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Cats/Female Kittens

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Expert: - 11/16/2009


Question
Hello Jessica!

My name is, Denise, and someone dropped a male cat off in front of my house and we want to keep him because we love cats but we already have a female kitten that is about 7 months old and we needed to know what age she will come in heat and what age she can get pregnant?

Answer
Hi Denise.  She is getting to the age where she could come into heat at any time, and she can get pregnant on her first heat.  Generally, you can expect a cat's first heat to occur any time after 6 months old.  The average age is 9 months, but many cats DO go into heat younger.  You should schedule an appointment to have one or both of the cats fixed immediately.  Males are simpler and less expensive to neuter, so you could start with him.  But females experience more health benefits if they are fixed before their first heat, including a greatly reduced risk of mammary cancer.  If she goes into heat just once, her chances of mammary cancer will triple.  Also, she will be at almost no risk for deadly diseases of the uterus such as pyometra, and she will be unable to get uterine or ovarian cancer.  So it should be a priority to have her spayed, as well.

Best wishes with your new addition!

Jessica  

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Jessica

Expertise

The areas in which I have gained the most experience are cat health and feral cat management/rescue. I provide supportive care to chronically ill cats, hospice care to terminally ill cats and also am involved in trap-neuter-return efforts. My specialities lie in taming feral cats and in the allopathic treatment of cats with illnesses or special needs. I also have owned Siamese, Himalayans, Abyssinians, Russian Blues, Savannahs, Bengals, Peterbalds, Don Sphynx and Oriental Shorthairs and am well-versed in cat breeds as well as cat behavior and nutrition.

Experience

I have 15 years of extensive experience with cats ranging from breeding to medical care. My daily routine consists of caring for cats with diabetes, thyroid disease, kidney failure, feline leukemia, feline AIDS as well as feral cats. I have experience with liver patients, heart patients, feline infectious peritonitis, cancer, recovery from amputation and trauma, congenital deformities and most every disease in between. I have assisted cats giving birth and hand-nursed kittens who were neglected by their mother from 2 days old through weaning.

Education/Credentials
15 years' hands-on experience

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