Kitten season. It is here, and it will return time and time again. America is facing an epidemic of newborn and unwanted kittens. Many of which will end up being killed via government law enforcement, A.K.A Animal Control.
Learning about spaying and neutering cats is an important step in stopping an overpopulation of felines set to be in line on Death Row.
Female cats that are not spayed will go into heat seasonally in both the spring and fall, and have the natural ability to go into heat several times during the season.
Many local non-profit and even government agencies in the ChicagoLand area have programs for low cost or no cost spay and neuter. For example, DuPage County Animal Control provides this service for both male and female dogs and cats if you are receiving public assistance and live within DuPage County.
Kelly Tome, a former suburban woman who has started Love Paws, a pending non-profit organization wants the public to become more educated when it comes to kitten season.
“(Some think) one litter isn't that big of a deal. (However,) one female cat having just four kittens a year and just two females per litter, can be the cause of over 10,000 kittens being born over the next seven years.”
Tome went on to provide her opinion further saying, “Let's face the facts. Most cats have more than one litter a year and usually more than 4 kittens in a litter. If you multiply the people who share the attitude that ‘one litter isn’t that big of a deal’ one can begin to see why we have the population problems we have with cats.”
Just like the Bee, a non-spayed female cat of reproductive age is called a queen.
There are five stages in the reproductive cycle of the non-spayed female cat.
Proestrus: The female is attractive to the male, but unwilling to mate. Length: 1-2 days.
Oestrus: This is when the female cat is receptive to the male. External signs such as a swollen vulva or bloody discharge, but these can be very slight and are not as obvious as dogs.
The main signs that can be observed are behavioral.
Loud vocalizing, rolling on the floor, elevating the tail and a decrease in appetite.
Contrary to popular belief, even if the female does not get pregnant during this time, she will go back into heat within several days.
If the female is not mated, she will go back into heat within several days.
Interestrus: The period between oestrus cycles if the female isn't bred. Length: 2-3 weeks. Metestrus (or Diestrus): period after oestrus or mating. Length: 30-40 days.
If the feline becomes pregnant, pregnancy lasts on average 60-64 days. (A 2-month turn-a-round)
Anestrus: This is a period of inactivity both sexual and hormonal between phases. Length: 2-3 months
Facts To Know:
The first time a female goes into heat usually 6 months to 1 year of age; but has been seen in some cats as early as four months of age, and for some not until they are 1 year old.
Cats are considered to be seasonal breeders, most often showing signs of mating behavior in the spring and fall.
Cats are induced ovulates, meaning that they only ovulate (release an egg from the ovary) if mated.
If not mated (no ovulation), the oestrus phase of the cycle will return in 1 - 3 weeks.
Multiple matings produce more ovulations; more than one male can be the father of a litter.
Cats can get pregnant during their first heat cycle, but this is not healthy as a 6-month old cat is not yet fully grown and complications for the mother and the kittens are more likely.
For cats that will be pets, it is recommended to spay them before the first heat, eliminating the risk of accidental pregnancy and reproductive diseases later on in life.
Cats can be spayed while in heat or pregnant but there is an additional risk due to the engorged vessels and tissue of the reproductive tract. This means a higher chance of bleeding during surgery or other complications.
Another Con: The cost of surgery while in heat or pregnant is often higher as well.
Kelly Tome, of Love Paws added, “Spay and neuter your animals people. Just think in you spay your female you will be saving a minimum of 10,000 euthanized cats and kittens.”
Love Paws organization can be found via Facebook at:
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