When to neuter

CayceV · 07-12-2005, 01:32 AM

When do you think is the best age to neuter or spay a kitten at? I was told anywhere from 4 - 6 months is a good time. I was also told by someone that if neutering is done earlier it decrease the chances of spraying.

Opinions?

Ianthe · 07-12-2005, 01:35 AM

I would say between 4-6 months.

A lot of shelters do it VERY young, but they have to, so they can adopt out the kittens without risking them being bred, but most veterinarians like to wait until they are a bit bigger, and better able to handle the procedure.

CayceV · 07-12-2005, 01:41 AM

Yeah I've heard of that. I've always had it done at 6 months.... But I've also always had females. Now that I've got Skotch, I'm thinking I may neuter him a bit earlier than 6 months.

Is it true about the spraying? If they're done earlier the chances of them spraying are decreased?

I know someone whose kitten was spayed at 7 weeks!!! The shelter did it.... The last shelter kitten I got... We were given some papers saying that if we did it by the time Healey was 6 months old, the shelter would pay for it.

Meaile · 07-12-2005, 02:00 AM

Is it harmful to spay later, like around 1 year old?

emma_pen · 07-12-2005, 04:30 AM

We neuter from 4.5 months of age.

No, its not harmful to neuter at a later age, it is never too late!

nanook · 07-12-2005, 05:54 AM

I've only ever had male cats (Strange but true. Especially since all except one were found and not actually 'chosen'.) and none of them as ever sprayed. Spraying is really behavioral and as long as you neuter them before they sexully mature you should be fine. Most cats don't mature until about 5-6 mos. So I'd agree with the sometime between 4-6 month range. I've always done it closer to 6 mos. but if you're worried do it at 4. They can do it at a very young age. My pound kitty ws done at 6 wks.!But, as Ianthe said, it's because they HAVE to and, personally, I think that's a lot to put such a little fellow through. And, althouh studies say otherwise, and I understand the necessity, I'm not convinced that it's the healthiest way to go. But that's just my 2 cents.
And Mealie, as emma, said it's never too late to spay or neuter!

Meaile · 07-12-2005, 01:41 PM

Eddy & Pinky are both "fixed" and we will get Alice done eventually. They are indoor with no access to the outside so I don't worry. I just wanted to make sure.

CayceV · 07-12-2005, 03:10 PM

I'm leaning towards 4... 4.5 months when I get him neutered. His mama will be spayed, too, but I'm not sure if I can get it done at the same time as Skotch gets neutered. Depends on the funds.

Mealie, as the others have said, no it's not harmful to spay or neuter later. Wiskee (Skotch's mama) is just over a year old, so I imagine she'll be a year and a half when she gets done.

Ianthe · 07-12-2005, 04:32 PM

Perhaps you should get the female done first to make sure there are no more pregnancies.

roseeden · 07-12-2005, 06:48 PM

My boys were neutered at 7 months. They turned out to be perfect!!!

07-12-2005, 01:32 AM	#1 (permalink)
CayceV Jr. Cat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 32	When to neuter When do you think is the best age to neuter or spay a kitten at? I was told anywhere from 4 - 6 months is a good time. I was also told by someone that if neutering is done earlier it decrease the chances of spraying. Opinions? __________________ ~Cayce~

07-12-2005, 01:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
CayceV Jr. Cat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 32	Yeah I've heard of that. I've always had it done at 6 months.... But I've also always had females. Now that I've got Skotch, I'm thinking I may neuter him a bit earlier than 6 months. Is it true about the spraying? If they're done earlier the chances of them spraying are decreased? I know someone whose kitten was spayed at 7 weeks!!! The shelter did it.... The last shelter kitten I got... We were given some papers saying that if we did it by the time Healey was 6 months old, the shelter would pay for it. __________________ ~Cayce~

07-12-2005, 02:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Meaile Cat Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Columbia River Gorge Posts: 141	Is it harmful to spay later, like around 1 year old? __________________

07-12-2005, 05:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
nanook Premier Cat Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 4,757	I've only ever had male cats (Strange but true. Especially since all except one were found and not actually 'chosen'.) and none of them as ever sprayed. Spraying is really behavioral and as long as you neuter them before they sexully mature you should be fine. Most cats don't mature until about 5-6 mos. So I'd agree with the sometime between 4-6 month range. I've always done it closer to 6 mos. but if you're worried do it at 4. They can do it at a very young age. My pound kitty ws done at 6 wks.!But, as Ianthe said, it's because they HAVE to and, personally, I think that's a lot to put such a little fellow through. And, althouh studies say otherwise, and I understand the necessity, I'm not convinced that it's the healthiest way to go. But that's just my 2 cents. And Mealie, as emma, said it's never too late to spay or neuter! __________________ Victoria

07-12-2005, 01:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
Meaile Cat Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The Columbia River Gorge Posts: 141	Eddy & Pinky are both "fixed" and we will get Alice done eventually. They are indoor with no access to the outside so I don't worry. I just wanted to make sure. __________________

07-12-2005, 01:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ianthe Premier Cat Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 5,157	I would say between 4-6 months. A lot of shelters do it VERY young, but they have to, so they can adopt out the kittens without risking them being bred, but most veterinarians like to wait until they are a bit bigger, and better able to handle the procedure.

07-12-2005, 04:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
emma_pen Cat Addict Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,655	We neuter from 4.5 months of age. No, its not harmful to neuter at a later age, it is never too late!

07-12-2005, 03:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
CayceV Jr. Cat Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 32	I'm leaning towards 4... 4.5 months when I get him neutered. His mama will be spayed, too, but I'm not sure if I can get it done at the same time as Skotch gets neutered. Depends on the funds. Mealie, as the others have said, no it's not harmful to spay or neuter later. Wiskee (Skotch's mama) is just over a year old, so I imagine she'll be a year and a half when she gets done. __________________ ~Cayce~

07-12-2005, 04:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Ianthe Premier Cat Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 5,157	Perhaps you should get the female done first to make sure there are no more pregnancies.

07-12-2005, 06:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
roseeden Premier Cat Join Date: May 2005 Location: BRAZOS VALLEY, Texas Posts: 5,630	My boys were neutered at 7 months. They turned out to be perfect!!!

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