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Cat who is calling

(16 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Sun 18-May-25 17:18:18

Good to hear that she is settling.

Roo is getting better each day. Here she is on garden patrol.
Still jittery, but has sussed out the garden and made it her own, chasing every cat that puts a paw in it. She never goes further than her patch but guards it with endeavour.

Loves the hot weather. Anything less than 20 isn’t really worth going out in.

Cgto2 Sun 18-May-25 14:47:13

Sparklefizz

UPDATE:
I mentioned her calling to the vet on Friday when she had her New Pet Check Up.

She said sometimes some ovarian tissue is accidentally left behind when an adult cat is spayed, and this continues to produce hormones, in which case she would need a 2nd op. Obviously I really do hope this is not the case, but am hopeful because it's only been 5 weeks since she was done, and as her little body must have been flooded with hormones after being pregnant and giving birth, it seems reasonable that it will take some time for these to subside.

This morning she is very hormonal with great restlessness and constant calling. The handsome black boy who popped round to see her last week was lurking outside my house yesterday! I didn't anticipate I would be planning my days around my cat's sex life !! grin

This happened to my cat & she had to be re operated.
Hope all is well with yours.

silverlining48 Sun 18-May-25 14:43:52

That made me laugh sparklefiz grin

Sparklefizz Sun 18-May-25 08:50:34

UPDATE:
I mentioned her calling to the vet on Friday when she had her New Pet Check Up.

She said sometimes some ovarian tissue is accidentally left behind when an adult cat is spayed, and this continues to produce hormones, in which case she would need a 2nd op. Obviously I really do hope this is not the case, but am hopeful because it's only been 5 weeks since she was done, and as her little body must have been flooded with hormones after being pregnant and giving birth, it seems reasonable that it will take some time for these to subside.

This morning she is very hormonal with great restlessness and constant calling. The handsome black boy who popped round to see her last week was lurking outside my house yesterday! I didn't anticipate I would be planning my days around my cat's sex life !! grin

Sparklefizz Wed 14-May-25 18:22:39

She is still calling and I'll mention it to the vet when I take her for a "New Pet Check" on Friday.

According to reputable cat sites online, when a kitten is spayed she has not yet begun producing hormones, but as my little Mia is older than that, plus has had a litter of kittens, her body has been flooded with hormones, and the online advice is that it can take weeks/months for these to calm down.

A magnificent black cat appeared at the weekend hoping to offer his services! grin Fortunately I have got my garden "cat secured" so he couldn't get in and Mia couldn't get out, but they were touching paws under the gate. Sweet!

I don't think she can be missing her kittens. The foster carers who were looking after her and her kittens had separated them once the kittens were 9 weeks old. Mia's milk had dried up before she was spayed, and the kittens had been adopted when I adopted Mia.

Anyway, she has settled really well with me now, is very affectionate and ruling the roost!

AuntieE Wed 14-May-25 14:45:18

If she is calling for her kittens and not for a mate, then a soft toy might help.

How old did the shelter judge her kittens to be? If they were old enough to leave her, she is unlikely to miss them that much now.

Have any suitors turned up?

I hope she soon settles down, but some cats are happiest if they have a cat companion as well as a human.

Gillycats Wed 07-May-25 14:39:24

Well done for adopting and caring! If you’re concerned I’d call the rescue and see what their feelings are about her behaviour. She could be having hormone issues. But I’d expect her to be calming down by 3 weeks.

TwiceAsNice Wed 07-May-25 14:23:34

Ditto 🥲 so sad if she is missing them

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-May-25 13:50:30

😢calling for her kittens.

Shelflife Wed 07-May-25 12:54:17

You will get there. Our rescue cat was very young and had been found pregnant in a cardboard box! The kittens had been adopted from the shelter. I thought she was a tiny cat but soon realized she was only half grown! We had to wait till she was spayed and of course chipped. She took a very long time to settle, racing up and down and constantly looking for a hiding place . I could'nt get near her ! I wondered if she was missing her kittens. It took about 3 / 4 months before I could stroke her. I then carried her into our very large garden to ' show ' her round! I eventually let her out on her own , hoping and praying she would come back - and she did ! That was four years ago and she is now the most affectionate cat !
I agree with you Whitewavemark , cats like a routine ! You have lots of cat experience Sparklefizz so I am sure your new friend will soon settle down well with you. Good luck.

Aveline Wed 07-May-25 12:30:10

Aw the wee thing. I hope she settles happily very soon - I'm sure she will with such a kind and considerate new 'mum'.

shysal Wed 07-May-25 11:13:05

I am wondering whether she is actually calling for her kittens, as she must be missing them still.
I hope she settles soon.

Sparklefizz Wed 07-May-25 11:00:35

Thanks Whitewave for your advice. I've had rescue cats all my life so I'm pretty experienced with them, but I have never come across a cat behaving as if she's on heat even though she's been spayed.

Meanwhile she has settled in really well. She spent the first week hiding under the spare bed and I spent that week lying on the carpet alongside the bed and talking quietly to her. As you say, love, patience and kindness are key.

On Day 6 she popped her head out and rubbed it against my cheek. I didn't dare move! We have gone from strength to strength since then. She is sitting next to my laptop now, and "helping".

I'm glad your little Roo is enjoying her new home.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-May-25 10:35:39

Just to say that you will see improvement, each day, but it is very slow, and patience and kindness is the key. Let her come to you don’t be the least bit pushy. I adopted that strategy, and now practically every time I sit down she jumps onto my lap, and that was from being so frightened that she spent the time in her “secret” safe space and only came out to eat. She always flew away as soon as we went anywhere near her.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 07-May-25 10:30:17

Well I adopted a stray at the beginning of the year. Roo😊

So very important to remember these numbers 333

3 days getting over the trauma of her move.

3weeks to begin to understand the routine in her new home - routine absolutely vital.

3 months for her to understand that this is her new home.

This is where we are with Roo now. She was allowed out just before the 3 months was up and not before because she was a stray for 7 years.

Yes there are still hormones flying around her body - but these will go and she will settle.

Go onto the Cats Protection site on there and even contact them if you want help.

Excellent site

Sparklefizz Wed 07-May-25 10:13:21

I adopted a rescue cat 3 weeks ago. She's a tiny little thing who had already had a litter of kittens. The Rescue place estimated she is 18 months old but I would put her at about 10 months. I could be wrong.

Once her milk dried up and her kittens had been adopted, the Rescue place had her spayed a few days before I collected her.

I didn't let her outside for 2.5 weeks but she has been desperate to go out. Once outside, she is very restless and constantly trying to get out of the garden, and I have suddenly realised she is "calling" and in the mood for love!! This explains a great deal.

I have had cats all my life but have always had them spayed at 5-6 months old. This is the first time I've adopted a little cat who'd already had a litter of kittens and whose hormones are therefore well established.

I Googled, and have found that it can take 4 weeks after spaying for those established hormones to die down and for this behaviour to disappear.

Has anyone else had any experience of this or have any advice? Thanks in advance.