Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/My 9 month old kitten

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 4/15/2009


Question
Hi, I have a 9 month old kitten who has recently began to get very vocal and experiencing what seems to be sexual behaviour, rolling round the floor making noises with her bum in the air. She hasn't gone out yet nor has she been spayed as I think its only her rights to allow 1 litter only 1 litter mind! I am unsure of how to deal with this as she is my first cat. She only seems to do it when I'm on my period could this be because she is scenting me or is it she is in season or is it just normal?? please help it would be very much appreciated.

kind regards

Charlie x

Answer
Charlie X,

Your kitten is in heat! Unless you are a breeder and she is a registered cat you should have her spayed immediately. She does not need to have a litter before being spayed, that does not help her at all. If YOU want kittens then go to a shelter where there are a huge amount of kittens being put to death every day because of overcrowding and not enough homes and adopt. You shouldn't add to the amount of kittens being born. If everyone let their cat have "one litter" then think of how many additional poor little kittens would be killed by shelters, hurt, die from illness, or starve to death. Please don't add to the amount. Get her spayed ASAP!

Her behavior is probably a coincidence with you. She will cycle in and out of heat until she is either bred or spayed. It can become very annoying and irritating, and it is not good for her physically to come into heat often as she can get a uterine infection.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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