How soon after giving birth can you spay a cat?

[Real_Rush]

OK, I’ll try to make a long story short: I moved into my new farm back in December. There is a mobile home nearby that had a calico kitty hanging around, and it wasn’t long before I noticed she would come over periodically to help herself to the food I leave out for my barn kitty. I talked to neighbors about her, and they said she was a stray they started feeding when they moved in because at the time she was pregnant and very skinny. They like animals, but are more dog people, so really don’t care about momma kitty. Just couldn’t stand to see her starve. Said she gave birth to 2 kittens.

I’ve seen one kitten (also calico) approx. 8 weeks old now, has started following momma over to my place. Have never seen the other one, so don’t know if something happened to it or just too feral. I’m now almost positive momma kitty is preggers again. I honestly wouldn’t mind keeping all the babies from the next litter as barn kitties. My place went unused as a farm for several years, so lots of critters to be eradicated in the barns. My question is, how long after she gives birth can I take momma kitty in to be spayed so I can break the cycle? I will also take in current kitten, before she can start cranking out litters of her own. Just wish I could find whoever the tomcat is and take him in too…

[Marshfield]

She can be spayed now. Otherwise, a couple of weeks post weaning for a spay

[4Martini]

I couldn’t drive after my C section for ten days nor carry anything over 20 pounds. So I guess it depends on the size of the cat and if the vet is in walking distance (totally kidding here

[IdahoRider]

@Real Rush;8574239

I’m now almost positive momma kitty is preggers again. I honestly wouldn’t mind keeping all the babies from the next litter as barn kitties.

I will also take in current kitten, before she can start cranking out litters of her own.

Call around and find out if there is a feral cat program that will do everyone at a reduced cost.

Also, if she is pregnant and has another litter that you keep as barn kitties, get everyone in that litter spuetered before they start having babies. I wouldn’t wait more than three or four months to “fix” the kittens.
Sheilah

[Real_Rush]

4Martini– have you already had 4 today? And didn’t invite any of us over? :winkgrin:

IdahoRider– There is a great discount mobile vet I’ve taken all the strays to over the years, and she’s in my area today but was already full for surgeries. (only $50 for feline spay, $25 for neuter!) Hopefully, momma kitty will have given birth and can take her in next month when vet is back in my area. And yes, I take anything and everything I can get my hands on to get fixed. My motto is once I bring them back home, if they stay, they stay; if not, then oh well, I’ve done my part. I always have the vet tip an ear just in case.

[bdj]

You can spay pretty much anytime, based on my experience with the TNR program I used to volunteer with. Since that was a monthly event, they got cats in all stages - if one came in who was nursing, she’d go to a specific vet and be done as a “side spay” so she could go back to nursing when she was released. Not sure if your vet would be comfortable with that, but it’s worth the ask.

[snowblaze]

My parents got their cat spayed when her kittens were 8 weeks old. She was already pregnant again. Do it now!

[hasahorse]

We had a feral spayed on the same day she delivered. She had one stuck in her that she couldn’t push out after 2 were born alive. She didn’t suffer any adverse effects. Was able to nurse the 2 with success, and lived 10 more years with us.

[vxf111]

You can spay now and do a spay abort (the sooner the better on that front). Good on you for stepping up to the plate for her!

[Beethoven]

You can do a flank spay before weaning the kittens. That’s what we did with any TNR cats that were obviously nursing or gave birth shortly after we trapped them. We would just keep the kittens warm while their mom was out.

[cloudyandcallie]

[QUOTE=Marshfield;8574318]
She can be spayed now. Otherwise, a couple of weeks post weaning for a spay[/QUOTE]

Please spay her now. You will have more cats dumped off, and spaying will prevent the birth of more kittens. I have had rescued cats spayed when they were pregnant. The calico kitten is about 90% sure to be a queen also, so she’ll need to be spayed soon. I know some shelters were doing juvenile spaying a while back, but I like to wait till they are at least 4 months or 6 months old but a cat can get pregnant at that age.

[Casey09]

I’ve recently gone through this. I was planning on taking the mama cat in for altering when I heard meowing from the kittens. However, I had no idea where they were in the barn. I didn’t actually see the kittens for weeks after that. Had I taken mama in to be spayed at that time, I don’t know that I could have found the kittens to keep them warm.
I actually did what is a very risky thing and waited until the kittens were a few months old and took everyone in at once. I was glad I did it,though, because the vet said that I probably should keep them in an enclosed area for another night. I really don’t have an enclosed area in my barn, so I had to keep them crated in my heated garage (which worked out well because it was winter and they were warm after surgery). I’d have been nervous to leave the kittens outside without their mama overnight, and I’m not sure I could’ve caught them to put them with her. Don’t underestimate her ability to keep her babies hidden from you.
If it were me, I’d wait until the babies are weaned. You may still have to do a spay abort at that time, but at least you won’t have to worry about finding the babies to make sure they’re warm and the vet warned me that releasing them the night have surgery could have made them vulnerable if they weren’t fully awake.