Spayed cat acting like she's in heat ?

Santa Claus

Girlfriend got a rescue cat from the DSPCA last summer.
They weren't able to tell her the age of the cat when she adopted her as cat was apparently feral (we only found this out when collecting her, a week before when we signed to take her we were told she was abused).

We were told she had been spayed when we collected her, but in the past few days she has started yeowling, crawling around with her arse in the air, rolling around, urinating a lot more than usual in her tray and leaving traces of blood on a window frame (we initially thought she's injured herself and checked for cuts etc so I'm wondering if she was rubbing against the furniture as I believe this is common when cats go into heat).

Can cats who have been spayed still go into heat or at least show the signs of going into heat ?

She's an indoor cat by the way, total scaredy cat and only time she would be able to meet males is when she's at the vets for boarding (last time she was there about 2 weeks ago for 4 days and we were told she didn't socialise with the other cats at all).

Magenta

I have had cats all my life (all neutered now) and none of them ever had this, nor have I ever heard of it before. Maybe another poster has experienced it.
You could try ringing the shelter and asking them to confirm that she definitely was spayed- maybe she somehow slipped through the cracks and someone, somewhere assumed she had been done when she hadn't?

The Sweeper

Take her to the vet in case she has cystitis or a urinary tract infection. Yowling and pain when using the litter box, a cramped walking position, traces of blood in the urine, straining to pee or peeing more than usual, plus excessive licking of the genital area - far more than for usual cleaning - are all signs of cystitis or other urinary problems, and I'd be worried she may have that if you've already had her months and this is the first sign you've seen of a potential heat.

Get her to the vet to rule that out, then they can advise you on incidences where a spay was only done partially, and an ovary or some tissue was left behind, and the problems that can cause. (I know it can happen, but don't know all the intricacies, or the treatment.)

Blueprint

It is possible for a cat to go into heat after being spayed, I know someone whose cat started to do this aged around seven and had to be put on the cat pill to keep her halfway sane, as she was yowling all night. It can happen if they leave a bit of the ovarian tissue behind and it grows back. However, I'd be worried about the blood bit, she could have very bad cystitis, so I'd bring her to the vet. Anyhow, even if it is just a phantom heat, you need to do something about it as she'll drive you insane if you don't!

Santa Claus

Thanks for advice guys.
Rang the DSPCA this morning and they said vet may have left a cell or two and that if this happens the ovarys grow back so they're taking her back in on Thursday for exploratory op and removal or any bits not removed first time round.