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My spayed cat is acting in heat and peeing everywhere. What's wrong?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 5 years and 8 months old | 11 lbs

My cat has been spayed but she’s displaying all the signs as if she’s in heat. She’s being extremely affectionate and meowing like crazy, and she’s also peeing everywhere. I’m not sure what to do, and I’d like to get her to stop peeing everywhere.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Linda G, MS, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 27th, 2020

Hello. It is possible that a little bit of her ovary was left behind when Holly was spayed, or a small piece of the ovary fell back into the abdomen during surgery, vascularized & is now active. Even a tiny remnant can cause a cat to show all the classic signs of heat. If he behavior comes and goes, this is an indication that an ovarian remnant is present. There are some blood tests that can distinguish this, or your veterinarian might try to ultrasound her to try & locate if active ovarian tissue is present. In almost all the cats that we have seen with this behavior ( & most were spayed elsewhere ), we were able to open up a cat's abdomen & find a small piece of ovary still present. Once this was removed, all signs of heat completely disappeared. I do not know if this will stop her peeing, but it will clinically stop her estrus displays. Thanks for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 1st, 2016

    In rare cases, a little piece of ovary remains in the body, causing the heat symptoms, if this is the case you will have to take her to the vet for a special blood test that will confirm it or rule it out. If it is confirmed, she will need to have another surgery to remove the remnant ovary.

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    Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 2nd, 2018

    Hello, so sorry you are having this issue. It does sound like she still has some ovarian remnant/ectopic ovarian tissue present. I think she will need to have surgery with a board certified surgeon to locate it. Cats will sometimes have ectopic ovarian tissue (meaning it is not in the normal location of the ovary) and it will take some hunting around the abdomen to find that tissue. Wish I had a quick fix for you but unfortunately she will need surgery again. Best wishes.

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    Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

    Veterinarian

    Published on February 24th, 2017

    If she was in heat when spayed, the hormones in her blood stream could result in such behavior temporarily and would also affect any blood testing for same. This should resolve within a few weeks and if not should be investigated

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