Can You Spay a Cat in Heat? Everything You Need To Know

What Is Heat in Cats?

Heat (estrus) is a female cat’s reproductive cycle.

Cats reach puberty or sexual maturity around 6 to 9 months of age, but it can occur as early as 3 months or as late as 18 months.

After puberty, a female cat, called a queen, develops her reproductive cycle, which will continue throughout most of her life, giving her chances to mate and become pregnant.

A cat is polyestral, meaning that she has several estrous cycles per season, each usually lasting three to four weeks unless she’s pregnant.

Her cycles are also influenced by the season, and she will come into heat during the longer days, typically from February to October. But many domestic cats who are around artificial lights can cycle all year long.

Cats will only ovulate and have a chance to become pregnant if mating happens.

A cat’s heat cycle is a time when she becomes fertile and able to mate. It consists of four phases:

• Proestrus—Only lasts a few days when the hormone estrogen is increasing

• Estus—Typically lasts a week but can last up to 19 days in some cats; this is the part of the cycle referred to as heat, where the cat will show mating behaviors and allow for mating

• Interestrus—The cat will either become pregnant, which lasts about 62 days, or enter this timeframe (usually a month, if not shorter) marked by a decrease in heat-related behaviors

• Anestrus—Usually a few months where no hormone activity occurs, in between cycles

Sometimes it can be hard to tell if your cat is in heat, especially since cats don’t bleed during their cycles like humans.

Symptoms can include:

• Change in appetite

• Restlessness

• Rolling around on the floor

• Licking herself

• Constant meowing

• Increased affection toward people and other cats

• Urinary accidents or urine spraying around the home

• Trying to escape their home to find a mate

Since there are the health and behavioral benefits, as well as ethical considerations, cats are often spayed before they have their first heat.

Spaying your cat involves the surgical removal of her reproductive organs (ovaries, uterus, and ovarian tubes) and stops her heat cycle.

Spayed cats will no longer go through heat.

Can You Spay a Cat in Heat?

Yes, a cat in heat can be spayed.

Their polyestrous behavior means they can have little time in between cycles, which can make it challenging to schedule the spay for a time when the cat is not in heat.

However, many veterinarians recommend not doing it since the cat’s reproductive organs and related tissues and vessels become filled with blood and the tissues become more easily torn.

The procedure becomes more complicated with a higher risk since there is a greater chance of hemorrhage and infection, so the veterinarian will need to take extra precautions and time to complete the surgery safely if the cat is in heat.

Because of this, extra fees are often included for the procedure, so cost can become a concern for some pet parents.

Also, spaying your cat in while she’s in heat can lead to post-operative mammary gland hyperplasia, a condition where the mammary glands suddenly become enlarged.

This happens because of the sudden shift and change in hormones, progesterone to be specific, as the cat’s reproductive organs are removed.

This condition generally clears up over time.

While it’s possible to spay a cat in heat, it isn't always recommended. Speak with your veterinarian prior to scheduling your cat’s spay so the most appropriate decision can be made for you and your cat.