Cat on heat and really distressed?

[Hoplikeabunny]

We've got a 5 and a half month old Siamese kitten who is clearly on heat, but is really distressed. She won't settle at all and is just howling and sticking her bum up in the air. She was booked in to be spayed in two weeks, so I guess we're just unfortunate that she's had her first heat before this? I've never seen this before, I feel really sorry for her. Is there anything we can do to help her? She's desperate to get at our male (castrated) cat, but I think she's terrifying him so we're keeping them separated which is driving her even more mad.

What can I do? Poor little thing Five and a half months seems very young.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Sounds like a normal heat to me. You might get Tom cats spraying around your back door.

[cozietoesie]

Buy some ear plugs and harden your heart. It should calm down in a day or two with any luck.

If they're healthy and of a reasonable weight, cats can be neutered at 4 months actually - that's the recommended age now I think.

Oh - and keep every window and door closed tight. If she can get out she will get out.

[Hoplikeabunny]

Argh it's my fault, I used to work in a veterinary hospital and the advice then was 6 months for spaying, I had no idea it had changed.

Windows and doors are firmly shut. Fortunately we live in the middle of nowhere so tom cats shouldn't be an issue.

[gamerchick]

Yeah it's a proper racket they make isn't it? Nothing worse than a horny cat.

It'll pass and thank god it's her only one. Just make sure she can't get out as they get quite determined.

[cozietoesie]

Some vets still stick to the old 6 month guidelines - and to be fair, some youngsters are not heavy or healthy enough to be neutered at 4 months. Here's a statement of the latest guidance for your reading though.

Be sure to keep those windows and doors tight. You don't need to be ruing saying '...so tom cats shouldn't be an issue.' The blighters seem to materialise out of thin air when there's a female in heat.

[ouryve]

That sounds normal. Just don't leave any windows open. First we knew that our barely no longer a kitten was in heat was our other cat going bonkers and leaping on me in the middle of the night because there was a tomcat on the landing!

[Hoplikeabunny]

It really is a mental racket! Being Siamese, she's already really vocal and has a very...particular annoying ... Miaow, so this is just crazy!! Lucky she's so cute!

I feel sorry for our boy cat, he's so confused! Last week she was just his irritating little kitten friend who liked to jump on his head and catch his tail...but now she wants to devour him!

To be honest, I'd be surprised if she met the weight requirement much before now anyway, she's a tiny little thing. Perfectly healthy and in proportion, but Siamese are pretty skinny and small anyway, and I think she's on the small side of average for her age.

I hope this passes quickly, she's not happy!

[cozietoesie]

Oneago's litter brother sired a litter when he was just over 5 months old. (To the alleged consternation of the breeder.) Perhaps Siamese are very 'prompt' in coming into season first?

[Hoplikeabunny]

Yes possibly, it's not something I've specifically read about them, but is definitely a possibility. I am absolutely not going to breed from her, but in a way it's a small shame, she's so lovely, and she's have absolutely gorgeous babies! Not that I am in any way tempted, she is firmly a pet.

[cozietoesie]

Oneago's mother had her first litter, killed Oneago's litter sister and abandoned Oneago and his brother at birth. (They had to be raised by the breeder.) It's not always a good experience for everyone - so you're quite right in my view.

[coffeeisnectar]

We took in a stray female cat and vet was unsure if she was pregnant or had recently had a litter so we had to keep her in until we knew for sure. We found out when she came into season, hurling herself at the Windows and screeching to get out. At 3am. Displaying to our very bewildered neutered boy cat and I rang the vet who told me to bring her in and he gave her an injection to stop it. She was spayed soon after!

[FishOn]

They seem to do it much earlier here in Canada. We adopted a boy cat aged 13 weeks and he'd been done already

[cozietoesie]

I think you'll find that the Cat Group Policy Statement - linked to in the ICC guidance itself linked above - makes allowance for a 10-12 week neutering option for rescue animals. (Males I think but I can't remember precisely.)

Was your lad from a shelter?

[cozietoesie]

No, I was wrong. There's no mention of gender as far as I can see.