Signs 1st heat is approaching?

I have a 19 week old kitten scheduled for spaying in 3 weeks. The vet really wanted her to be 5lbs but I pushedfor 4lbs because she's barely 3lbs now. We agreed on the end of September as a compromise. I don't want her going into heat at all.

Ove the last week, she's changing a bit. ,she's less affectionate, wants to cuddle less, she bites everything (not me, just toys, boxes, clothing, she's likely teething) she's been eating more, not sleeping with me. All things that could be attributed to getting older (is she a teenager yet?) or becoming more comfortable in our house or maybe her first heat is approaching? I saw her grooming my 8 year old male cat yesterday for the first time.

My vet said if she goes into heat, bring her in and she'll spay her immediately. I'd prefer to have it scheduled so I can be around her first day home and not have to deal w/ side effects of heat.

Are there any signs the first heat is approaching? I've heard, on here and from my vet, that smaller breeds tend to mature earlier and that going into heat at 5 months wouldn't be extreme. I am so nervous!

I suspect and guess is, she is changing her teeth into the second, forever, set. Like you yourself mention. It could well explain the behavior.

It is quite common people dont see their first teeths falling out, they tend to swallow them and absorb.

Im a little surprised though, the vet wants to spay her as soon as she is in heat. Most vets would prob prefer to wait after the heat is over. Much easier surgery when they are NOT in heat.

My guess is, the vet has met cases where the owners dumps, abandon, their young cats, as soon as they begin to be a nuisance. Ie, having a loudy or in other ways troublesome heat.

And attracting toms from around the neigbourhood, pissing, spraying and making nuisance, is another reason irresponsible cat owners threw out their females, to manage best they can...

No wonder there are so many dumped cats, often young moms.

Good luck!

Heat at 5 months is not unusual - 2 of my cats were in heat then and I had a vet who insisted on 6 months minimum age for spayingm regardless of weight. Change of behaviour can indicate many things, but most cats get more affectionate, not less as they approach first heat. I would talk to the vet again and try to persuade him.

The earliest I've had a kitten go into heat was 16 weeks (3 days before her scheduled spay ), but I've heard of it happening as early as 14 weeks. And is she a Singapura? I think they, like Siamese, tend to go into heat at a younger age than some breeds. So it is definitely possible, although, like the others said, they usually get clingy and more affectionate, not less. Just keep an eye on her, make sure she doesn't get out. . .the first heat isn't usually too bad, behavior-wise. So it wouldn't be too terrible if she has her first heat before being spayed, as long as you can keep her from escaping.

I do wish vets wouldn't insist on a particular age or weight (other than the minimum for safe anesthetizing). It causes so many problems.

She's an Abyssinian, so she fits in w Siamese and Puras size wise, 3lbs 2oz at 19 weeks.

I definitely don't let her out, we have a door to the laundry room that leads to the garage door and I've trained the kids that everyone goes into the laundry room, closes the door and makes sure she's not in there before opening the door to the garage. I know it's still possible, but they know how important it is to keep her inside. And my male was neutered before I got him, so she would be ok.

I assume one cycle won't increase her chances for cancers or infection too terribly much? And if she's teething, which I really, really think is the case, would that mean her body isn't to the point maturity-wise to have a cycle yet? I'm going to call the vet tomorrow and see about moving it up. It makes me nervous that she's so small, but I know how relieved I'll be when the spaying is over and done.

Gosh she's tiny for an Aby of that age, she's over 2lbs though which is the required weight I'd find another vet who's up with current procedures and spays before the standard 6 months. I get my litters done at 10 weeks, so the new owners never have to worry about neutering. Most breeders do these days. 

The earliest one of my breeding girls called was 14 weeks, mine don't tend to show any signs but my neuter boys can sense it beforehand. 

our kitten has groomed Kat-Kat (aka 'Flash) pretty much since first day she turned up

She is unknown age but is a Siamese cross so now I'm concerned she may get out again and get pregnant.

I'm pretty sure all the local cats have been neutered (at least for a few streets around us)

She does go a bit nuts trying to get out but so far has only been climbing trees and hunting lizards when she does manage it

Guess I'll have to book her in for op when I get paid (started work last week after 14months unemployment)

Peer Jones said:

our kitten has groomed Kat-Kat (aka 'Flash) pretty much since first day she turned up
She is unknown age but is a Siamese cross so now I'm concerned she may get out again and get pregnant.
I'm pretty sure all the local cats have been neutered (at least for a few streets around us)
She does go a bit nuts trying to get out but so far has only been climbing trees and hunting lizards when she does manage it
Guess I'll have to book her in for op when I get paid (started work last week after 14months unemployment)

Click to expand...

Make sure she doesn't get out again! If she does get out while in heat, a tomcat WILL find her---they'll come from up to 5 miles away, so it doesn't matter if all of the local males are neutered. And it's WAY more expensive to care for a pregnant/nursing cat and all her kittens (or deal with an emergency pyometra surgery) than to pay for a routine spay, so, since she's such an escape artist, try to find a low-cost program, or ask your vet if he/she will take payments. Or borrow some money from a friend or family member.

She could well be teething at that age - have you looked in her mouth?  Sometimes they get double fangs and like babies teething can make them feel unwell.  Kittens also often get bad breath when teething.

Don't let her out until she is spayed.  Willowy is absolutely right, toms know and come from miles around.

I've looked in her mouth but nothing looks unusual. I don't really know what I'm lookin for though. I remember Gus had the double fang thing for a long time, I thought it was the cutest thing. :lol3: no bad breath.

I'm getting deja' vu. Didn't you ask about this before. Maybe it was someone else. I'll suggest the same thing I suggested last time. Take her to a different vet. Ask your friends who they use.

'Puali' has been 'done'

she was in heat and crying pitifully to get out,(and managed to sneak out a few times)

I'm picking her up from vet's around 5:30

Peer Jones said:

'Puali' has been 'done'

she was in heat and crying pitifully to get out,(and managed to sneak out a few times)

I'm picking her up from vet's around 5:30

Click to expand...

Great you've had her spayed, hope she recovers quickly. 

She seems to be pretty much 'recovered', want's out and is playing pretty much like nothing happened.

looks a bit weird with a bare belly though
 

Peer Jones said:

looks a bit weird with a bare belly though

 

Click to expand...

It'll grow back soon enough