaits and if she gets out -- she will get pregnant -- yes, they are that good. :) Oh I almost forgot the marking....Maddie might start peeing on things in the house...staking out her area. That is always good for a hoot...not!

Maddie will continue this behavior with relentless abandon UNTIL she is pregnant, you are insane or she gets spayed.

In the long run sweetie this is the worst. With every succesive heat that Maddie has her chances of developing mammary tumors escalates. She will reach her worst possible chances after her third heat. Mammary tumors in cats are rarely benign. If she does not get the tumors then possibly pyometra, a uterine infection. She will look like she is pregnant AGAIN but, this time no kittens will come...it is a raging infection intent on killing your Maddie. Depending upon how quickly she gets surgery death can be the outcome.

These things are not happiness I know...but, they are real and they happen. We really mean it when we say spaying and neutering saves lives! Please think on Maddie's surgery again.....I personally would like to know that ten years from now she is healthy and still sitting up in your neck like a scarf!

With spay/neuter surgeries as they are these days I am wondering why your vet needs to keep Maddie overnight? Did you explain that this was something you might not be able to do? Is the clinic staffed 24/7? I would ask that Maddie's surgery be done first thing in the morning, drop her off before work so that her surgery can maybe be done first and she will spend the day recovering. You should be able to pick her up on your way home from work. Overnights are rarely done at all anymore - don't be duped she is better watched by you than anyone.

You didn't say if she has already experienced her first heat yet? If so you clock is running so make some plans to talk to your vet soon.

Good Luck.

As long as they go light on the injectable anesthesia and use isoflurane to keep a plane of anesthesia, Maddie should be sitting up in her cage by noonish. At least that is my experience.

Answer 3

Aside from the fretful behavior during estrus cycles, and the maddening drive she will feel to find a male to mate with, there are a few medical concerns you should be aware of if you do decide to leave her intact.

Spaying cats and dogs before their first estrus cycle reduces their risk of mammary cancer by about 99.9%. After the first estrus and before their second birthday, the risk is cut by about 95% if they are spayed.

In cats and dogs, any female who comes into heat has approximately a 10% chance of developing pyometra. This is an extremely dangerous uterine infection that occurs when the cervix is dilated during estrus and the excretions dampening the vulva act as a superhighway for bacteria, leading infection straight into the uterus. Pyometra in cats (and dogs) is fatal unless surgery is performed with necessary nursing care (antibiotics, IV fluids, and several days of hospitalization).

If the cat or dog has had a litter, the risk of pyometra at estrus jumps to 30% every cycle.

The pros and cons are for you to use to make your decision. As long as you are willing to deal with her behavior, the risk (even as nonexistent as you think it is) of her becoming pregnant, and to treat any medical condition that may arise from her unaltered sexual status the choice is totally up to you, and she can lead a long happy life either way.

Answer 4

Ever heard a cat in heat? It's AWFUL! Constant whining and moaning, rubbing against you, for days on end.
If spayed, there is less change of GI problems, cancers, and other nasty health problems.
Make the sacrifice to let her stay overnight at the doc's, because you'll have a longer lifetime to spend with her afterwards!

Answer 5

She will come into heat and, basically, stay in heat until she's pregnant. (the heat cycles get closer and closer and more severe until she's in a constant state of "heat".)

It's a strain on her system. Her heart, lungs, kidneys and liver are all working over time. Not to mention her immune system.
The constant strain weakens them, and they aren't as healthy and don't live as long.

"More affectionate" also comes with yowling. LOUD yowling all night long.

Yowling brings stray males that spray all over your stuff. All over your car, your front door, patio furniture, windows. They also yowl. And fight. Right outside your window. At 3 in the morning.

I once had a cat "with no possible way of getting pregnant" that jumped though a screened window to get at the boys. My "perfectly safe" cat had 4 kittens!

Females become frantic to be pregnant. Their hormones drive them to mate.
"Affectionate" becomes "crabby" as time goes on.

Cancer is a risk.

All in all, it's worth it to spay her. It will make her a better pet and she will live longer.

Answer 6

I have a female cat who is about a year old now and she goes into heat about once a month because she is not fixed. she lives inside so there isnt a chance of her getting pregnant and luckily she isnt terribly loud when she has her heat. That is the only downside I have encountered so far but I have also read that getting her spayed will reduce her chances of getting certain types of cancers. I plan to get her fixed in the future.

this site has some info about getting your cat spayed

http://www.vospca.org/archive/spayneut.html

Answer 7

not being spayed can cause cancer and other things to occur earlier in there life. then there's the claws. our female at the first time she went into heat smelled a male outside the house one night after we had gone to bed. she was sleeping on the wifes leg and upon smelling the male outside, decided to wake her up by digging all four sets of claws into her leg. after getting the wifes leg repaired, we promptly had her fixed and front claws removed. don't remove the back claws though it aids them in climbing should they have to escape from something like a dog.

Answer 8

Please get your cat spayed! You will never have a moments peace or any sleep for that matter if she goes into heat. There is nothing more irritating than a horny yowling cat!