Methods to Avoid Cat Pregnancies

The castration is the permanent contraceptive: it is a question of a routine operation to extirpate the ovary and the uterus through a small incision. It has the effect of suppressing the cycle of heat of the female and disables her to have babies. If we want that our cat produces, but we want to avoid that she mates in a determined moment- because she is still too young, or she has had a litter recently or we stay away, the veterinarian can prescribe hormones to suppress or to retard her heat's period. But this is a temporary method. As soon as the cat has finished her reproductive function, it's better to sterilize her that to continue giving her hormones permanently.

Q/A Is there some danger in neutering my cat?
If the cat is healthy and doesn't have cardiovascular problems or of coagulation, there is little danger, though this exists always in a surgical operation. The risks of not sterilizing her are bigger: a female without sterilizing will be always in heat or always pregnant and she can get to have uterine cysts or problems of uterus.

My Chinchilla of 13 months, Febe, is not in heat yet, Is it normal?

Breeds of long hair are in the habit of coming later to the puberty and the normal average is in the habit of being 12 months. And also they have less external signs of heat, which can pass unnoticed. Don't worry, but pay attention to any small change. In the cats of little size that have grown bad, the puberty can be late. The best thing is that you do a review to him.

Can hormone pills for cats have collateral effects? And if so, are they serious?

The pills of progesterone that are in the habit of being used normally can have serious side effects if they are used for a long time. Among these there are the lethargy, the obesity, the diabetes and the infections of the uterus. your veterinarian will advise what frequency and how much time they must administer to the cat.

What number of litters is excessive? When are they a danger for the health of the mother?

A young female can have three litters in one year, but they are too much: they can exhaust and affect the general condition of the kitties. The ideal thing is an annual litter for some years although, for a cat that is a good mother, one more occasional litter a year will not force her too much. 

When are females too old to reproduce?
It's better that they procreate young . The ideal age is between 12 and 15 months for the first litter and later one for year (see above) up to 5 or 6 years of age. A female of more than 6 years must not cover, although she gets pregnant; there is no feline menopause. For it, it is necessary to sterilize her when she has stopped producing.

I have heard that it is necessary to allow females to have a litter before sterilized them. Is it true?

Not. There is absolutely no advantage in allowing that the cat should have only a litter and there are many disadvantages, because you will be responsible for the kitties. Certainly, if you want that your cat has just one litter, instead of dedicating to have babies, you can mate once and then neuter her. But you must wait until she has between 12 and 15 months of age before mating her.