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Old July 19th, 2008, 08:49 AM
cherry_darling cherry_darling is offline
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cat in heat...a few questions

i have a 7 year old female cat, who is almost always in heat. i've had full intention of getting her fixed for awhile now, but every time i have the extra money something else comes up so i'm not able to get it done.

lately, the cat has been in heat for 2-3 weeks at a time, & it's been driving me crazy. she's also been peeing on everything, & i don't know if getting her fixed will help that. are the two related at all?

also, i did something stupid & let the cat out a few days ago. it was a dumb thing to do, i know, especially since she's an indoor cat, but after not sleeping for a few weeks, my nerves were gone & i couldn't handle it anymore. it's been almost two days & she hasn't come back. she has been outside before, but never for more than a few days. i've heard that cats in heat can be outside for a week, even. but i'm just worried that something will happen to her. does anyone have any experience with a cat being in heat getting outside? how long are they usually gone?
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Old July 19th, 2008, 08:55 AM
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erykah1310 erykah1310 is offline
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Well, I can guarantee you that she is pregnate now. And if she comes back, I would have her in the vets office right away for a spay.

I hope nothing bad has happened to her because of this, that would be horrible.
A cat in heat is absolutely annoying, but think of how she feels? I'm sure shes not happy feeling that way all the time either.

Poor thing.
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Old July 19th, 2008, 08:59 AM
cherry_darling cherry_darling is offline
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yeah, i pretty much know that she will be pregnant if she comes back. that's fine, i might even keep one of the kittens. & i will get her fixed, no doubt about that. i'm just wondering how long it will be until she comes back...i know it won't be the same for every cat, but from what i've heard they're usually gone for a long time.

i'm just worried sick now. it was stupid of me to let her out, but it was one of those things where i was just going nuts & wasn't thinking straight.
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Old July 19th, 2008, 09:17 AM
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You do realize she's unlikely to stroll home when the party's over? You need to get out there and look actively for her (particularly after dark), put up posters, talk to people, go to (not phone) your local shelter. Post her picture on lost and found websites, or in your local paper. The fact that she's an indoor cat is in her favour, she may have stayed nearby. If she's friendly, someone may have taken her in. But I would assume she's lost, and waiting for you to find her, as quickly as possible.
The inevitable has happened. With hard work and some luck, it can be made right. Please don't give up on her until all avenues have been exhausted.

Last edited by badger; July 19th, 2008 at 09:31 AM.
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Old July 19th, 2008, 10:07 AM
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sugarcatmom sugarcatmom is offline
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Originally Posted by cherry_darling View Post
yeah, i pretty much know that she will be pregnant if she comes back. that's fine, i might even keep one of the kittens.
And the other kittens? What happens to them? Do you realize that millions of animals are euthanized every year because there aren't enough homes? I strongly suggest getting her spayed immediately when (and if) you find her and aborting the kittens she may be carrying. It's the kindest, most responsible thing to do.
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Old July 19th, 2008, 03:36 PM
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Dr Lee Dr Lee is offline
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Originally Posted by cherry_darling View Post
does anyone have any experience with a cat being in heat getting outside? how long are they usually gone?
Cats are induced ovulators meaning that they can go into heat as often as they 'want to'. Exposure to male cats will induce a female into heat. So there are some female cats that once outside may be repetitively in heat until they get pregnant. Cats are amazing at multiplying.

Also intact (non spayed or neutered) cats are at higher risk for transmissible diseases and trauma (hit by car, etc...) due to the higher risk behavior brought about by the hormones.

In the US, for every human born there are approximately 45 cats born. So for all of these reasons, spaying becomes a very attractive option.

Good luck and I hope that she is alright.
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Old July 19th, 2008, 04:45 PM
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*bangs head on table* It's really not that costly to get them fixed damnit.

Firstly, she might not come back since this isn't her first heat cycle, her hormones are really crazy and might find it more enjoyable to stay outside and continue reproducing and making more unwanted kittens born to be killed in various ways.

She might come back though. I had a stray cat that was at my house when I moved in, and I let her in the house but before I could get an appointment to have her fixed she ran off one day, but came back about 3 days later. Gave me some kittens about 2 months after that. All 8 of my cats are fixed, as well as all but 2 of my outside cats (they are going to the clinic this week).

Seriously.. come on now it doesn't cost a fortune to get the cat fixed.

And if you can't afford to get your cat fixed, how can you afford another kitten? How would you now afford to be able to now fix her and keep one of her kittens and get that one fixed? The cycle will never end. To me, seems like you would just end up putting off fixing the kitten you would end up keeping and then the same thing would happen.


I hate to sound rude, but seriously. I volunteer at a shelter and all that stuff and see so many kittens coming in all the time. Atleast where I live we are lucky enough to be generally no kill.

I guess I'll just end with this

http://www.shelterrescue.org/id20.html


Listen to Bob Barker... Spay or Neuter!
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Old July 19th, 2008, 08:34 PM
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MOOSEDRY MOOSEDRY is offline
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my two cents...

hi all.

just wanted to add prayer and support on this topic. spaying/neutering is soooo important - we all agree. cherry_darling, i truly hope you have become more educated about this topic as a result of this episode - believe us, there are far too many kittens being born out there. many of them end up hungry, sick and homeless. you are lucky to have received the advice of dr. lee, badger and sugarcatmom - they are all very knowledgeable, compassionate posters on this board!!

what is your kitty's name? do you have a picture to show us?

tracy (mom)
plus: jimmy (dad) cline patsy and punkin
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Old July 19th, 2008, 08:49 PM
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You have been given the very best advice possible from very knowledgable people. Please go out and start looking for her. Put up posters, go to shelters, do what you can to find her. Get her to the vet asap and get her spayed. She does not need kittens, especially at 7 years old.
As for the peeing everywhere - was she peeing or spraying? Spraying is completely different and goes along with being in heat, but it's only a small amount of urine at a time - marking her territory. If she was peeing all over then along with a vet visit to get her spayed, hopefully, she will need to get checked for a uninary tract infection. That might be the easiest test the poor thing will have to go through. If that proves negative there will be more tests.
Please, for her sake, find her, get her to a vet and get her looked after. she comes home soon.
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Old July 20th, 2008, 12:59 AM
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growler~GateKeeper growler~GateKeeper is offline
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Originally Posted by 14+kitties View Post
Get her to the vet asap and get her spayed. She does not need kittens, especially at 7 years old.
Exactly, 7 years old for a cat is the beginning of their "senior" years. If you were to allow her to have kittens at this age you are putting her & them at risk for even more costly medical issues.

I do hope you find her/she comes back soon please bring her in immediately for a spay.
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