First off, if you cat is a SHE, you need to have her spayed. There are many organizations that will do a spay for free or for a minimal fee. Check with your local humane society and they may be able to direct you.
My Cat Is In Heat And We Cannot Afford To Neuter Her. She Cries A Lot At Night. What Can I Do About My Situation?
You could try contacting your local humane society, ours has coupons for spay and neutering. It's not that expensive. For a cat spay in our area it costs $45 with the coupon which includes the office call. The coupons can be used at selected vets. If you go to a local vet I've found from experience you can pay $125 and up. If your humane society does not have these coupons they can tell you who can spay your cat without spending an arm and a leg. Over the years I have had probably 20 cats spayed and neutered at a reduced price because I could never afford a regular vet.
A cat when it is in heat does show a lot of strange behaviours. She may cry a lot during the night, and sometimes even during the day, and nothing you do may seem to relax her. She may roll on the floor continuously, and rub herself against furniture or against the walls, and as her estrus or heat progresses; she may start to emit strange howling noises. All this may seem alarming for the new cat owner, but do not worry, you as a responsible cat owner can definitely manage these symptoms if you knew how to, and make this time more relaxing. Spaying or neutering may be the only possible long term solution to the problem; this would give your pet complete relief. You could try hormone pills, with your vet's advice, and perhaps you will see some relief for a few days. Your doctor may even advise some very mild sedatives for the period, but these can damage the health and well being of your pet. Please do consult your vet for the proper advice.
Depending on which country you reside in, there are low-cost programs available from animal protection groups, like the ASPCA and Humane Society in the USA to address such an issue. I believe there is also such a low cost program in the U.K. as well. Some, might even offer it for free to low-income, handicapped and senior citizens, something worth checking out to help your 'girl' be more comfortable and relaxed. Hope this helps!
How can you say spaying your cat (which is what you do to a female...neutering is for males) is taking the easy way out??? Not fixing your animals causes health problems and just creates more animals that this world does not need! There are enough stray animals out on the streets that if you have an animal, you need to do your part to make sure that he/she cannot have any babies to contribute to the problem.
Yes Spaying or Neutering a cat can be a health issue. Doing it can help improve health. Some people also think its mean to do that to a cat. I'm in the middle there. I have 3 cats. One neutered male and two un-spayed females. My cats our inside cats. They do not go out and would probably faint from fear and terror right at the door if they did. So not spaying my girls can't possibly contribute to the "stray cat" problems of the wold. I have noticed that most female cats will go in heat more often the older they get. At about 4-6 a female cat will start this. It will continue until they either have a litter, get spayed, or grow old enough that they pass all the way out of it. My two females are just entering into the "non-stop heat cycle. They also have begun the very annoying habit of spraying while in heat. Here is the non-expensive temporary solution I've used. Get a very large dog kennel. The bigger the better. At night when you go to bed put the cat, a bowl of water, a bowl of food and a blanket in the kennel. The smaller space stops the yowling. They will sleep all night without waking you. In the morning let her out. You will feel better about it if you don't make her stay in there. Also get some treats and give her a few when its bed time. Buy lots of cleaning products and wash the blanket daily. This is only a temporary solution but it does work. If your cat is spraying you need to get her spayed. It's the only way to stop it. Punishment doesn't work it will only make her scared of you. The cycle of going in heat does return after a litter but will take a while to become non-stop again.
You shouldn't really have a pet if you can't afford to care for it properly. This was a foreseeable requirement that should have been budgeted for when you decided to get a pet. What would happen if she had something else that was easily corrected but causing her distress? Would you have her put down because it was cheaper?
Why does everyone always say neuter there animal, personally how would you feel if you get neuter(you wouldnt like that of course) I'm not trying to be a dick or anything I just find that a lot of people take the easy way out because its better for then. So what the cat makes noise the whole night its the same thing with a new born baby people, treat the animal the way you want too be treat. I have a maine coon female and I'm not going too lie its hell when she is in heat, but what sometimes solves my problems is a little bit of nyquil in the water and leave the radio own durin the night, because thatll have her think someone I around her and makes her feel right a home...Try for ways too make the solution better don't take the easy way out like some people have, as I always said they have needs just like us and should be treated the right way..