My vet had recommended spaying my kitten at 6 months. She is only 5 months but appears to have gone into heat! She is meowing a lot, rolling around, sticking her behind in the air. How long do i need to wait before it is safe to spay her? I read it it not a good idea to spay once a kitten is in heat. I am worried about her and hope this will not lead to health issues.

I suggest you seek the advice of a second vet. There are very different views amongst them about when to spay. Many think it is best done much younger, when they recover very quickly. Our girl was spayed at 11 weeks old, back to Mum to snuggle into with familiar surroundings. When we collected her at 12 weeks old, she was happy, bouncy and virtually healed already. She had dissolvable stitches so didn't even need to return to the vet.

I have heard that there can be health problems if cats go into heat but aren't allowed to breed. Not heard that it isn't safe to spay them whilst in heat, but I am not knowledgable about these things. Just suggesting you could get her spayed sooner rather than later.

All the best

Get her booked in for spaying once this heat has finished and before it happens again, and make sure they do a flank spay rather than a midline one as it will be less of a problem.


Heather

Most breeders spay or neuter them before they are released to the new owners. You're going to be hearing a lot of howling for a little while, and probably have a few male suitors at your door. If she gets out and she will want outside -- well, let's not let that happen. I know there are some vets who will spay them while they are starting to go into heat -- but I don't know ... it may be best to make sure she's done before you get her spayed.

Thanks everyone! Today she started acting like her usual self so will get her spayed asap. It was only 4 days or at least 4 that we saw a change in behavior. We were very careful she did not get out and we have no close neighbors with cats so that is good. Our dog was quite annoyed with her though.