What do YOU think? What is the best age to spay/neuter your cat...
Urgency:Just Curious
Category: Pet Services
For: cats
Asked by: gadams38 9 months 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???
Answers from Zootooers
Answered by: Meryl O. (OnealMeryl) 9 months ago
My Vet always like to do it around 6 months and I have taken their advice.
Answered by: Meg S. (drambuie) 9 months ago
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.
Answered by: Caron W. (ArtsofEden) 9 months ago
Ive seen and heard it done young but my own heart tells me just before they reach puberty..5-7 months.
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.
Answered by: Toni G. (ToniTech) 9 months ago
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.
Answered by: Renee M. (nursenaenae) 9 months ago
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.
Answered by: Lucy B. (Lbrant) 9 months ago
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
Answered by: Christy M. (mallingc) 9 months ago
Minimum of two pounds. Typically give advice of 3 months or 3 pounds.
Answered by: Dorothy D. (ABusyLady) 9 months ago
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
