How can I maintain sanity while I await my horny cat's vet appointment?
June 1, 2014 2:19 AM   Subscribe

My adolescent kitten is in heat. Unfortunately, it's not quite hot enough to melt my eardrums, so both of us suffer while she stands next to the front door and yowls in vain for tomcat dick. She seems as miserable as she's making me. Unfortunately, her appointment to get fixed isn't til Wednesday. Is there anything I can do to make her less screetchy in the meantime?
posted by t(h)om(as) to Pets & Animals (16 answers total)
 
Ring the vet and get a sedative prescribed.
posted by taff at 3:58 AM on June 1, 2014 [1 favorite]


I am not a vet, this is not veterinary advice...

I have heard of an old wife's tale that in this particular pinch, some cat owners....wet a q-tip and use it like a little feline dildo. Extensive googling just now was inconclusive as to whether this is 100% vet-approved, but some hits suggested that it is a suggestion cited in some cat-care books.

Perhaps calling the vet and asking if this would at least tide you over until Wednesday.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:56 AM on June 1, 2014


EmpressCallipygos, what you are proposing is abuse.
posted by travelwithcats at 4:58 AM on June 1, 2014 [9 favorites]


Mod note: Just a note: OP has actually already ruled out the Q-tip thing, so we can go forward without debate on that. Thanks.
posted by taz (staff) at 5:00 AM on June 1, 2014 [2 favorites]


Kinetic Jr, veterinary surgical assistant, says you could try catnip, boxes and toys to distract her. She said to get a few different brands, some fresh, some dried, put some in a sock, sprinkle some on the ground. Try wadding up paper and having the cat chase the paper. A few boxes for the cat to jump into may keep her occupied.

Also, try Bach's Rescue Remedy, but confirm with the vet first. If those don't work, ask for a sedative.
posted by kinetic at 5:14 AM on June 1, 2014 [1 favorite]


Is Wednesday really the soonest you can get the poor cat fixed? It may be worth calling another vet or two. I suspect you could get this done on Monday, or maybe even today if you're lucky. Wednesday is a long time for your household to have to put up with kitty pon farr. No good for you, no good for the cat!
posted by Ursula Hitler at 5:47 AM on June 1, 2014 [4 favorites]


I hate to say it, but you might not even be able to get her fixed Wednesday: aren't you supposed to wait until the cat is out of heat?

Call your vet today to check, and also to check on sedatives.
posted by easily confused at 6:48 AM on June 1, 2014 [7 favorites]


I had my cat fixed while she was in heat. I've heard it's slightly more expensive. I didn't price compare (heat vs non-heat). They said bring her in it at x o'clock and it'll be $x. Waiting until after heat was over would have been too big a misery for her and me. Plus you increase the chances that she'll escape.

I would seek an earlier appointment.
posted by shoesietart at 7:38 AM on June 1, 2014


Can your vet board her until her appointment on Wednesday?

The majority of vets are not open except in the case of an emergency on Sundays. Even if you could, with your presence and authority, convince a veterinarian to operate on her today, she has not been fasted and could regurgitate her stomach contents. This increases the risk of complications for surgery.

Cats can be spayed while in heat. The uterus is more vascular, and the procedure may take a little longer because more time is spent tying off blood vessels. Spaying a cat that is in heat does not significantly increase the risk of the surgery. Signs of estrus should cease 24-48 hours after her spay.
posted by Seppaku at 8:01 AM on June 1, 2014


Don't use a q-tip, hire her an escort! I'm not sure how hard it is to find "teaser toms," but that would help her.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:02 AM on June 1, 2014 [2 favorites]


veterinary services, just like plumbing and electrical services, can be commanded right now in exchange for money. they are professionals, and "professional" means when i want you to do something right now and am willing to pay for it, you will do it. fix my cat!
posted by bruce at 8:10 AM on June 1, 2014


Since Rescue Remedy is homeopathic "medicine" that is really just alcohol and water you might have more luck with something like children's benadryl, which anxious cats are often given before air travel. However I have no idea if something like this would be recommended in a cat going through heat.

You could take her to an emergency vet right now and see if they will perform the surgery but 01) it will cost you up to 5x the usual price and 02) I'm about 50/50 on whether or not they would even do it, as it is not a medical emergency.

re: boarding her - I would be very very surprised if any pet boarding place would be willing to take on a cat in heat. Even if they have no other cats being boarded at the time, it will likely create problems for them down the line since she will excitingly scent everything she comes into contact with.

You can absolutely have your cat spayed while she is in heat, but it is a somewhat more intricate procedure as seppaku mentions above.
posted by elizardbits at 8:33 AM on June 1, 2014 [2 favorites]


Just wanted to note that if you do try Rescue Remedy, there is a special version without alcohol that is suitable for pets. Do not give her the standard adult human stuff.
posted by mymbleth at 8:46 AM on June 1, 2014 [1 favorite]


catnip? I don't know if a stoned horny kitty is better or worse. I await your reply.
posted by Gungho at 9:45 AM on June 1, 2014 [3 favorites]


Since Rescue Remedy is homeopathic "medicine" that is really just alcohol and water

I'm not a huge fan of homeopathic hooeie but we got rescue remedy when nothing else was working and now use it religiously when something upsetting is going to happen around our cats (vet, road trip, moving, whatever). We've gone from one cat that literally poops on the bed in front of us to express his anxiety to a fairly mellow chilled out feline who purrs on my lap through whatever trauma he's experiencing (vet excluded - this has made vet tolerable, but still scary).

Definitely get the "for pets" version, order it from Amazon in the next 15 minutes and you can get it delivered tomorrow with one-day Amazon prime shipping. Also available locally depending on where you live but you might have to hunt more. Give it a shot.
posted by arnicae at 9:46 AM on June 1, 2014


My mother would press cold wet hand towel against our cat's bottom area when she went into heat before being spayed. She claimed it brought the cat some relief.
posted by Atreides at 3:47 PM on June 1, 2014


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