Is our kitten becoming sexually mature?

Exactly 4 months ago, my brother's cat had a litter of kittens. We have 3 of them still living with us, 2 boys and a girl.

Our girl kitten Silver is yowling and acting very.... attention-wanty. Which is unusual for her, she rarely meows and is the most shy of the litter. I am worried that she may be reaching sexual maturity because her mother is in heat again (and NOT GOING OUTSIDE, SO NOT GOING OUTSIDE)... Is there a way to be sure that's what's wrong with her? I've checked that there is food and water where the kittens can get to it, and I've plucked her up and given her a good looking over to make sure she's not injured. She appears to be in perfect health, just.. yowling and fussing a lot.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Cats can be sexually mature at 4 months, and it does sound like that's the case here. It would be best to get them all neutered and spayed as soon as possible. The boy cats will mate with their mother and sister, and you will end up with inbred kittens. Also, it is much healthier for cats.

Gethenian said:

  I am worried that she may be reaching sexual maturity because her mother is in heat again (and NOT GOING OUTSIDE, SO NOT GOING OUTSIDE)... Is there a way to be sure that's what's wrong with her?

Any ideas?

Click to expand...

I agree with Vball91.

Your question is a nice illustration to the story; not so few scared she cat owners rushes to the  vet with their young dying cat, only to discover they are just in heat.

The mom being also in heat strenghens the diagnosis.  Cats, and humans, living close together tends to go into heat or the months circles, simultaneously.

Re:  Test.   Pet her a little above her tail.  She will probably immediately go into the position: the behind up, forebody down, trampling with her backlegs and looking eager...

Yes, spaying as soon the heat is over is the best remedy here for both mom and dau.   

And neuter the boys too as soon it is practically possible.  They too can be early maturers as their sister is one, so dont wait too long.

Good luck!

 oh  I absolutely 3rd the suggestion that you need to get both mom and kittens fixed ASAP. 

The kitten probably is at least having a  "baby heat"  and if she would get pregnant this young it would be like a  9 or 10 yr old girl getting pregnant.  

  I would separate the boys from their sister and mother now just in case you have a boy kitten who turns out to be precocious too.   They usually are not able to mate this young but why take chances?   I definitely know of male kittens who have sired litters at 5 months old! 

 If you can't get them all done at once,  start with the females --   make the appointments now for in about a week.  

Some vets will spay cats in heat.  there is a little extra risk but not so much as with dogs.  and it is nothing a careful vet can't  handle.   If a cat keeps going in heat very often that is not good either.  so sometimes they do have to be spayed in heat rather than keep postponing the appointment over and over.   

 If you are in the USA,  the ASPCA site has a database to search for low cost spay/ neuter clinics.  

There's also an organization  Spay USA that has a hotline to help people find discounted programs to get their pets altered.  http://www.spayusa.org/