Question:
My kitty may be in heat. She hasn't been eating regularly the last few days. I'm beginning to worry. Anyone else know if their appetite changes when they go into heat?

Answer:
I haven't heard of cats loosing their appetite. However, try a good quality canned food to stimulate her appetite, as it can be very dangerous if a cat doesn't eat anything in a 48hr period. The liver can become an issue. Fatty liver disease is not something you want your cat to have.

Just to be safe, maybe make an appt. with your vet and then you could discuss spaying at the same time.

Keep us updated

Answer:
Please get her spayed ASAP. Cats who are not spayed are in heat off and on, more or less constantly until they are bred or spayed.

You'll be doing her a big favour, not to mention being part of the solution to the enormous problem of cat over population.

Answer:
My baby is only 5 months old. I think she may be in heat a little early. She is eating and drinking, both kibble and canned. Just not the amount she used to eat. She had a huge appetite. I thought it had something to do with her going into heat. She's an indoor kitty and always will be. I'm still unsure and worried about spaying her though. I know it will be better for her and me in the long run. However, a close friend took her kitty to be spayed 2 weeks ago and she passed away during the operation. I couldn't handle losing her. It would kill me. Plus the pain she'll go thru for the surgery itself is worrisome. Not to mention the fact that some cats personalities change after they are spayed. She is the most lovable kitty I've ever known. I wouldn't want anything to change that. I'm leaning more towards having her fixed but all these little doubts and worries keep rearing their ugly heads. Anyway, I've rambled long enough.

Answer:
The number of healthy young cats who die during routine spay surgery is miniscule.

However, the number of unspayed cats who get uterine, mammary or ovarian cancer, or who have unwanted litters is MUCH higher.

Not to mention being in heat nearly constantly is extremely stressful on a cat's system. They are not designed to live this way.

If you don't spay her, I guarantee one day she'll get out.

Spaying is the only option. I have had MANY MANY cats spayed - even cats in heat, and pregnant cats. Not one died, or even showed the slightest discomfort after the surgery.

Recovery from surgery is a day or two. Being left unspayed means misery for a lifetime, and if you have never lived with a cat in heat, you will agree when it starts. Have you had a cat in heat before?

As for personality changes, a cat is MUCH more loving and affectionate when it has not got powerful hormones surging and irresistable drives forcing it to seek a way out of the house ALL the time.

Spaying is the kindest and most humane thing ( and the only responsible thing) you can do if you love your cat.

Answer:
As long as she's eating something . The heat (weather) can sometimes decrease an appetite.

The spay issue.............it's highly unlikely anything will happen under anesthetic. If you are really worried, you could get a pre anesthetic blood profile done, but at 5mths, it's not warranted.

All my girls are spay and my boys castrated . Recovery was quick. You can ask the vet to give you extra pain meds if really worried. But again, it's probably not warranted.

If you don't get your cat spay and by chance she never gets pregnant, never gets mammory or ovarian cancer, guaranteed she will end up with pyometra. ( a fatal uterine infection) :(

It's not uncommon to have these fears. Speak to your vet, a good vet will put you at ease. and your cat will thankyou for it

Answer:
Thanks everyone for the replies. I'm still a little worried about putting her thru all that. But I guess I have another month before I really have to face doing it. If her appetite decreases anymore. I'll give my vet a ring.

Answer:
I know you probably don't want any more comments, but I have to say this, concerning your "putting her through all that".

At 5 months old, she will be dropped off at the vet in the morning. You will pick her up at night, and the next day she will be back to normal. Period.

I saw a cat with pyometra, and it was NOT pretty. Now THAT is suffering and there is a good chance of her dying, if the uterus is ruptured.

Answer:
I don't mind more advice. My vet said she'd have to stay the night, just to be safe. Which isn't a concern. I just worry something will happen to her. See, she has a hernia. My 1st vet said she would either have it all her life or it would go away on it's own. It wouldn't hurt or anything. Nothing to worry about. My new vet says it has to be corrected the same time she gets fixed. Which confuses me. I just worry. She's my baby.

Answer:
Draya, what kind of hernia? Umbilical?

Answer:
Yeah, I think thats what it was. Her belly button didn't close right or something. I can feel a little bump on her tummy, but it has gotten smaller. The vet said I could push it back in. But I would never try that.

Answer:
Especially with her being female, you should get her fixed. I have a house full of female kitties and when my momma wasn't fixed she was a little crazy. Not to mention the fact that if you ever look at a female cat in heat, they look very uncomfortable. My kitty was nuts and everytime you touched her she would make this little sound. She is great now that she is fixed and seems a lot happier. I hated having to put my babies through that but in the end its well worth it and like LR said, she could have more problems if not fixed. Good luck with your new addition

Answer:
Umbilical hernias are quite common in people, and I'm presuming cats as well (since we're all mammals ). It can take up to a year to close on its own. If it doesn't close by then, the Dr will usually do it surgically.

Personally, I'd get the kitten spayed ASAP. Don't worry about the hernia.

Answer:
Thanks everyone. I'll be making an appointment to have her spayed once she reaches 6 months. I don't think she was in heat after all. She was only nuts for a few days. She's back to normal now. Eating well again.

Answer:
Yay! Thank you for doing the responsible thing and not adding to the overpopulation problem, and doing the kindest thing for your kitty!

Answer:
draya..........thanks for being a responsible owner

Answer: