Can A Cat Be Spayed While In Heat?

Many owners choose to have their cat spayed for a number of reasons, however, it might be that your cat has gone into heat before you’ve had the chance to.

​If this is the case, then you might be wondering: can a cat be spayed while in heat?

In this article, we’ll answer all your questions about spaying your cat during heat and everything else you need to know about your cat’s heat cycle. So, let’s dive in.

Can A Cat Be Spayed While In Heat?

While it's not recommended, veterinary experts claim that it is possible for a cat in heat to be spayed during this time.

Veterinarians are a little cautious to do this surgery on a cat while it is in heat because during heat, blood vessels and tissues might swell, increasing the risk of excess bleeding during surgery.
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What Happens During A Heat Cycle?

When a cat's body is hormonally prepared and receptive to becoming pregnant, they enter a heat cycle.

When they are in heat, some cats might urinate more frequently or spray urine on vertical surfaces.

This is because of the hormones and pheromones in their pee, which actually aid in attracting male cats.

Feline dating customs are peculiar, but they do work! Even stranger male cats may begin to emerge in your yard when your cat is in season.

Your cat may become more vocal at night during the cycle if she senses potential mating partners outside and wants to approach them.

​She may also be more receptive to being petted on the behind and may rub it on her owners.

Thankfully, cats do not bleed when they’re in heat, unlike dogs. If your cat does, then you should contact your local vet straight away.

How Long Does A Heat Cycle Last?

An indoor cat will cycle into heat every two to three weeks, with each cycle lasting three to five days if she isn't spayed.

​Until your cat is spayed or becomes pregnant, the heat cycles will continue.

It is advised that cat owners have their cat spayed around the time she turns six months old since the cycles begin when the cat is four to five months old.

How To Calm A Cat In Heat

It can be quite agitating dealing with a cat in heat; they become very excitable, loud, and often messy. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to calm your cat during a heat cycle:

• Interact and play with your cat so she can burn off energy.
  
• Keep her litter tray clean.
  
• Give her a heat pack or warm towel to rest on.
  
• Secure your cat indoors and away from male cats.
  
• Give her some catnip.
  
• Use synthetic cat pheromones.
  

Spaying Your Cat During A Heat Cycle

Your cat will try to mate if she is in heat because her hormones and instincts are telling her to.

She will therefore take tremendous measures to escape the house and find males to mate with.

Living with a cat who is in heat can be frustrating. You can ask your vet about having her spayed as soon as possible if you don't believe you can handle her behavior for about a week. 

Although spaying a cat during heat is not recommended, it is possible.

There are certain drawbacks to this, though. Some veterinarians choose to avoid doing surgery on a cat in heat because of these risks.

The blood vessels that supply the reproductive organs and the tissues around them grow swollen with blood when a cat is in heat, which increases the susceptibility of the tissues to tearing.

This means that your cat will undergo a procedure that is more involved and time-consuming than a standard spay.

Additionally, it will cost more due to the additional labor and materials required. 

If you have arranged a spay procedure for your cat in advance and discover that she has begun her first heat cycle just before the surgery, be sure to call your veterinarian for guidance.

​Postponing the procedure can be more advantageous for you, your cat, and the veterinarian.

Spaying Your Cat Before A Heat Cycle

If the cat is not in season, an ovariohysterectomy, sometimes known as spay surgery, is regarded as a regular, low-risk procedure. To make things easier, you should ideally spay your cat before her first cycle.

By the age of six months, veterinarians typically advise spaying kittens. This is due to the fact that most female kittens begin to go into heat between the ages of six and nine months.

Though it's rare, some kitten cats might go into heat as early as four months old. In animal shelters and rescue organizations, kittens as young as eight weeks old are frequently spayed to prevent unintended pregnancies.

If you are concerned about having your cat spayed before her first heat, you might want to discuss having the procedure done early with your veterinarian.
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Final Thoughts

Planning is essential if you choose to wait to neuter your cat while she is in heat. Keep in mind that cats will remain in heat until they mate, and a new cycle could start within a few weeks or even days.

It can be challenging to find the ideal window. Ask your veterinarian about the optimal time to arrange the spay because they might not be able to accommodate a last-minute operation.

​Be sure to tell your vet as soon as possible if your cat begins to exhibit indications of heat a day or two before the planned surgery.

To summarize, you can spay your cat while she's in heat, however it is not ideal for you or your cat. It's best to stick out the heat cycle and wait until she's between cycles before getting her spayed.