Can a female cat be spayed during heat?

It is not recommended to spay a female cat during her heat. During estrus, the female cat's reproductive organs become heavily engorged and vascularized. Performing a spay surgery at this time can lead to heavy bleeding and increase the risk of surgery. If there are no breeding requirements for the female cat, it is suggested to bring her to the pet hospital for spaying about a week after the estrus period. During a female cat's estrus, she may exhibit symptoms such as howling, jumping out of windows, and being clingy. It is advised to close all windows and doors during this time to prevent the cat from jumping out or getting lost.

Firstly, it is not advisable to spay a female cat during her estrus. Female cats usually begin to enter estrus at around 6 months old, indicating that they have reached sexual maturity. However, it is not recommended to breed them at this time because they have not reached physical maturity yet. Pregnancy during this period may lead to dystocia. If there are no breeding requirements, you can bring the female cat to the pet hospital for spaying during non-estrus periods.

Secondly, spaying female cats can prevent them from developing reproductive system diseases such as pyometra, uterine inflammation, and mammary tumors. To a certain extent, this can prolong the cat's lifespan. On the other hand, it can make the cat's personality quieter, avoiding howling and jumping out of windows during estrus. It can also avoid blind breeding, which increases the number of stray cats.

Lastly, it is essential to strengthen post-operative care after the spaying procedure. The cat needs to receive antibiotics via injection or intravenous administration in the hospital for the first three days after surgery to prevent wound inflammation. The surgical wound also needs to be disinfected daily. After the spaying surgery, the cat's activity should be restricted to avoid excessive movement that may cause the wound to split. It is recommended to feed the cat special spaying food after surgery to prevent obesity due to reduced hormone secretion and decreased physical activity.