3 1/2 month-old kittens going into heat! what is this about?

[freeplessinseattle]

Today I was talking to a shelter/pet shop owner that I brought some kittens to that I had found. she barely had room but was willing to take them (and she has nice "kitty suites" and is no-kill, so she was my first choice) and noted that there were more litters being brought in than usual, and while it could just be she is getting more known she also said that she has had to spay a few 3 1/2 month old kittens that were already going into heat. It's not unusual to get the surgery that young, but going into heat so young is unheard of. She said that would be about the equivalent of an 8-10 year old child giving birth.

When I asked her why she thinks this is she speculated that species tend to reproduce more before a great disaster. Ha anyone ever heard anything about this theory, or any reasons that acts would be going into heat so young? I'm already so anxious about Iran, climate change, economic disaster, the general insanity of Bush, etc. this just freaked me out, but maybe there is another explanation?

[funkybutt]

1. I don't know, but girls are menstrating earlier

even 8-10 year old girls.

[dropkickpa]

2. Cats are seasonally poly-estrus

First heat can be at 4-6 months of age, so they aren't too too early (and, really, how accurate are the birth dates that she has for animals brought into a shelter?). Mauturation also varies depending on breed, persians are notorious for being over a year old before their first heat, while burmese and siamese tend to be younger, at around 4-6 months. Also, "alley" cats tend to cycle younger than homed cats. Exceptionally warm springs and summers seem to make "kitten season" (in shelter parlance) heavier.

I think the explosion in cat population can be directly attributed to the economy. More people are poorer, so more people do not have to means to get their pets spayed. Also, it may be that people are losing their homes, being forced to move, and are abandoning their pets. I say it's Bush's fault and I'm sticking by that.

[freeplessinseattle]

3. yeah, I should get a second and 3rd opinion/experience

I'm going to the Humane Society today and will ask them if they've had the same experiences. Since there's an actual vet on staff she would have a better assessment. Maybe even though this lady has a lot of experience maybe it is just that there are more smaller cats born lately so that is why she thought some of them were younger (oftentimes kittens are there since very young, such as some darlings in an incubator that caught my attention) and sometimes prgenant moms are brought in, so I was thinking maybe some of the instances were with ones she'd have a better assessment of age. and of course smaller cats go along with a poorer economy.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

4. When an abandoned

5-6 month old kitten showed up at my house 13 years ago, I brought her to my vet for a checkup and shots. I left her there to be spayed also. Got a phone call a short time later saying she was pregnant, and did I still want her spayed? YES! I was charged more for a combination abortion/spaying, but never regretted that.