What age to neuter?

What age is the best time to neuter a kitten? I'm only concerned of his own health and normal growth, that comes before anything else.

8 weeks old is the youngest you can do a kitten, provided that they are healthy and within the correct weight range for their age.

You do not want to wait any longer than 6 or 7 months at the most, though. At that age a male kitten starts getting urges, could possibly breed, and may even spray.

Normal growth will depend on your kitten's genetics and how well he's cared for.

Early spay/neuters cause change in growth in puppies (they grow larger than they normally would have), does it have the same affect on kittens? That is what I'm worried about. I want him to grow normally.

Are there any known affects of early spay/neuter in cats?

I know they can be neutered at 8 weeks but is that the best time?

A cat isn't a dog, so no it does not affect them the same way. If you want him to grow normally you provide proper kitten nutrition and vet care - and he will get as big as his genetics allow him. Some cats are naturally smaller than others.

No known side effects that I've ever read of.

Any time after the testes have descended and the kitten is healthy. Sooner is better.

IMO, I like to wait until at least a couple weeks after the rabies vacs are done - so I like to get males done at 16 weeks. They're a little more independent at that time and handle being at the vet a bit better.
The other part of that is since they're staying at the vet, and accidents can happen, I'd rather they have the rabies vacs done just to protect me and the kitten law wise.

Thanks
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Originally Posted by strange_wings

The other part of that is since they're staying at the vet, and accidents can happen, I'd rather they have the rabies vacs done just to protect me and the kitten law wise.

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I never would have thought of that.

I'm a bit paranoid. I had one of mine nip a vet tech holding him because the vet was poking around for a vein to take some blood and the tech didn't have him scuffed properly. Never underestimate a scared/annoyed/pained kitten.

Also, trim your kitten's claws before they go to the vet. Maybe even tell them to leave his claws alone. I had someone, likely a tech, cut a kitten's claws down extremely short (through every quick) when she was at the vet for her spaying. I think she scratched the tech, they got mad, and did that. Not all techs will have patience and be as gentle and careful as they should be - hence the reason I worry about biting.

I've fixed many kittens at 8 weeks (fosters) without issue. IMO, the younger the better (so long as they're healthy) so that way there is no chance of an "accident" happening & them adding to the overpopulation issue.

I think 14 weeks is perfect for females, 18 weeks for males. Just kind of a personal preference from observing after having manymany kitties altered. You can wait for 6-7 months without them starting to spray....so any convenient time between now and then is perfect . I think it's better to do it younger so in case something comes up when they're older (changed work schedule, family crisis, etc.), it doesn't get pushed so far back that he starts spraying.

All the studies on the effects of early-age neuters were done on cats, with no ill effects observed. Which is why they thought for so long that it was OK to do it with puppies as well . But when they did species-specific studies they found that it isn't the best for puppies, especially large breeds. But no problems with kitties, although some breeders of larger breeds (Ragdolls, etc.) still like to wait.

I have had them done from 3 months to about 10 years(stray turned housecat)
I like to go early just cause I figure they will stress less due to being young. I also tend to take them in all at once when possible...for my own stress relilef tho With all the ones I had done I never noticed any get really big or smalldue to age. I have had plenty get big but the others I didn't have at the time in the litter got about same size.

Originally Posted by Willowy

But no problems with kitties, although some breeders of larger breeds (Ragdolls, etc.) still like to wait.

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All the Raggie and MC breeders I know do it at around 10 weeks with no ill effects. My kittens get done at 10 weeks, all the neuters I own were done at that age too.

I would not wait longer than 4 months for girls, best to get it done before they come into season which can happen at 4 months (I have a girl who called that young (a breeding cat))
Boys can start acting quite dominant even before starting to spray.

Originally Posted by Willowy

All the studies on the effects of early-age neuters were done on cats, with no ill effects observed. Which is why they thought for so long that it was OK to do it with puppies as well

. But when they did species-specific studies they found that it isn't the best for puppies, especially large breeds. But no problems with kitties, although some breeders of larger breeds (Ragdolls, etc.) still like to wait.

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I didn't know that, thanks for the info/explanation, it's reassuring

Thanks for everyone's input, I think I'll plan on having him neutered sometime between 12 and 16 weeks.

It also helps if you check that both testicles have descended. That was one way I knew Ari was ready when he was about 14 weeks.

Originally Posted by gemlady

It also helps if you check that both testicles have descended. That was one way I knew Ari was ready when he was about 14 weeks.

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Hmm, my vets says that if they haven't dropped by 8 weeks they aren't going to drop.....but I do know that dogs can retain them for up to 6 months. I don't know if cats are the same. But yeah, before doing a early-age neuter, always check to see if anything's there, LOL! My cousin's cat never dropped, and we waited until he was 10 months old and starting to act like a tomcat. So they had to cut into him to find everything.