Spring Fever? Cats Are Fighting More Often.

purrs123

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Does anyone else have this problem of their cats fighting more during the Spring? I have two female cats, Ruby & Hazel (I was told they are mother and daughter and that they fought before I got them). They are both also meowing more and playing more (getting the zoomies). But the problem is the fighting and them waking me up with the zoomies and meowing. I'm sleep deprived.

AND, I'm not 100% sure they are spayed. I have taken them to the vet and asked for them to be checked for spay scars and the vet couldn't find any scar on either of them. But she felt Ruby's abdomen and thought she could feel a space where the uterus would be, so she thinks Ruby is probably spayed, but NOT SURE. Hazel is overweight and it was impossible to tell. Neither cat has any tattoos or tipped ear or anything.

I have seen other cats in heat and know the general signs and behaviors and indicators, and I have not seen Ruby or Hazel exhibiting the classic signs of being in heat. But I've also read that some cats just don't show those normal signs and behaviors, but they still go into heat. I have noticed that my cats go through phases where they fight more and then the fighting decreases again. I am now wondering if this is due to one or both of them not being spayed. I used to think it was the full moons and the daylight hours, but now I'm not sure. I have only had them for just over a year and I remember them fighting a lot more last spring, too. They are about 4 or 5 years old now (the vet's guess at their ages). They are indoor-only cats. They are rescues (they had been abandoned by their owners) and I don't know their history before I got them.

I have not seen any male cats hanging around the house at all outside, but years ago I had a newly-rescued cat that went into heat after weaning her kittens and I didn't see any male cats hanging around outside then either.

So, I would like some opinions....is this just a case of Spring Fever? Has anyone else noticed that their cat's behavior changes in the Spring? Or do you know how the heck to tell if a cat is spayed? Does anyone have experience with the "Spaycheck" blood test that checks for AMH?

IMG_8084 4x6.jpg

Hazel is the torbie and Ruby is the orange tabby. Ruby is the mom.
 

FeebysOwner

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It sounds like they may not be spayed. You need to find a vet that will advise you on what tests (x-ray, ultrasound, or the spaycheck you are talking about - probably related to hormone levels) can be run to see if they have been spayed or not. Odds are if no one can determine by a visual inspection, they aren't. What are you waiting for? Too many health issues for cats that age that haven't been spayed.
 
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purrs123

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It sounds like they may not be spayed. You need to find a vet that will advise you on what tests (x-ray, ultrasound, or the spaycheck you are talking about - probably related to hormone levels) can be run to see if they have been spayed or not. Odds are if no one can determine by a visual inspection, they aren't. What are you waiting for? Too many health issues for cats that age that haven't been spayed.
Yeah, I may need to find a better vet. I called my regular vet today and they weren't much help. Up until recently I had believed the cats were spayed and I wasn't worried about it. I guess I'm just trying to figure out if I'm overthinking things, or if there is an actual problem here.
 

rubysmama

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weebeasties

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Just curious, did anyone tell you they had been spayed? Did you get them from a shelter or did you get them from the previous owner who abandoned them? If someone abandons a cat, they probably didn't care enough to get it spayed either. Like the others, I would definitely seek out a different vet.
For what it's worth, my experience with mama cats and their kittens are limited, and I know all cats have different personalities, but I do have a mom cat and her three nine year old daughters (all spayed) and they do not fight, they are quite close actually. I have also never noticed that they get "spring fever" so to speak.
I hope you find an answer soon. Best of luck!
 

di and bob

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If they wern't spayed it wouldn't be just the spring they would come into heat. If a female isn't bred they come into heat again frequently until they are. They are not like dogs that have pretty regular cycles. They are usually very obnoxious, crying nonestop, and wanting out really bad. It may be more of a case that they hear/smell/see other cats in heat or toms outside and are getting excited adn overstimulated. If they are inside cats and don't seem too bad, other than health problems, there shouldn't be any problems. Ultrasounds usually aren't TOO expensive, not as much as an MRI anyway.
 
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purrs123

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If they wern't spayed it wouldn't be just the spring they would come into heat. If a female isn't bred they come into heat again frequently until they are. They are not like dogs that have pretty regular cycles. They are usually very obnoxious, crying nonestop, and wanting out really bad. It may be more of a case that they hear/smell/see other cats in heat or toms outside and are getting excited adn overstimulated. If they are inside cats and don't seem too bad, other than health problems, there shouldn't be any problems. Ultrasounds usually aren't TOO expensive, not as much as an MRI anyway.
Yeah, my cats go through phases throughout the year where they fight more and then it decreases. But it's really ramped up in the last week or so.
I've known about the ultrasound but I've taken both cats to the vet last year and got the impression the ultrasound wasn't worth the trouble, and that the vets were fairly certain the cats were fixed. Then when I called yesterday, they didn't even mention doing an ultrasound. But they also said that the blood test to check for hormones or whatever would cost about $200. The Spaycheck test only costs about $65 according to what I read online. And the vet said I could wait 6 months and see if there is spotting (bloody discharge) again -- that's dogs, not cats! So, I guess I need to find a better vet. I don't have many options around here and have had bad experiences at the other places already. Bummer. I was also really hoping that other people would report that their cats get Spring Fever, but so far no one has said so. This increases my suspicion that my cats might not be spayed and it might be worth it to spend some money to find out...
 
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purrs123

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Just curious, did anyone tell you they had been spayed? Did you get them from a shelter or did you get them from the previous owner who abandoned them? If someone abandons a cat, they probably didn't care enough to get it spayed either. Like the others, I would definitely seek out a different vet.
For what it's worth, my experience with mama cats and their kittens are limited, and I know all cats have different personalities, but I do have a mom cat and her three nine year old daughters (all spayed) and they do not fight, they are quite close actually. I have also never noticed that they get "spring fever" so to speak.
I hope you find an answer soon. Best of luck!
No, no one told me they were definitely spayed. The vet said they were probably spayed since they didn't seem to be going into heat (from what I thought at the time-- this was last year). I got the cats from the house they had been abandoned in. They were being cared for temporarily by a homeless woman who was living there temporarily to clean the house in order to get it ready to be sold. She is the one who said they were mother and daughter, but I'm not sure how she knew that. I didn't ask a lot of questions because of the situation...I wasn't sure if we had the owner's permission to be there and it was a bit of a drug-den. I didn't feel safe. And I was concentrated on how my dog got along with the cats, and then getting the cats into the carriers and to my house. It was a little stressful and I wish I'd taken the time to ask more questions about the cats, but that's just not how it turned out. Oh, well.
 

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Why don't you use the search link that rubysmama rubysmama gave you to get phone numbers and then just start calling around to see who might actually have the AMH test available? Doesn't mean you have to use that particular vet on a long term basis, just for the purpose of testing.

Forget about wishing you had asked more questions about the cats, that information was probably not available to the person who was watching them anyway. If they are like the two cats that just showed up one day at my neighbors, we have no clue about anything related to them before that day. Btw, one of them ended up pregnant. But, I will tell you in the over 4 months she was with my neighbor she NEVER displayed any signs of heat.

So, in essence, all cats are different, and unusual displays of heat - or lack of any signs - pretty much don't tell you anything.
 
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purrs123

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Btw, one of them ended up pregnant. But, I will tell you in the over 4 months she was with my neighbor she NEVER displayed any signs of heat.

So, in essence, all cats are different, and unusual displays of heat - or lack of any signs - pretty much don't tell you anything.
Very interesting! Thank you!
Yep, tomorrow I will have time to start making phone calls to the different vets around here to see if any of them do the Spaycheck blood test. It seems like the cheapest way to know for sure.
 
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purrs123

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UPDATE: Good News! Well, I was finally able to find a vet willing to do the SpayChek blood test in case they couldn't find a spay scar, but I ended up not needing the blood test because Hazel does have a spay scar! Yay!
All the new vet did was shave her belly and there it was clear as day. If my old vet had just done that a year ago I wouldn't have had to go through all this wondering and worrying if my cats were spayed or not, not to mention this extra trip to the vet which was very stressful for Hazel (and me).
The new vet also is having me try a Rx strength Feliway diffuser which I didn't know existed. Hopefully to reduce the cat fights. She said the increased fighting in the Spring is probably due to all the outside cat smells coming into the house and stressing my cats out a little. (Di and Bob, you hit the nail on the head.)
So, I have found a new vet, and I will not be going back to the old vets. And I don't have to worry about getting Hazel spayed or the blood testing or anything. Hopefully the Rx Feliway diffuser will help (I had tried the store bought diffuser and it didn't help at all).
So, all in all, I'm relieved and happy right now. Yay!
P.S. Oh, and it turns out that the SpayChek blood test is the same test that the vets usually run through a different lab (Idex) and with the fees for the blood draw and overnight shipping the cost was almost as much as the Idex test.
 

rubysmama

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Great update. :clap: Sounds like the new vet is a keeper. :thumbsup: Fingers crossed the Rx Feliway (I've never heard of prescription strength either) helps. :crossfingers: Keep us posted. :compsurfing:
 
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purrs123

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After looking at the insert that came in the Feliway box, it's simply the regular strength Multicat diffuser. You can buy it at Petsmart. I'm not sure why the vet said you couldn't get it in stores and was prescription strength. So, I just wanted to clear that up. Maybe the vet is confused. :)
Also, wanted to post photos of Hazel's spay scar just in case anyone is looking for a scar on their own cat and wants to know what to look for. When I googled it, there were no good photos of old spay scars.
IMG_8641.JPG
IMG_8642.JPG
 

rubysmama

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After looking at the insert that came in the Feliway box, it's simply the regular strength Multicat diffuser. You can buy it at Petsmart. I'm not sure why the vet said you couldn't get it in stores and was prescription strength. So, I just wanted to clear that up. Maybe the vet is confused. :)
Thanks for posting that and preventing confusion for others now, and in the future.

What a gorgeous girl, with her shaved belly. Glad she's spayed though, so you don't have to worry about that.
 
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purrs123

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And I figure I might as well post pics of Ruby's spay scar, too. At least what I think is her spay scar. She is feisty and won't let me see her belly or even get a picture of it so I had to take a video of me holding her in front of the camera for as long as she'd let me. Then I played the video on my laptop and took screenshots. When I took Ruby to the vet for a checkup and nail-trim the vet said she could see the scar after shaving her belly but she'd taken Ruby into the back area to do it so I didn't get to watch. I am pretty sure I can see it in my video, though. :)
InkedRuby's spay scar a_LI.jpg
InkedRuby's spay scar b_LI.jpg
Ruby's spay scar f.PNG
 
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purrs123

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I also wanted to mention that it's possible that my cats are being affected by my estradiol (hormone replacement therapy). I handle a pill each morning, but handle them a lot on Saturdays when I fill my weekly pill dispenser. I was not washing my hands afterwards, so the residue from the pills would be on my hands, then I would pet my cats and then they would groom themselves. The vet said they can be affected by exogenous hormones that way and even that small of a quantity can have an effect.
So I will be sure to either not touch the pills with my hand (use a small cup) or wash my hands after I do touch the pills. Time will tell if that is what is causing my cats' occasional heat-like behaviors.
 

rubysmama

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Thanks for the update. Interesting about the HRT pills. :headscratch: I'd definitely try not touching them and see if it makes a difference. Maybe, particularly on Saturdays, you could use those plastic disposable gloves. Or a small cup, as you mentioned. Do let us know if you see a difference once you make a change.
 
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purrs123

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UPDATE: Since I've been careful about not exposing my pets to the estradiol pill residue, I have noticed an improvement in the cats fighting...they are still fighting but it is definitely less often and I can separate them and calm them down a lot quicker. Hopefully this will continue to improve. :yess:
 

rubysmama

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Very interesting. Fingers crossed things continue to improve, and that they eventually become friends. :catrub:
 
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