Heat Cycle - How Long?

[Pat S.]

I still need a little advice with Grace. Her kittens were six weeks old last Thursday, and she's been in heat for almost a week. She was an outside cat when I adopted her, so she really wants OUT and howls all the time. How long can I expect this heat cycle to last?

Ideally, I had planned to start adopting the kittens out at eight weeks and have her spayed then. If I had her spayed now, I assume the kittens won't be able to nurse anymore, and I know it's riskier for bleeding during surgery. However, if it's going to go on much longer, it might be worth it.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[davet]

in heat untill they are bred..or sometimes up to 6 weeks...if your are goiing to pick her pockets, do it soon

[Pat S.]

Davet -

So, you're saying I should just go ahead and have her spayed now??? The kittens are still nursing, but they are doing fine with canned and dry kitten food, too.

I'm going nuts keeping all these cats and kittens segregated. She's still very aggressive toward my other cats, and with this new problem....

[davet]

done as soon as possible, and i would suggest, and don't know if this will go over with your vet, to put sub cutaneous skin sutures so there are no ends hanging out that the kittens can tog, tun, tugh,an heck get ahold of...don't know how you would suggest that to you vet but maybe tell him/her you saw it in readers digest.

[Traci]

Pat, what Davet means is absolvable sutures, no need to remove them post-op.

I'd suggest spaying ASAP too, Grace will probably naturally ward off attempts to nurse after she's spayed. When you bring her home, you'll need to keep her activity reduced for a couple days anyway, so an excellent time to maybe seperate her from the kittens for a couple days.

[Pat S.]

Thanks for the advice! I'm taking her in tonight for surgery tomorrow a.m. At least that will give us all some relief!

In the meantime, I just looked across the street and saw the other set of kittens in my neighbor's driveway and in the street!!! These are the ones born to Grace's kitten from her last litter - a tiny cat who comes over every day, begging for food.

I would hate to see my blood pressure right now! There has been a steady stream of kittens at that house since I moved here six years ago. I just wrote them a letter and put it in their mailbox, but it's not like they don't know about accidental pregnancies (teenage daugher and all the cats). URRRRR.