I've been getting conflicting advise on the internet, I need advise from people who know on The Cat Site! A month ago a tired, emaciated little dilute calico showed up at our house to eat. I didn't want to take her in to be spayed in case she already had been (I should have known better!). Well, she's in heat today. There are toms showing up, and one has already been killed on our busy street today, I don't want more tragedy to come. I went in and talked to my vet, telling him she was in heat right now and he said bring her in, I'll do her after closing, I was not expecting that! Well, now I'm worried about her safety. I researched on the internet and it said spaying does not stop her heat cycle once it has started, even if she is spayed. True? I don't want all those toms being so rough with her right after surgery. I set up a dog pen in our heated shop that has a enclosed bed with a heat pad, a litter box and food and water. How long should she be confined? When we shut her in the shop to get her in the carrier, she went bezerk, hitting the window and hiding up inside a couch. So she is NOT used to being inside, or it was just that strange to her. Has anyone been through this, spaying a cat in heat?