Is It OK To Spay A Can In Heat?

kris78

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Feb 21, 2013
Messages
79
Purraise
23
Location
UK
Hi everyone,

We took in a stray cat a few months that was pregnant. She's had her kittens now

and they're about 10 weeks old. Now we need to spay the mum. Her surgery is scheduled

for tomorrow morning but she's been in heat for a couple of days and I'm reading around

online I'm not sure if it's safe.

I wanted to get the opinions of some more experienced people on here before I talk to

the vet in the morning, because it sounds like some vets will do it and some won't.

Is it dangerous to spay a cat in heat? What would you do?

EDIT: a *CAT* in heat, sorry. I hate when you can't edit titles!
 
Last edited:

ritz

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
4,656
Purraise
282
Location
Annapolis, MD
It's not idea to spay a cat in heat, more blood as I understand it.

If there is even a remote possibility that your cat can/will escape, then I would go ahead with the procedure.  It is likely to be more expensive.  And definitely let the vet know beforehand.

When I was actively TNRing, the vets spayed cats in heat all the time; but they realized, chances are, they wouldn't GET a second chance to spay a feral cat.
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,836
Purraise
13,144
Location
Columbus OH
One problem with many cats is catching them when they aren't in heat.  She may stay in heat most of the time until the days get shorter and it begins to cool off and there are serious health problems that can result from being in heat for extended periods of time without mating.  There is more bleeding and a greater chance of infection but they can develop a nasty life threatening infection from being in heat for extended periods of time.   Many vets do charge extra for spaying when an animal, dog or cat, is in heat.  I see you're from the UK and I don't know about normal vet practice there is only here in the U.S.
 

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
I asked one vet about it (well, I asked about my rabbit :tongue2:), and he said "cats and rabbits---no problem! You can't even catch them NOT in heat anyway. Dogs, no, I won't spay a dog in heat". My regular vet prefers to wait 10 days from when she starts calling, he says mostly they're out of heat by then. So it depends on the vet. You can call and ask anyway---except by now it's either done or not? Hope it all worked out.
 

StefanZ

Advisor
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
25,997
Purraise
10,644
Location
Sweden
It is also a matter of how experienced surgeon the actual vet is. For an experienced surgeon it is not big deal. But for a so so general practicioner is is of course much more sweaty.

So, normally we dont recommend spaying in heat, but sometimes it is a must anyway...

OR the vet perfectly willing.   :)

Good luck!
 
Top