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Question
how long should i keep the female cat away for the male cat so that i can get the female cat speardie by the vet.
John,
Is this kitty pregnant or nursing? I would recommend that you get your male kitty neutered immediately and keep your female cat indoors. If your cat is pregnant or nursing she should be allowed to wean her own kittens. Cats don't need help to wean their babies, they usually do it somewhere between 5-8 weeks depending on the size of the litter and mom's disposition. Kittens should stay with their mother and siblings for a minimum of 10-12 weeks, this allows them to learn how to be cats and reduces some behavioral issues common in kittens. For instance kittens learn bite inhibition from their mother and siblings by biting them and being bitten back. Essentially the idea is that they learn not to bite hard because it hurts. If your female cat is nursing kittens she can become pregnant even if she's recently given birth if she gets with a male cat she'll become pregnant again. Depending on the age of the female cat and your vet's preference if she isn't nursing or pregnant she can be spayed as early as 8 weeks of age. Most vets don't spay/neuter such young kittens, in fact many vets prefer to work with a slightly older kitten that hasn't yet become sexually mature, around 4-6 months is usually pretty standard. Most vet clinics require your kitty to be current on her vaccines prior to spaying her so a full check up is necessary. Deworming your kitty then would probably be a good idea because cats are often born with intestinal parasites. I'd be happy to go over what will happen with your kitty when she's spayed if you like.
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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