Expert: Ali - 1/13/2009

Question
I currently have a stray cat that I am caring for.  She goes into heat almost monthly, I know this is normal.  I have appointment to spay her in February.  My questions are:
1) she is "spraying", it seems only when she is in heat.  Is this normal or is she a "dirty cat"?
2) I have one other female cat in house that is not taking to her too well, how can I help them get along?  Will the spaying help?

FYI you will get an undeliverable message when you e-mail me, but, I will get it.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Answer
Ed,

It's not uncommon for intact female cats to spray within their territory although it is somewhat offensive to most people. If you suspect that this kitty may have a uterine infection or that something else is going on health wise it would be prudent to have her assessed by a vet without delay. Uterine infections (referred to as pyometra in the veterinary community when severe) are common in unsterilized female cats and they can be fatal. The horns of a cat's uterus (unlike people cats have a V shaped uterus) can fill with pus which may or may not exit via the vaginal opening, if it doesn't the uterus could rupture sending pus throughout the abdomen and leading to almost certain death. I do think that a vet check would be prudent especially since her spay is booked in several weeks just to rule out anything serious going on. If the vet finds an infection s/he will likely recommend immediate surgery to spay the kitty in question to avoid potentially serious health complications or death.

As for the resident cat/new cat relations it's very important to realize that cats are quite territorial, they will defend their territory instinctively or shut down and they don't like change. Proper introductions tend to minimize these issues. Since questions about new cat introductions are very common I will give you the short version and recommend that you read up on my previous answers on this subject. I recommend that new cats/kittens coming into a home with a resident cat be isolated in a room of their own with all of the usual kitty amenities for a minimum of 2-3 weeks. This isolation period has a few purposes, it allows the cats to become comfortable with each other's scents, sounds, etc gradually and on their terms, it provides a quarantine period to prevent the spread of viral or bacterial infections that may not initially be apparent when a new cat comes into a home and it allows you to become familiar with what is normal in terms of basics like litter box behavior, appetite, energy level, etc as well as allowing you to become accustomed to any individual quirks that the cat may have. Spaying the new girl in the house will certainly help because sex hormones can create serious problems as they increase the territorial behavior that's instinctive in cats potentially leading to nasty fights or house soiling. You can also try using a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy which is a blend of flower essences that helps to calm and reassure. I always keep a bottle on hand because I have seen it accomplish amazing things with foster kitties and permanent residents in my home over the years. You can usually find Rescue Remedy in health food stores, naturopathic pharmacies, some mainstream pharmacies in the section with supplements and vitamins and I believe you can also purchase this product online. Rescue Remedy is a very safe remedy that is used by some vets and pet parents throughout the world to help animals of many descriptions cope with fear, anxiety, trauma, etc. I don't generally recommend administering this remedy directly by mouth except in the event of an emergency or a serious behavioral issue. You can add 5-7 drops of this remedy to a bowl of fresh water for each of the girls daily. You may be pleasantly surprised at how fast positive changes start happening.