Taken in a stray cat, need some advice

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Namira Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

On the 13th of July at midnight, I heard a female cat meowing, so I let her in and gave her some food and water.

I thought I saw two little reddish-brown drops on the floor during the night and one the following morning; I let her sleep in the house and then let her back out in the morning (I haven't seen any more drops since then).

She hasn't moved from my garden since, so I started looking to see if she had an owner (called animal rescues, the council, the vet, put up posts on websites and local Facebook groups, asked around the neighbourhood and local shops...). About ten days went by and the search turned up nothing.

So I went to the vet to see if she was microchipped, but she wasn't.

This little girl really touched my heart, so I booked a consultation for a health check. The vet estimated her age at about a year old, weighing around 7 lbs 11 oz, and told me she’s in good health 🤍 I had her wormed and microchipped in my name (a big first for me as I’ve never had a pet before, and I certainly wasn't expecting those prices 😬).

I explained that on the first night, she was meowing a lot and rubbing herself against me and the door frames... and that she’s stopped now.

The vet said she was likely in heat and if she’s stopped, she might be pregnant... but it was too early to tell then, and since the surgery was closing for the holidays, we’re due to meet again soon in September.

But here we are, about 40 days after she arrived, and I don't really get the impression she's pregnant – no "pinking up", her belly isn't particularly big... on the scales, I've seen a weight gain of about 7 oz in two weeks since the start of August, but I don't know if that's significant.

It took her a while to start coming into the house gradually; she used to just stay and sleep in the garden. But now I've decided to keep her inside for 3 weeks (I've set up a cat tree and I'm trying to keep her entertained), just so that before the vet appointment, she can confirm or deny if there’s a pregnancy (to avoid the cat risking a run-in with any males).

(I feel a bit sorry for her, you can tell she really wants to go out).

This brings me to my question: it's been 40 days and I don't think I've seen her in heat (I didn't even know what it looked like until I watched some YouTube videos).

So, could it be possible that she’s already been spayed? The vet checked her ears for a tattoo or a notch but there was nothing, so she assumed she wasn't.

I was wondering, just in case I book her in for the surgery – imagine if she’d already been spayed in the past, it would be an unnecessary operation... (and the cost is no small thing).

Is there any way to know if a cat is spayed without going straight to surgery?

Thanks for your advice! 😁

Translated from French
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    • ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi, I’m a vet student. Yes, it’s entirely possible that she has already been spayed without having a tattoo, an ear tip, or an easily visible scar. Conversely, not observing her in heat for forty days doesn’t confirm she’s been spayed: some heat cycles are very discreet, and pregnancy remains a possibility.
    At this stage, if she had been mated just before she arrived, a consultation with an ultrasound should normally make it much easier to check for pregnancy than it would have been at the very start. A weight gain of about 7oz (200g) on its own isn't enough to draw a conclusion.
    To determine if she has been spayed, the vet can look for a scar, perform an ultrasound—although normal ovaries are sometimes difficult to visualise—or suggest a hormone blood test, specifically for AMH. A positive result indicates the presence of ovarian tissue; a negative result is consistent with her being spayed.
    You’re right to keep her indoors until your appointment: if she is neither spayed nor pregnant, a single trip outside could be enough for her to be mated.
    Finally, small red-brown droplets are not a normal sign of heat in a female cat. If they reappear, or if you notice her having difficulty urinating, any vulval discharge, a loss of appetite, or lethargy, you should see a vet urgently rather than waiting for your scheduled appointment.

    Best regards,

    Romane

    Translated from French

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