Spaying A Cat in Heat?

We were recently told by our local vet that they will not spay a cat in heat, which we've heard and completely understand. The vet also told us we have to wait 4-6 weeks after she was in heat to get her spayed. I've read that a cat can go into heat again as little as 3 weeks from the date her last estrus ended. Is this true? If so, how can I wait 4-6 weeks when she'll just go into heat again. Based on the time lines they're giving me she'll never be eligible to be spayed??? Can somebody please shed some light on the subject for me.

Thanks in advance!

I'd look for another vet. Cats can be spayed while in heat. You are correct that if you try to wait 4-6 weeks she will likely be back in heat. Best just to get it done. It usually costs more. Tissues are swollen and there is more blood, is why vets may not like to do it, but it's done all the time.

Find a vet that doesn't think it's such a big deal!

Little more risky when they are in heat.

Cats can come back on call just days after the last cycle. Often there's a break of 3-5 weeks, but each cat is different.

I'd book her in for around 5-7 days from the date she came on call, she should be off call or tapering off by then.

My vet charges about $100 more if the cat is in heat. Tissues and organs are swollen so it is a more difficult procedure. But because some females are in heat continually, they will do it if necessary.

I have never heard of a vet that wouldn't spay if they are in heat. That stikes me as very odd... Good luck!

So I called the vets bluff on the whole not spaying a cat in heat situation. Apparently my vet will not spay a cat in heat...but the waiting 4-6 weeks after line that I got from the reception was false...and the vet tech I spoke to on the phone was annoyed to hear somebody at their office actually said that. Apparently they've had some issues with uneducated receptionists feeling the need to answer questions that they should be directing to a vet or vet tech. So we have a spay appointment set for 2 weeks. Phew!

Thanks for all the valuable info everyone!

Attitude was spayed while in heat. My vet didn't charge me any extra to have it done. They might have just been cutting me a break though since I called in in a panic to get her done. My 'definitely male' cat(according the the vet) was definitely NOT male and Nuts decided to prove that when the 'Tude went into heat(I had had my suspicions but I didn't think she'd go into heat at 5 months old, I was going to have her done at 6 months.) I think they were extra understanding since they knew I had an unaltered male. I think it helped that I had figured it out by looking down and finding Nuts on top of the 'Tude, who was thoroughly unimpressed. I thought I was bringing to unaltered males into a house with an altered female not an unaltered male and unaltered female, I trusted the vet as to what sex Attitude was. I think it also helped that they know both are leukemia positive and I needed to do the responsible thing by not bringing any more positive kittens into the world. Attitude had also been in heat less than 24 hours, Nuts let me know very quickly that his sister was in heat.

Spaz was in heat when I got her done(she was never NOT in heat and she had escaped the day before and went into heat the next day and I was NOT having kittens.)

They can do a spay at anytime really. They can spay a pregnant cat. When we had our ferals done one was in heat, one was pregnant, and the other was neither. The neither one had the roughest recovery, all the others could have been released the same night(Mama couldn't due to rain they didn't want her incision getting wet the same day as doing it, she was in heat.) Biter was all messed up and as i said she wasn't in heat or pregnant. Goldie was 2-4 weeks pregnant and she was up and ready to go when she got back and was happy to get out of the kennel that night and was back to climbing trees and climbing the latticework to get on the roof the next day, not to mention nursing the kittens. Her and Biter fed and took care of whatever kittens wanted to nurse or needed cleaned so we have no idea of which one had which of the 9 kittens from the pre-spay summer litter that gave me Attitude and Nuts.

It's crazy that they won't do a cat in heat. Never heard of a vet that wouldn't.

Taryn

I am glad that you finally got your appt! Good luck!

If the cat is actively calling, my vet will ask that you wait 10 days from when she started to call. Makes it easier for him if you wait, but he will do it when she's calling if you really need him to.

I asked another vet about it and he said he doesn't mind doing a cat in heat at all. Or a rabbit (because I asked him about having my rabbit spayed). He says he prefers not to spay a dog in heat, though.