Spayed cat still on the lookout for love

Q: Pepper, aka Ms. Incorrigible, was a newly spayed rescue. After six weeks, she went into heat behavior. A second spaying procedure found 25 percent of an ovary, which was removed. Nine months later, she displayed the same behavior — insisting on getting out at night, vocalizing, climbing screens etc. Of course, she was being courted by male cats. Daytimes, we found feral cats and Pepper enjoying each other. This heat cycle went away after 10 sleepless nights. About a month later, this started again, same behavior, same suitors, lasting seven to nine days. She is now back to Pepper instead of Ms. Incorrigible. I am hesitant to put her through a third surgical procedure.

Dr. Nichol: You’ve had sleepless nights? What about Pepper, aka Ms. Popularity? With all that frolicking and cavorting, she must be exhausted.

Spaying a cat (ovariohysterectomy) involves removal of the uterus and both ovaries. There may have been a portion of each of Pepper’s ovaries left behind, causing her continuing hormone fluctuations. Another remnant may need to be discovered and removed. It’s also possible that an ovary was actually damaged during surgery, which then “seeded” Pepper’s abdomen with tiny bits of its tissue. Multiple little hormone-producing glands would be scattered in minute locations, making them impossible to find and remove. While it’s an unlikely scenario, Pepper could be a lifelong tomcat magnet. We need to find out what’s going on and where.

The best way of determining if Pepper still has ovarian tissue of any kind would be to do an HCG challenge test the next time Miss Popularity’s behavior emerges; you know, when she once again entertains gentleman callers and dresses provocatively. The HCG hormone would be given by injection. A blood sample for a progesterone assay would be taken seven to 14 days later. An elevated result would indicate functional ovarian tissue.

If Pepper were my kitty, I would follow a positive test with an abdominal ultrasound. A veterinary internist could pinpoint the location of an ovarian remnant, making its removal a low-stress day surgery.

I’M INVITING YOU, my faithful readers, to send me a short video and/ or still photo of a pet behavior that bothers or amuses you. Please post them on facebook.com/ drjeffnichol. I will explain the top five as video vignettes. Dog and cat shenanigans only, please.