How is old is too old to be in heat?

I work at an adoption center run by my Humane Society and we seem to have a 10-year old female that is showing some major signs of being in heat.

She was brought in from a kill center about 2-weeks ago...of course with no paperwork.

Silly question...do they have a "heat" cycle for their entire life or like humans, do they reach a certain age and just stop?

I think they cycle for their whole life. But don't quote me.

I have heard of cats having kittens quite old so I also think it is a life thing

I also think they go on almost their whole lives, poor things!

cats don't go through a menopause like humans do but their fertility gradually declines from the age of 12-15.

Interesting information...thank-you.

Poor girl...never been spayed at 10-yrs. old...terrible!! I don't believe we are going to have it done either...she is rather thin & fragile looking...spent some time in a shelter.

Uterine infections (pyometria) seem to increase as unspayed females age so it might be worth your while to get her spayed when she is a bit stronger. Is she eating and drinking OK?

Yup I've seen cats as old as 12 years in heat.

I had a 14 year old unspayed female that came into heat a lot (although partly cos I was fostering an unspayed male - they were kept in separate rooms, and neither had access outside their own rooms). I have read an article on Messybeast of a 20 year old feral having a kitten (only one, so obviously fertility was decreased). I really would consider having her spayed, not only is there a risk of pyometra, but 10 is the average age for mammary cancer - I would have had my cat done if it was an option, but she had other issues that would have made the aftercare very hard, so my vet advised against it.

Originally Posted by Kumbulu

Uterine infections (pyometria) seem to increase as unspayed females age so it might be worth your while to get her spayed when she is a bit stronger. Is she eating and drinking OK?

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Yes, I understand about the health factors in spaying.

She is eating & drinking...also considering where she came from, she is very social with people and other cats.

All I know is that my uncle has a 15 year old barn cat who is a complete mess and she has been having babies since she was a baby herself. I am trying to get my uncle to let me take her to the vet but this cat is his "baby" as far as that goes. I don't know, but anyways so they can get pregnant pretty old.

They'll have heat cycles their whole lives. It's never too late for spaying to be a wise idea!

So does the time between their heat cycles get longer as they get older? Mine's in heat one week and then out for one week and then back in again.

It's never too late to spay your kittie unless their health reflex otherwise. Anesthesia on an old cat can cause renal failure if it's kidney values are low.... As most older cats are. And as far as pyometria goes, statistically it never happens in cats. Just do some blood work at your vet. A basic chemistry panel should be sufficient in determining if she's healthy enough. But if you decide to not do BW and do go with surgery and something does happen with her kidneys, cats cat live a long time with kidney disease. Just sayin.