How Old To Be Fixed?

The title basically says what im asking, but i was just wondering how old a cat has to be to get fixed.

I have an 8 week old kitten and im curious to when we should take him to the vet and get fixed.


Also, here are some pictures of Peeko at about 7 and a half weeks

Awww, what happened to his mommy and siblings? You can take him neutered already, or if he's very small, wait for couple of weeks.

In the US most shelters and low cost places will do it at 8 wks/2 lbs. My vet wouldn't do it until they were 4 months but the low cost place did it at 8wks/2lbs. Pepper ended up being spayed at 12 weeks/3lbs. Jack was 16 wks/4lbs appx didn't know when he was born really.

I'd do it asap to avoid overpopulation problems.

Leslie

He's still small for 2 months, in my opinion..
His mommy is just fine But he has no siblings .. He was a only kitten


& I dont think they are at any risk of adding to the overpopulation problem because they are both indoor cats, and even after they get fixed they will not be allowed outdoors

Most cats that add to the overpopulation "aren't at risk" d/t being indoor only. One slip out the door, one pushed out window screen is all it takes. Believe me a female in heat is determined as is a male in looking for a female.

Leslie

As long as he weighs 2 pounds, it can be done any time. Some vets like to wait a little longer, but I wouldn't wait past 5 months at the latest. I have in the past put it off as long as 7 months without seeing any naughty behaviors, but that's a risk. Is his mother spayed yet? If not, have it done before he's 4 months old. There have been cases of 4-month old males impregnating females. And yes, even if it's his mama .

Shelters will spay/neuter at 8 weeks old and 2 lbs in weight. Personally, I think that waiting till 3-4 months old is better. They just seem too tiny at 8 weeks. Kittens as young as 4 months have been known to breed!

As others stated, he can be neutered once he hits 2 pounds, which is typically at about 8 weeks old. Most vets prefer to wait longer (usually between 4-6 months). Rescue organizations have been doing early spay/neuter for over 25 years now simply because they do not want to adopt out a cat that is not fixed, or risk further homeless populations. There have been many studies on early spay/neuteres and no one has yet to find any medical reason not to do them.

Do it when both you and your vet are comfortable doing it, but I wouldn't wait beyond 4-5 months personally. Most of mine were fixed around 2-3 months old.

And btw - Peeko is adorable!

Originally Posted by Jack31

Most cats that add to the overpopulation "aren't at risk" d/t being indoor only. One slip out the door, one pushed out window screen is all it takes. Believe me a female in heat is determined as is a male in looking for a female.

Leslie

Click to expand...

Believe me, that is the truth. That is how I was blessed with three adorable fur balls.

My Aristotle was neutered at 4 months.

Before taking him in you can check to see if both testicles have descended. Makes the surgery go a lot quicker if the vet doesn't have to search for them.

Yes, it requires getting "personal" with your cat.

It depends who you ask. My vet recommended waiting until 6 months old to neuter or spay (as long as they are not going to be around intact cats of the opposite sex). She is more of a "holistic" oriented vet although she does traditional medicine and she feels it is best to wait for their health.

My new sphynx will not be fixed until she is 4/5 months.
That is the way her breeder wants it to be and my vet agrees.
I am waiting until after the November TICA show.
So it should be the first week of Dec or last 2 days of Nov.
My vet had a fit because she thought she was fixed already because someone entered her info wrong.
She will be 5 months then.
The youngets I get males fixed is 3 months.

My neuters were all done at 10 weeks, and all kittens leaving here will be done at 10-11 weeks.
The little ones rebound much faster than grown cats, coming home from the vet like nothing has happened.