When do they first go into heat?

Sorry if this should be in the Health forum, I wasn't sure!

There is a post in the lounge about me possibly getting a kitten from an acquaintance. I just called my vet to find out about spaying costs, and was told it would be $75 if done before she went into heat or become pregnant. At what age do they first begin going into heat?

Can be as early as 4-5 months old - but most I think are around 6 months.

I'm curious as to why it costs more after their first heat or pregnancy than before. A uterus is a uterus, ovaries are ovaries. Is there more risk to the cat, i.e. bleeding, "fibroids," etc after the first heat or a pregnancy like there would be in a menstruating human?

Originally Posted by AnnasMom

I'm curious as to why it costs more after their first heat or pregnancy than before. A uterus is a uterus, ovaries are ovaries. Is there more risk to the cat, i.e. bleeding, "fibroids," etc after the first heat or a pregnancy like there would be in a menstruating human?

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I have no idea, and was kinda wondering myself! If I end being able to take in the kitten, I will find out when I take her to the vet. And thanks for the other answer!

Perhaps the vet wants his customers to spay cats early, so that there is no temptation to add to the extra-kitten problem by letting a cat have "just one litter"?

Maybe its cause some cats come in and out of heat so often it never lets the uterus get back to normal (this would be especially true in siamese/oriental types that seem never to go out of heat when they start).

We were lucky with Ling. She only came into heat for about a week and we got her spayed right after she stopped before she came in again.