Q: Do I really need to get my kitten fixed? What if I want her to have kittens when she’s grown?
A: I’m guessing you’ve never heard the sounds made by a female cat in heat. The caterwauling — a noise right up there with a panther scream or a heavy metal band — goes on day and night for what seems like forever. Unaltered males are just as loud and obnoxious, especially when two or more of them are fighting for the favor of a receptive female. Your female’s scent goes out through the neighborhood, and males from all around will gather beneath your window to serenade her.
Living with an intact cat — female or male — isn’t pleasant. Even if they’re indoor cats, when females are in season or males catch the scent of an amorous female, their only goal is to escape and roam in search of a mate. They’re clever and quick, and all too often they succeed in their escape and mating attempt, disappearing for days and often returning — if it returns at all — with bite wounds from fights or a litter of kittens in their womb.
Males will start spraying your home with their incredibly stinky urine to mark their territory and ward off potential invaders. Kittens as young as 4 or 5 months old can go into season and become pregnant, so it’s not as if they’re going to wait until they’re physically mature or you’re ready for that litter.
If you’re prone to kitten fever, my advice is to start volunteering to foster litters of kittens for your local shelter or cat rescue group. You get to enjoy the fun of having kittens around and then send them off to live happily ever after with their new families.
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
