How to handle a 3 month old kitten in heat?

melbox · Dec 16, 2016

My kitten,Cleo, who is still on the rather small side went into her first heat yesterday. She is acting normally except for tail moving to the side and she was hiding under my couch so I put her in my bedroom with food and water. She hasn't been outside or around my other cats except for my females. She just wants to be alone. but is it normal for her to have bright pink nipples? She's a naturally plump kitten but there's been no discharge or any chance she could be pregnant. I've never had a kitten this young go into heat. My vet won't fix her yet becuz of her small size and her age. she's def in heat but it's silent heat.

StefanZ · Dec 17, 2016

melbox said:
My kitten,Cleo, who is still on the rather small side went into her first heat yesterday. She is acting normally except for tail moving to the side and she was hiding under my couch so I put her in my bedroom with food and water. She hasn't been outside or around my other cats except for my females. She just wants to be alone. but is it normal for her to have bright pink nipples? She's a naturally plump kitten but there's been no discharge or any chance she could be pregnant. I've never had a kitten this young go into heat. My vet won't fix her yet becuz of her small size and her age. she's def in heat but it's silent heat.

Yes, this is very early. Heat in itself is no danger. The danger is is she gets mated - or gets out to get mated, and not being used to be outside, may easlily get into harms way...

So isolate her from any risk of meeting any toms (even her own dad and brothers are to consider as toms here! - not even her male cousins are any safe chaperons). If the vet isnt willing to spay, perhaps you could get the Pill? I know the Pill isnt used in USA, and we dont really recomment it, but in shorter distance it may be useful to buy you some extra time..

Willowy · Dec 17, 2016

I've heard of a 14-week-old (3 1/2 months) going into heat. If she's younger than that maybe it's a record! But what an annoying record to set, huh? Anyway, yeah, just keep her calm and make sure she can't get out. First heats are usually short but they tend to go back into heat rather quickly too. Tell your vet she's in heat, see if that changes their opinion on spay timing or not. If you really don't want to deal with this, there are plenty of vets who will spay at any age as long as they weigh 2 pounds so I'm sure you could find one if you called around.

melbox · Dec 17, 2016

She seems really calm. Just a little bloated and anti social due to the heat. The pink nipples worried me. Shes just so quiet and shy. I'm just glad she's not being loud and aggressive about it. After New Years I'm getting her fixed. She usually stays hidden in either my bathroom or bedroom. So no way my males can get to her.

Willowy · Dec 17, 2016

Make sure there is no possible way that she and the males can come into contact. Having 2 closed doors in between them at all times is one common strategy. She'll eventually be very motivated to go find them, and they'll be very motivated to find her, so don't count on shyness or hiding as a birth control plan!