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At what age can kittens go into heat?

post #1 of 12
8/16/10 at 8:55am
Thread Starter 
I raised a litter of kittens and my sister-in-law wanted two. She took a male and female. Well, I told her that they needed to be fixed around 12 weeks because she might go into heat early with him around and she promised to do it. They were 12 weeks yesterday and today's response was they will get them done when they have money. One of the other issues is that this litter came from a FeLV+ mother that had to be put down due to the illness. I didn't know she was + or even pregnant when I took her in and she had tested - at my vet's office. So my question is what should I do about this situation with my sister-in-law? I can't afford to get my boys neutered and pay for hers too and obviously I cannot take the kittens from them. I am very worried they will breed and produce a litter if they aren't fixed very soon.
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post #2 of 12
8/16/10 at 9:39am
5 months is more common, but 4 months is the earliest. They do need to be tested considering the mother.

Search your area. If you make below a certain amount (I think it's usually $35k) a year you can get low cost spay and neuters, but you may have to drive a little ways to find a clinic offering this.
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post #3 of 12
8/16/10 at 12:45pm
I had one in heat at 14 weeks , but as noted 5 months is common
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post #4 of 12
8/17/10 at 4:55pm
She doesn't have to have them done at the same time....the female should be done ASAP (I have also had one in heat at 16 weeks), but the male can wait until he's 7 months old or so. They don't usually start spraying until 8-9 months old. But impress on her the importance of NOT allowing siblings who are possibly FeLV+ to breed. I can't imagine the problems coming from that.
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post #5 of 12
8/17/10 at 6:30pm
I had Attitude done when she went into heat at 5 months old(I thought I had until 6 months, she went into heat and I got her into the vet the next day for her spay.) Nuts has been done in the last 2 months(Attitude has been sick so often everything to do with a vet recently is a blur so all I know is it was within the last 2 months.) I didn't(and still don't) even want to know what 2 leukemia positive siblings could produce.

Some males don't spray, Nuts never did. However I wouldn't bet on that being true for hers. Somehow Nuts and the 3 outside boys don't spray or feel the need to mark anything, they all just get along, if one walks in Nuts will happily greet them, if he comes out they will happily greet him. They obviously worked something out, either that or the fact that 2 of the outside boys are his brothers and the 3rd has been around since he was a kitten they don't feel the need to mark, they know no one is going anywhere and that they are happy to share. Most likely I was just lucky.

Either way she needs to get the female done first and then worry about the male. Male cats don't escape and come back pregnant or go into heat.

Taryn
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post #6 of 12
8/17/10 at 10:16pm
If she keeps them indoors only, and honestly doesn't have the money for a spay then she could get the boy neutered first since it is cheaper. That said, the girl cat will try her VERY best to get outside when she goes in heat... and if she does she will prob get preg.

Has she called around to other vets? What about a low cost place? She might be able to find a cheaper place.

If she does get the boy done first, tell her to keep 2 doors between the girl & outside at ALL times.
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post #7 of 12
8/18/10 at 8:25pm
I'd do the girl first. Male cats don't go into heat. We all know what a cat in heat is like.

Taryn
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post #8 of 12
8/20/10 at 8:45pm
Thread Starter 
When I called around for my boys no vets would do them under 5 months of age. Is that going to be true for the female?
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post #9 of 12
8/20/10 at 8:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlysmom View Post
When I called around for my boys no vets would do them under 5 months of age. Is that going to be true for the female?
It depends on area ... many vets now do a pediatric spay / neuter as early as 2 months and 2lbs ... In my area most will do 4 months
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post #10 of 12
8/21/10 at 9:10am
Thread Starter 
I'll have her call around and ask about the spaying. One vet I called said many vets will do the spaying/neutering before a cat is 4 pounds but it's not advisable because of the anesthesia.
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post #11 of 12
8/21/10 at 4:45pm
Many girls will call at 4-5 months. If they can only get one done at a time I'd do the girl, since boys are fertile up to 2 months after the neutuering he could still impregnate her while she's waiting to get spayed.

I wouldn't use a vet who wasn't skilled in pediatric neuter/spay, it is a finer surgery. Perhaps a shetler could refer you to a vet who will do the surgery.
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post #12 of 12
8/21/10 at 5:30pm
I am so sorry to hear about Carly. I haven't been on for a while.

I read that they could go into heat around 6 months.
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