hello my cat had kittens nearly three weeks ago and i was wondering when to get her spayed as i dont want her having any more kittens! she keeps going outside but the babies are still too young for her to leave them alone for any long period of time so how soon after should I???
thanks :)

Hi - you should really keep the cat in until she is spayed, otherwise she WILL get pregnant again, no doubt about it. I took my cat for spaying as soon as the kittens were weaned off her. Unfortunately, the vet said her milk supply hadn't quite dried up, so i had to make sure the kittens were kept away from her so they didn't feed off her, and take her back a week later. Hope that helps.

but i have a male cat too, should i keep them apart?? is there no time from giving birth at all when shes unable to be pregnan again? :(

The problem that you're likely to have is that she cannot be spayed until her milk has dried up, and that may well mean that she is pregnant before she can be spayed as that's not likely to happen until the babies are at least 8 weeks old and she'll have her first season about 2-3 weeks after they are born.

The advice is to keep her in (no matter what protestations she may make) until she is spayed. Having them spayed when pregnant is a much bigger operation which is more expensive and has a higher complication risk.

EDIT- and if you have an unneutered tom then you have to keep them apart too.

We've had queens come in to the Shelter with 3 week old kittens who were kept in secure rooms and still turned out to be pregnant.

oh no! when does her milk dry out?? I'll have to try keep them apart then..shame as he was being a really good daddy cat looking after the kitties grooming them etc

If you start the kittens weaning at 4-5 weeks and by the time they're 6-7 weeks they'll be on solids full time and ready for her to be separated from them (although they'll still be too young to be separated from each other- you can put mummy in a room by herself for a couple of weeks) so by about 9-10 weeks she'll be ready to be spayed.

You are also going to be limited for when you can get her spayed because the vet can't spay her when she's in season.

If you start the kittens weaning at 4-5 weeks and by the time they're 6-7 weeks they'll be on solids full time and ready for her to be separated from them (although they'll still be too young to be separated from each other- you can put mummy in a room by herself for a couple of weeks) so by about 9-10 weeks she'll be ready to be spayed.

You are also going to be limited for when you can get her spayed because the vet can't spay her when she's in season.

I asked the vet about waiting until out of season and they said its preferred but can be done when they are in season.

Komal... can you not get the Tom done in the meantime? :)

I asked the vet about waiting until out of season and they said its preferred but can be done when they are in season.

Komal... can you not get the Tom done in the meantime? :)

Many vets will simply refuse to spay a cat in season, so I think it depends on your vet.

I tend to agree with getting your tom neutered while waiting for your queens milk to dry up.

It'll make things a lot easier for you. If financially it's a struggle, contact your local CPL as they have vouchers to reduce the cost.

Good luck.