Cat can’t go out and seems fed up

[lovelyjubbly888]

We got a cat a few weeks ago from a woman who couldn’t look after her anymore. She had kittens almost 3 months ago so isn’t neutered.
When we took her to the vets to see about it they suggested waiting until January, as her breasts are still quite enlarged, and to give her time to recover.
I was a bit surprised as online suggests it could be done sooner than this.
But in the mean time the vet has said we should not let her out at all until then as of course she could very easily become pregnant again.
I feel terrible that we have to keep her cooped up for over 2 months, she’s a young thing full of energy and is desperate to get out.
She has plenty of toys but she does need outdoor stimulation too.

Does anyone have any advice? Can we get her neutered sooner than this and the vet is being very cautious? Or do we both just need to put up with it?

Find another vet and get her spayed.

Agreed.

If a vet is putting you off spending money right away that seems like a good vet tbh, they are making a decision based on the health of the animal. I wouldn't ignore it.

Could you harness her & anchor a long lead so she can wander round the garden under supervision? It might help her a bit till she can have free reign again.

Another vote for trying a harness. There are too many entire males out there.

Definitely find another vet.

Your vet is talking out of his arse. Go to a different vet and have her speyed as soon as possible

I had many cats over 43 years

I have got a harness tonight.
What would be the reason for the vet delaying it so much though? I can’t see any benefit for them, so I don’t understand.

I am considering emailing the vets just to voice what I have said, but not sure if that’s a bit cheeky expecting a vet response without an appointment?
It was DH who took her so unfortunately he didn’t really question it like I would have.

Cats Protection guidance

8 weeks after giving birth.

@TerfTalking I know, this is what I had read myself hence my confusion!

You kinda lock them into their hormonal state so you don't spay cats & dogs near their season or soon after pregnancy. That's how my vet explained it to me.

Oh this makes sense about hormonal state

completely different but I’m just back from seeing some Sami reindeer.

There was a buck they missed getting castrated at the right time and he was going round running and grunting all the time, you don’t want that for cat!

agree waiting another 2 months does seem a long time. I'd get a second opinion

You kinda lock them into their hormonal state so you don't spay cats & dogs near their season or soon after pregnancy. That's how my vet explained it to me.

This is true but she gave birth three months ago. If OP waits until January, the cat may well go into heat again and OP will have to wait even longer.

Every time a cat goes into season the risk of Pyometra increases too - it's not just about hormones.

I agree it's not easy, I guess it's cos she still has obvious breast tissue which is one of the things specifically mentioned in my reading up last night (top tip - avoid US centric official pet stuff, they seem hella keen on centering treatment round the owner's convenience & not the animals health. Declawing, for example!).

Hopefully the harness & garden time will tide her over. Awkward situation but definitely wouldn't write off what the vet said, after all they know they risk losing trade.

Be careful with the harness, some of them are easy to escape from. If she is anything like mine she will get it off within minutes of being outside. A walking jacket style is best. It's like a little dog coat and more difficult to remove, unless you have a Houdini cat. Do try it indoors first to ascertain if she will escape.

Also look up how to get them used to it first, otherwise it may go wrong.

Hopefully the harness & garden time will tide her over. Awkward situation but definitely wouldn't write off what the vet said, after all they know they risk losing trade.

There is no way I'd be letting an unspayed female out on a harness - if she escapes and runs off, OP will have much more to worry about than an early spay.

Personally I would going to a different vet and getting her spayed. I can't find any evidence anywhere that suggests you need to wait five months after birth to get a cat spayed - rescues do it within weeks all the time with no long-lasting damage.

@margotrose

So why would the vet (the expert) who has seen & examined the cat (none of us have) determined it's safer to wait knowing full well that OP could go elsewhere & they'll lose trade?

Sure, as rule these things can be done ASAP but there are always exceptions as I found out with both my dog & my cat who couldn't/can't be done when you would ordinarily expect. The vet gains nothing at all by deferring so safe to assume it's for the cats wellbeing.

As for the harness, it depends on the harness. Test in the house first, lots of highest value treats & supervise with the treats at hand so there's value in the cat staying where you are & not trying to get out of the harness.

So why would the vet (the expert) who has seen & examined the cat (none of us have) determined it's safer to wait knowing full well that OP could go elsewhere & they'll lose trade?

There could be a multitude of different reasons, none of which are related to the health of OP's cat.

Ultimately OP has a choice - lived with an unspayed cat (and all the risks that come with that) or go somewhere else and neuter now. I know what I'd do - living with a cat in heat is horrendous.

Update - we put the harness on her, was about to take her outside and she got out of it! I have no idea quite how, when the middle part was under her abdomen.
So we’ve now abandoned that idea too.
I’ve decided I’m going to ring and book her back in for first week December and discuss with them. Hopefully by then her breasts will have gone back to normal quite a bit and we can get it done sooner.

@lovelyjubbly888 cos cats are tricksy af lol. You could try tightening it? We started ours as a tiny kitten so much easier.

Eitherway, good luck with it all!

Cats are houdinis! I'd never trust any of mine in any kind of harness.