15 week Cat - Getting Neutered

DellNec · 07-01-2011, 03:13 AM

I have an appointment to get me kitten neutered when he is 15 weeks old. I had a couple of questions:

1 - Is 15 weeks to young to neuter a cat?

2 - They said the cat will have to be left for a couple of hours and they will house it in a cage. Is there a chance the kitten can catch fleas or some disease sitting in that cage?

3 - I was told that neutering a kitten at 15 weeks will keep the kitten from getting full sized. It has something to do with cutting off the testosterone from accelerating the cats growth. The kitten will grow but just not as large. Is that true?

4- What thing should I look out for in regards to the surgery?

**marie73** · 07-01-2011, 03:26 AM

15 weeks old is very safe. Most rescues have the 2/2 guideline now - 2 months old and at least 2 lbs. My girls were spayed at 9 weeks old, and they were running and chasing each other the same night.

The thing about hindering a male cat's growth, old wives' tale, I think. I don't know that much about boy kitties, but I'm sure some of our big boy cats on the Forum were neutered at a young age and grew just fine.

I worried about Gigi coming home with fleas after her dental appointment, but - at least at my vet's office - they don't put the cats in cages next to each other, so there's very little chance of cats bringing something home.

But we all worry about our babies.

NJgroomer · 07-01-2011, 06:31 PM

From a behavioral standpoint, I think kittens should stay with mom till 16 weeks. But medically it is just fine to get them neutered at this age, as Marie said. My vet even offers a discount if the pet is getting neutered/spayed at 4months or younger

Also, a pet can pick up fleas from practically anywhere (they can even hitch a ride into your house on your shoe!). I work at a vet and we keep everything very very clean, and the treatment area (pets recovering from surgery) is separate from any other pets in the facility. Do they give tours of their facilities? You could check it out in advance to make sure it looks sanitary and is not around other animals.

librarychick · 07-01-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DellNec

I have an appointment to get me kitten neutered when he is 15 weeks old. I had a couple of questions:

1 - Is 15 weeks to young to neuter a cat?

Nope. As everyone else has said he'll be just fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DellNec

2 - They said the cat will have to be left for a couple of hours and they will house it in a cage. Is there a chance the kitten can catch fleas or some disease sitting in that cage?

It's possible. NJGroomer gave some great advise for that though, nothing to add.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DellNec

3 - I was told that neutering a kitten at 15 weeks will keep the kitten from getting full sized. It has something to do with cutting off the testosterone from accelerating the cats growth. The kitten will grow but just not as large. Is that true?

Not True. Early neutering in SOME large breeds of DOG can have negative effects. For cats it's not even an issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DellNec

4- What thing should I look out for in regards to the surgery?

Once you've brought him home he might be a bit groggy that night. His appetite might be reduced. The next day my boys were mostly fine. They didn't do to many big jumps or lots of running for about a week. But they were fine overall.

Don't let him lick the area. That could cause an infection or irritation. Check the suture site a few times a day, if it looks red and 'angry' (inflamed, sore, ect) phone your vet. If there's any discharge or quite a bit of blood phone the vet. That's about it. I put out ice packs with towels over them and the boys quite enjoyed sitting on it that night, lol. He'll be fine.

Meezer_lover · 07-01-2011, 10:24 PM

Yoshi just had his neutering on Tuesday. He's older though....about 5.5 months.

He was crazy playful from the time I brought him home from the vet, all that night, all through the night, and into the morning hours. He was also starving the entire time and I fed him in small meals. Then he crashed and burned later the next morning and slept most of the day.

Maybe it was the drugs??
I guess it all depends.....but regardless, good luck with your little one!

konstargirl · 07-01-2011, 10:47 PM

Francis was neutered at the age of 1. Basically when my sister first got him. Like Library chick said, he wasn't allowed to lick the area that he was neutered. Now he's fine and disease free! =D All three cats are disease free! =D

catloverami · 07-01-2011, 11:39 PM

My 2 were neutered and spayed at 15 wks. Both my Devons are not undersized, if anything larger than "average" for the breed. My boy weighs 12.5 lbs. (avg. 8-9 lbs.), and my girl is 11.5 lbs. Early neutering especially for the boys I think solves a lot of spraying problems.

DellNec · 07-03-2011, 11:59 PM

How do I keep him from licking that area? I would have to bandage it or something.

Rocky_Raccoon · 07-04-2011, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meezer_lover

Yoshi just had his neutering on Tuesday. He's older though....about 5.5 months.

He was crazy playful from the time I brought him home from the vet, all that night, all through the night, and into the morning hours. He was also starving the entire time and I fed him in small meals. Then he crashed and burned later the next morning and slept most of the day.

Maybe it was the drugs??
I guess it all depends.....but regardless, good luck with your little one!

I neutered Rocky when he was 5 1/2 months as well. Just out of curiosity, is there a specific reason as to why you waited until he was that old? I've read both sides of the spectrum, early neutering is good vs you should wait until they're around 5 1/2 months old. There are just so many opinions out there on the matter, it's hard to decide which way to go!

Lenkolas · 07-04-2011, 12:42 AM

Rulos was neutered last Friday. We think he was born around the last week of February this year, so he must be 16 weeks now, maybe 15 just as your kitty. He was running all over the place that same night. He's perfectly fine now.

I had to wait this long because he was a very weak kitten, runt of the litter.

07-01-2011, 03:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
DellNec Jr. Cat Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 74	15 week Cat - Getting Neutered I have an appointment to get me kitten neutered when he is 15 weeks old. I had a couple of questions: 1 - Is 15 weeks to young to neuter a cat? 2 - They said the cat will have to be left for a couple of hours and they will house it in a cage. Is there a chance the kitten can catch fleas or some disease sitting in that cage? 3 - I was told that neutering a kitten at 15 weeks will keep the kitten from getting full sized. It has something to do with cutting off the testosterone from accelerating the cats growth. The kitten will grow but just not as large. Is that true? 4- What thing should I look out for in regards to the surgery?

07-01-2011, 03:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
marie73 Super Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 27,447	15 weeks old is very safe. Most rescues have the 2/2 guideline now - 2 months old and at least 2 lbs. My girls were spayed at 9 weeks old, and they were running and chasing each other the same night. The thing about hindering a male cat's growth, old wives' tale, I think. I don't know that much about boy kitties, but I'm sure some of our big boy cats on the Forum were neutered at a young age and grew just fine. I worried about Gigi coming home with fleas after her dental appointment, but - at least at my vet's office - they don't put the cats in cages next to each other, so there's very little chance of cats bringing something home. But we all worry about our babies. __________________ Marie, and Always in my heart, my lovely Cinderella, running free at the Bridge. http://www.catforum.com/forum/member...signature2.jpg Last edited by marie73; 07-01-2011 at 04:19 AM.

07-01-2011, 10:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
Meezer_lover Senior Cat Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Kennebunkport, Maine Posts: 686	Yoshi just had his neutering on Tuesday. He's older though....about 5.5 months. He was crazy playful from the time I brought him home from the vet, all that night, all through the night, and into the morning hours. He was also starving the entire time and I fed him in small meals. Then he crashed and burned later the next morning and slept most of the day. Maybe it was the drugs?? I guess it all depends.....but regardless, good luck with your little one! __________________ ~Kimberly

07-01-2011, 10:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
konstargirl Premier Cat Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 3,533	Francis was neutered at the age of 1. Basically when my sister first got him. Like Library chick said, he wasn't allowed to lick the area that he was neutered. Now he's fine and disease free! =D All three cats are disease free! =D __________________ Every animal deserves love.

07-01-2011, 06:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
NJgroomer Cat Join Date: May 2011 Location: Hamilton, NJ work in Howell, NJ Posts: 137	From a behavioral standpoint, I think kittens should stay with mom till 16 weeks. But medically it is just fine to get them neutered at this age, as Marie said. My vet even offers a discount if the pet is getting neutered/spayed at 4months or younger Also, a pet can pick up fleas from practically anywhere (they can even hitch a ride into your house on your shoe!). I work at a vet and we keep everything very very clean, and the treatment area (pets recovering from surgery) is separate from any other pets in the facility. Do they give tours of their facilities? You could check it out in advance to make sure it looks sanitary and is not around other animals.

07-01-2011, 11:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
catloverami Cat Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cobourg, Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,608	My 2 were neutered and spayed at 15 wks. Both my Devons are not undersized, if anything larger than "average" for the breed. My boy weighs 12.5 lbs. (avg. 8-9 lbs.), and my girl is 11.5 lbs. Early neutering especially for the boys I think solves a lot of spraying problems.

07-03-2011, 11:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
DellNec Jr. Cat Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 74	How do I keep him from licking that area? I would have to bandage it or something.

07-04-2011, 12:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
Lenkolas Senior Cat Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chile, South America Posts: 741	Rulos was neutered last Friday. We think he was born around the last week of February this year, so he must be 16 weeks now, maybe 15 just as your kitty. He was running all over the place that same night. He's perfectly fine now. I had to wait this long because he was a very weak kitten, runt of the litter.

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