Minimum weight for spaying and petite breed?

williecat

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So we have a 3 month old kitten who weighs 2lbs 2oz. She's an Abyssinian and judging by her parents, 6ish lbs might be her absolute healthy max. Her mom was about 6, dad was only very slightly bigger. My vet, whom I love, will not spay her until she reaches 5lbs, no matter her age. Vet says that while prior to the first heat is preferred, she must wait until Pepper is 5lbs, even if it takes her several heats to get there and she's much older than the typical 4-6 months.

I can't imagine she will more than double her weight in 3 months! And i wouldnt be surprised if she doesnt go into heat around then either. She's just little and in the 2 weeks we've had her, she gained only 3.5oz. Healthy for her but not much overall.

Would you find another vet just for the surgery (knowing how hard it is to let an unknown doc operate on your baby)? Change vets all together (don't want to do this as this practice is so perfect other than this issue)? Wait until she hits 5lbs, allowing her to come into heat possibly multiple times and risk uterine infections? I'm not especially worried about pregnancy, she has never been outside and our male is fixed. Though I know first hand how accidents happen and indoor kitties can escape. I'm more worried about her health if we have to wait. What would you do?
 

riccadawn

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I would find another vet who will do the procedure before her first heat. Ask around obviously...so it won't just be "any old vet." Ask for references from your friends and their friends, coworkers, etc. You will find someone you can trust. But to me it wouldn't be worth the possible risks of not getting it done sooner. Not to mention the fact that she may never reach 5 lbs. And then you'd waited for nothing.
 

detmut

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i would go to another vet. 3 pounds is the minimum at the Southern Animal Foundation in New Orleans and the Louisiana SPCA and they do a lot of low-cost spay/neuter. you can even find some vets who will do it at 2 pounds provided she is old enough.
 
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Willowy

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2 pounds is the accepted minimum for anesthesia, and usually for spay/neuter as well. But I don't blame some vets for wanting to wait until they're a little bigger--3 pounds is fine. But, as you said, some cats are just bitty and may never make 5 pounds. If your vet won't budge, tell him you're going to go to another vet because you don't want her going into heat, and then do it if he still won't give in. Around 5-6 months should be OK, but I've found the little ones actually go into heat sooner! So about 5 months, no matter how big she is, as long as she's healthy, and everything should go well :).
 

emilymaywilcha

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Great question and I am glad you asked! The shelter I used to volunteer at spays and neuters cats at eight weeks if they weigh 3 pounds. I read years ago in my local newspaper the earliest kittens get pregnant is 4 months. By that time, your Aby will weigh 3 pounds.

I definitely would not switch vets altogether but there is no reason to wait until your new kitten weighs 5 pounds if that is close to her maximum weight. You do want to get her spayed before sher is 4 months old to prevent her first heat (which non-breeders say is very annoying). If a low-cost program is avaiilable in your area, that would be purrfect because you know they will spay a 3-pound, 3-month old kitten.
 
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williecat

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Well, she's already over 3 months and just a bit over 2 lbs. if she continues to gain approx 7 oz a month, she will be over 5 months, close to 6 before she hits 3lbs. But my vet works with a large animal hospital that may be more willing to spay her at a lower weight, I will give them a call tomorrow and ask a few friends. Plus my vet hopefully won't turn it into a big deal if I take her somewhere else if its a hospital they work closely with. I don't want to put her at an unnecessary risk if she's really too small, but there are valid dangers to waiting too that the vet must understand.

Andy Willowy--I have heard that too from various places, that smaller breeds tend to reach sexual maturity earlier! I thought it was just one of those things "they" say, but maybe there's some truth to it. Yikes!
 

catsallaround

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I would find a vet just for the spay.  I respect if the vet don't feel comfortable.  My vet had no experience that young but was willing to do it 2 times.  I did have to sign a formal waiver as clinic practice was older then these 2 were.  Think they did 4 months on. I have gotten them done before 8weeks and one was under 2lbs.  All at a clinic so to me it is not a big deal and it gave her some experience. 
 
 

aeevr

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I would go to a low cost clinic - not just for the cost, but due to the vast numbers of procedures they perform, they are real experts.

The shelter here spays at 2 lbs.
 
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missymotus

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Surprised the breeder didn't spay her before adoption, most of the reputable ones do then the owners don't have to worry about it.

I would definitely get her done soon rather than later, even if it means going to a different vet for the surgery, she does weigh enough now and you want to get her done before the first heat. They're a fast maturing breed and heats at around 4 months are not uncommon. 
You do want to get her spayed before sher is 4 months old to prevent her first heat (which non-breeders say is very annoying)
Breeders don't exactly find it fun either 
 
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emilymaywilcha

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He said 4-6 months old, with no discussion of weight.
When I adopted my first cat in 1994, everyone said wait until she is 6 months old except one lady at a pet store. Fortunately Emily never went into heat, so I had no idea kittens could get pregnant at only 4 months old. The reason given for waiting so long was vets thought kittens must reach sexual maturity first, but nobody explained why that is so important.

Two years later I adopted Patricia at a shelter that routinely spays and neuters 3-month old kittens. Cat Fancy claimed the earliest kittens can be spayed/neutered as young as 14 weeks. I did not know about the 2 and 2 rule (2 months/2 pounds) until I volunteered at a shelter that has been doing that for years, so for a long time I assumed earlier than 14 weeks is bad regardless of weight.


Breeders don't exactly find it fun either.
I thought because breeders want to make cats pregnant, they would not be irritated with the queen's heat behaviors.
 

catsallaround

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They don't breed EVERY heat so in the more vocal breeds they hear it ALOT.  Even the ones who are quieter still must make them a bit nuts at times! In dealing with females years back one would put the others in heat kind of like humans have periods together.

My guide is 2 lbs but if under by oz or 2 I still go ahead. It freaks some people out at my reg vet clinic who is not used to seeing it done so young but I have had a few techs comment about how well they wake up and are ready to go home so fast. 

Years ago vets would not want to do anything less then 6 months(or older) I think with so many shelters carrying it out just fine they started going a bit younger.  Sure they saw a few pet cats get pregnant before 6 months from owners who NEVER would have allowed it had they known too.
 
 

orientalslave

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I thought because breeders want to make cats pregnant, they would not be irritated with the queen's heat behaviors.
Not only can female cats calling be noisy (hence 'calling' in the UK), quite a few of them spray urine and they can be generally hormonal.  Not easy to live with.
 
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