How long after a kitteh has kittenz can we get kitteh spayed?

[quadriga]

The barn kitteh that adopted us is preggo, unless it's got an enormous tumor. How long after it has babies can we get it fixed? Oh and I will be the pathetic soul at the grocery store parking lot with the card board box full of kittehs with a sign that says "free kittehs". How long til I can give away said kittehs?

[LeftyMom]

1. Two options:

1. "Emergency spay" Uterus goes bye-bye, kittens-to-be go with. Probably the best option if you don't have potential homes lined up. Costs more than a regular spay.

2. Once the kittens are weaning (6-8 wks) you take her in for a spay job. With an outside cat chances are decent she'll have caught again already, so you might still be looking at the emergency spay option.

[mondo joe]

2. I trust you mean to spay the cat - tubal ligation would be a very unusual surgery

for a cat.

Though there is that video out there about the dog with the vasectomy, so any thing's possible...

[quadriga]

3. yeah that's what I mean

Thought they were the same thing

[LeftyMom]

5. No, the human analogue would be a hysterectomy and oophorectomy

Otherwise the cat would still have the risks associated with retaining the sex organs, including cancer, going into heat, injury while mating or fighting over mating, etc. And it would be crazy expensive. So the whole reproductive tract goes.

[skater314159]

6. Yeah, spaying is good for the cat's health...

... it reduces most cancer risk by 80%, and of course ovarian and unterine cancer chances go down to to 0% since those reproductive organs are removed... also kittehs who are spayed live anywhere from 5 - 10 years longer than those who are not spayed.

Unless you are going to breed a cat, it's best to get them "fixed" when they are young.

[laylah]

4. From a very similar experience

I would let mom nurse for 6 weeks before having her spayed. You can introduce soft food and kitteh food to the babies about then. She will still nurse as needed but it is not as imperative by then. Good luck! Been there, done that.

[Flaxbee]

7. try to do a little more screening for the kitties than just

giving 'em away at the grocery store... you need to know that those little lives are going to responsible, caring people, not just someone who, on the spur of the moment sees a cute kitten and takes it, only to toss it aside if the kitty becomes inconvenient.

See if the barn cat can be spayed now, before she gives birth. Or keep the other kittens until they can be spayed/neutered before you adopt them out - can be done relatively early these days. OR - take the names of those who wish to adopt, tell them they need to pay for the neuter/spay, and then get them all 'fixed' before you adopt them out.

It sounds like a hassle - but it'll prevent heartache, too.

[Wcross]

8. As soon as the kittens are weened. n/t