What's the Earliest a Male Cat can Be Neutered?

Hi all,

I've posted about my kitten Harley in some other threads and there are pictures of him up too.

Anyway A quick recap.

He was a stray who showed up in my backyard in early December. He was tiny, but could eat solid food. So I estimate he was about six weeks old. I pin his birthday around the last week of October, so therefor he's around 3 months old now.

Anyway, I want to have him neutered before he goes through puberty. I want to prevent all those habits that unaltered Tom's have from even starting if I can. You know the ones. Spraying, wandering, etc. I also want to prevent more homeless, unwanted, kittens. 

Harley is obviously growing bigger. Each day I see my little kitten being replaced by the big Tom Cat that's inside his DNA. So anyway, assuming that I'm about right about his age, is it too early to have him neutered? If so, when is the earliest I can have it done. Ive researched the question and gotten so many different answers. I thought this would be the best place to ask. Thanks in advance for anyone that helps answer my question. 

Hello and welcome to TCS! And congratulations on having taken Harley in and nurturing him so well. You are absulutely correct in wanting to get him neutered as soon as possible, both for his own sake and for yours. And to help control the terrible over=population of kittens.

AS to when he can be done, it depends on the vet. Some vets insist on waiting till 6 months of age, though more and more are doing it earlier. Research shows that most male cats can be neutered when they reach 2 pounds weight, and certainly as soon as they start showing 'tomcat' behaviour. The important physical development is that the testicles are descended, and the vet can examine him and let you know. So speak to your vet - but as I say, some vets still want to wait till around 6 months of age, which can be well after puberty in some cats. You may have to ask around for different policies.

Thank you for rescuing Harley. 

I trap cats at least once a month (TNR).  The rule of thumb the non-profit, low cost SN organization that I go through is:  two pounds or two months.  Two pounds seems to be more important than age.

And yeah with male cats especially:  the earlier the better.

Thank you rescuing Harley. For what it's worth the rescue I volunteer with, which also runs a high-volume, low cost spay/neuter clinic, will fix kittens at 8 week or 2.2 lbs. I've fostered many kittens who have been fixed there and all have bounced back quickly from their surgery. In my experience this pretty standard among reputable rescue groups and many vets who recognize the value of pediatric spay/neuters. Good luck with your little guy!

I usually aim at 3 months.

I don't know if you've seen the other threads here on the subject, but keeping Harley indoors all the time will be the single best thing you can do to improve his life, and yours.  But you still want him neutered; spraying indoors is really unbearable.

My vet recommends at least 6 monthsfor a male.  I had Beeba done at 8 months and he never sprayed before that or since.

But I've seen males as young as 5 months surrendered at the shelter because they're already spraying.  Best to avoid the chance, in my book.

Speck was done at 8 weeks because he already weighed 5 lbs - he was a big kitten!  The vet told us that she didn't usually do the procedure on kittens that young.  I believe 3 months and 5 lbs. was her rule.  I was worried about adverse effects, but it didn't even phase him.  He was playing so much when he came home that he probably wouldn't have needed the pain medicine.  (We gave it to him anyway - I was afraid he was going to hurt himself if he didn't slow down.)

Most vets recommend 6 months. Some vets (mine) recommend as soon as the first baby tooth falls out (usually around 4 months).

But the definitive answer is 7 weeks or two pounds - though vets unfamiliar with the study, unfamiliar with rescue work, or unfamiliar with spaying or neutering such small kittens won't do it.

Here is a summary of the study by Winn Feline Foundation: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/pages/early_age_altering_web.pdf
Here is an article, indicating many vet associations (including the AVMA) endorse it: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Pages/Early_Age_Spay_Neuter.pdf

My vet wouldn't neuter Riley until he was six months. When we brought him in for his second set of shots he was 3.2lbs, but still the vet said to wait until mid-January (he just got neutered last Tuesday). But, I have friends in the city who go to different vets, one friend had her boy neutered around 4 months old. Riley didn't spray at all before we brought him in, so we were lucky with that

LDG said:

Most vets recommend 6 months. Some vets (mine) recommend as soon as the first baby tooth falls out (usually around 4 months).
But the definitive answer is 7 weeks or two pounds - though vets unfamiliar with the study, unfamiliar with rescue work, or unfamiliar with spaying or neutering such small kittens won't do it.
Here is a summary of the study by Winn Feline Foundation: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/pages/early_age_altering_web.pdf
Here is an article, indicating many vet associations (including the AVMA) endorse it: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/Pages/Early_Age_Spay_Neuter.pdf

Click to expand...

At the shelter's all kittens are sterilized by when they are two pounds. When I brought home the three P's from the barn - I had them done at 16 weeks.