Q: What do YOU think? What is the best age to spay/neuter your cat...
January 30, 2009 | By Gail | 20 answers | Expired: 1556 days ago
The best time to alter your pet is before the animal reaches puberty. Many experts feel that six months of age is an ideal time to spay or neuter. However, there have been numerous studies done that show that healthy kittens spayed or neutered as young as six weeks of age do quite well. The recovery of such young kittens is very quick, and to date, no negative significant concerns have been found. Spaying and neutering kittens and puppies that are healthy at a very young age is becoming a growing trend that has been endorsed by major humane organizations including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Humane Association, and the Cat Fanciers' Association.
Some people still feel that a kitten should be larger and stronger before undergoing the general anesthesia required to perform the surgery, and to allow more time for the urinary tract system to develop. Consult with your veterinarian and other veterinary health professionals that you trust to help you determine the right age for your kitten or cat.
What is YOUR opinion on the right age? Does your shelter spay/neuter at a younger age? If so, HOW YOUNG???
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Jan 31, 2009
My Vet always like to do it around 6 months and I have taken their advice.
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Jan 31, 2009
Our shelter has been doing early spay/neuter for many years now. As long as the animal is 2 pounds or more, the surgery is done. The animals recuperate VERY quickly and we have not seen adverse effects.
The difficulty we had at first was finding vets who would actually do early spay/neuter.
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Jan 31, 2009
Ive seen and heard it done young but my own heart tells me just before they reach puberty..5-7 months.
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Anonymous
Jan 31, 2009
We had Karlie spayed at 5 months, which was what our vet recommended. Our first dog, Jas, was spayed at 6 months, as was Anna. I go with whatever our vet recommends.
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Jan 30, 2009
Our hospital spay/neuter at 6 months of age. Our doctor likes to have the urinary tract more developed which can help to prevent incontinence later in life. He also likes to spay before the first heat cycle which almost completely eliminates the chance of mammary tumors.
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Jan 30, 2009
My Vet would not even consider spaying Marley till she was at least 3 months old. She gets spayed 2-6-09. She'll be 3months 1wk. old.
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Jan 30, 2009
16 weeks is our standard unless there is a medical issue then we will hold off a bit. We are comfortable with this age and have had great success with it. So 16 weeks would be the youngest
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Jan 30, 2009
Minimum of two pounds. Typically give advice of 3 months or 3 pounds.
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Jan 30, 2009
My vets always wanted the animal to be at least five months. But I guess they can always change that?
My advice: Just do it.
(sorry Nike)
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Jan 30, 2009
I would do it as I can. But I do think 6 wks is a little young I think. If I remember I got my pets done between 3-6 months
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