Can my cat still go into heat after being spayed? When female cats reach sexual maturity, they will go through their first heat cycle, or estrous cycle. Although it can happen as young as four months, the average age is between 6 and 9 months. A female's receptiveness to mating with a male, her manifestation of heat, and her potential for pregnancy all occur during estrus. The female will go throughout the estrous cycle or come into heat on a weekly basis if she doesn't get pregnant, at which point she will either get spayed or become pregnant.
Owners may find certain symptoms that indicate a cat is in heat to be rather bothersome. They shouldn't exhibit those symptoms if they have been spayed. Nonetheless, under certain circumstances, spayed cats may still exhibit signs that they're in heat. The reasons for heat signals in a spayed feline, the symptoms of heat in felines, and the significance of treatment for cats in heat following a spay will all be covered in this article.
Reasons Behind Spayed Cats' Heat Symptoms
1 - Syndrome of Ovarian Remnants
It's likely that estrogen is still being produced by ovarian tissue in a spayed cat if it exhibits signs of heat. There are several possible causes for this. Rarely, a tiny amount of ovarian tissue may be left behind after surgery, enabling ongoing estrogen secretion and thermal cues. In some situations, a female cat may have tissue from her accessory ovaries that is distinct from her main ovaries and may continue to release estrogen following a spay. In more rare instances, during the spay procedure, if a tiny bit of ovarian tissue unintentionally slipped back into the abdomen, it would be able to grow a new blood supply and continue to release estrogen. It's possible for owners to miss behavioral changes in their cats for months following surgery and for them to show no symptoms of heat at all.
Following a spay, a cat exhibiting indications of heat should visit the veterinarian right away for testing. In order to ascertain whether hormone levels were high and consistent with active ovarian tissue, this frequently involves blood work. The surviving reproductive tissue can occasionally be found by imaging techniques like an ultrasound, but it is typically very little. Once an ovarian remnant has been identified in a pet, surgery should be done to find and remove it. This will put an end to undesirable heat-related behaviors and lower the chance of developing diseases like mammary cancer or stump pyometras that are brought on by continuous estrogen exposure.
2 - Stump Pyometra
A tiny stump of uterine tissue stays inside the abdomen wherever the tract is tied up in a spayed cat. Until female hormones are present, the stump will remain a tiny, dormant mass of tissue. On the other hand, this tissue is going to be active if hormones are flowing because of an ovarian remnant and another supply of estrogen. Pyometra is the term for an infection that affects uterine tissue and can occur over time. Vaginal discharge can be seen when a pyometra forms in the stump, and the cat may also exhibit other symptoms like fever, lethargic behavior, or decreased appetite. In cases where a stump pyometra has been identified, both its removal and the location of the ovarian remnant responsible for supplying the hormones may require exploratory surgery. Your cat's veterinarian will assist in choosing the best course of action.
3 - Adrenal Tumors
Hormones can also be produced by adrenal tumors. The two tiny adrenal glands, which are adjacent to the kidneys, are responsible for producing vital hormones for numerous bodily processes. On the other hand, increased hormone production from adrenal gland tumors can result in a variety of symptoms. Rarely, these tumors may release an excessive amount of sex hormones and cause behavioral changes typical of being in heat. In contrast to ovarian tissue, indicators of heat in this case are continuous. To find out if this is the reason for your cat's symptoms, several tests could be run, such as blood testing and an abdominal ultrasound to check for tumors. Both the tumor's visualization and the adrenal gland's removal require exploratory surgery. This procedure may be exceedingly difficult.
4 - Exposure to Hormones
Human topical estrogen-containing lotions have the risk of being inadvertently consumed by cats or other animals. When these lotions are put on the hands or arms of the user, a cuddly cat can readily access them and possibly lick them off. If a female cat is exposed to these lotions, she might experience heat symptoms, but her hormone cycle won't be consistent. She may also exhibit other symptoms of estrogen exposure, such as hair loss, pale gums, swelling of the vulva, and mammary growth. Using gloves when applying the cream, washing your hands afterward, and keeping cats and other pets from touching any area of the body where the cream is applied are the best ways for owners to prevent this.
It wasn't spayed, was it?
A cat that appears to be in heat may, in fact, be intact, which means that she hadn't been spayed in the very first place. This is most frequently observed when an adult cat is adopted or when a stray cat that has not been spayed or had any prior heat cycles is discovered. Owners may assume that a cat is spayed if it was not showing any heat cycles when it was rescued, or they may hear this information from a former carer. In any event, your cat's tummy can be shaved by your veterinarian to look for a spay scar, and if in doubt, the cat's hormone levels can be checked by blood tests. In order to make sure a cat's spayed state can be easily verified, a lot of animal shelters or rescue organizations these days additionally mark a little green or blue mark around the abdomen following a spay.
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