A female cat that has been spayed will not be able to get pregnant and will not go into heat. If you've adopted a stray cat or adult cat from a shelter, you'll need to find out if it's been spayed. Most kittens are spayed at three months of age and weigh at least 1.5 kg. There are several physical and behavioral signs you can look for to see if your cat has been spayed.
Note: This article applies to female cats only. If your cat is male, read the article on how to spot a male cat that has been spayed.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Checking for Physical Signs in Cats
Step 1. Watch for shaved hair on the cat's belly
Try turning the cat over to its back to see its belly clearly. If the cat has just been spayed, the fur on its lower abdomen will be shorter than the rest of its body, as the vet will need to shave the coat before the operation.
However, keep in mind that there are other veterinary treatments that also require a cat's coat to be shaved, so shorter coats are not definitive proof that your cat has been spayed
Step 2. Check for surgical splints
Hold the cat so that it is lying on its back and its stomach is open. Remove the fur on the lower abdomen as much as possible. Once you can see the skin, check for a surgical wound there. This can be difficult to do because cat spay surgery kits usually only leave small sores that can fade, and are difficult to see once healed.
Usually, the surgical wound will appear as a thin straight line running down the middle of the abdomen
Step 3. Check for tattoo markings near the surgical wound or in the cat's ear
After the cat has been spayed, the vet will give a small tattoo to indicate that it has been spayed. Usually, this tattoo is a small green line, and is located near the surgical wound. This tattoo should be visible when you open the fur on the cat's belly, although you may want to pay close attention to it.
You may also want to examine the tattoo on the inside of the cat's ear - that's where important animal information is usually given. In the United States, the letter M means the cat has been microchipped – almost all other tattoos indicate that the cat has been spayed
Step 4. Notice if the tips of the cat's ears are slightly clipped
Some veterinarians and pet agents cut the ear tips off to mark a cat that has been spayed. In this case, about 0.5 cm at one end of the cat's ear (usually the left) will be cut off - so the tip of the cat's ear will appear blunt. This slaughter is done while the cat is sleeping after being given an anesthetic and will heal quickly.
Step 5. Take the cat to the vet to determine its condition
Sometimes, cats don't have any physical signs related to spaying. Take your cat to the vet - a trained veterinarian will almost always be able to tell the difference between a sterile cat and one that isn't. And if the doctor can't tell the difference, he can give the cat medical tests to confirm it.
Step 6. Ask the breeder or pet shop clerk about the condition of the cat
If you bought your cat from a breeder or pet store, they should be able to tell you whether the cat has been spayed or not. Getting the same information for a stray cat or one you've adopted from a shelter can be more difficult, so take the cat to the vet to check if you're in doubt.
Method 2 of 2: Recognizing the Signs of Estrus (Estrus)
Step 1. Notice if your cat seems too clingy or rubs his body with you a lot
Cats that are not spayed for a certain time will experience an increase in sex drive and enter a period of heat, which is scientifically called estrus. This heat period can last as long as three weeks, although the visible symptoms usually don't last that long.
Cats in heat are often seen clinging to and rubbing against other people and other inanimate objects, and moving around agilely
Step 2. Notice if the cat appears to be opening its body or stepping on its hind paws
Cats in heat often show sexual arousal by opening or bending their bodies – that is, the position of the back of the body raised, with the tail erect or sideways, with the head resting on the floor. This position is often shown especially when there is a male cat around.
When a female cat's body bends, she's also likely to put her hind paws on. He will lift his hind legs quickly one by one, like walking in place. This movement is thought to attract male cats when in heat, because the female cat's genitals will wiggle up and down as she walks
Step 3. Listen for a groan or a high-pitched meow
Cats in heat will make loud, high-pitched meows and other groans. These sounds are usually only issued when in heat and gradually get louder. At its peak, this noise will be heard very frequently, and may even sound like the cat is sick or sad, even though it is not actually in danger.
Other sounds that are less often heard are the sound of a low meow, calling, to squealing
Step 4. Notice if the cat prefers to spend time outdoors
A domestic cat who is suddenly in heat may act like a stray cat. Cats in heat often want to get out of the house, so they can look for male cats, and will try to claw at the door, meow near the door, or even try to run out when the door is opened.
Pay close attention to the cat whenever you enter or leave the house. If your cat runs away from home, she may become pregnant because she hasn't been spayed
Step 5. Watch the cat's urine-squirting behavior
Cats that have not been spayed will use their urine to tell the male cat that he is in heat. Spraying urine is a sign of heat in female cats and can be prevented by spaying them. Cats may squirt urine indoors and outdoors, especially when a male cat is around.
Step 6. Watch for fluid coming out of the cat's vagina
A female cat that has not been spayed will also have a clear, watery, or bloodstained discharge from her vagina during heat. You may notice some discharge after your cat has been in heat for a while. Chances are he will show the position of the body that opens and puts his feet, before starting to drain the fluid.
