Spaying at 15 weeks?

Look, I know places will do it earlier.

My hospital has a 16 week rule, of course I could lie to them.

My breeder said 18 weeks (taking you right to the line of early heat).

I want to do it next friday for selfish reasons, its the day after thanksgiving, i dont work and would have all weekend to watch them.

I can get out of work but its tough here,  you can only get out, or work from home for so long. And most folks don't call out sick for their pets care

If I dont do it next week then i could request to work from home.

They might even be 4 months old next week, I dont have their birthdate on me, but I know they got their 3 month release date on halloween.

I dont know their weights, but the boy is well bigger than his sister.  Both are well acustomed to me and the home

I dont understand the problem. It is no race to do it as early as possibly. The point is, it can be done early. it is conventinet also for breeders, if they want to sell a neutered.

And you dont want to wait too late, of course.

16 weeks is surely fine for all save the breeders (respective buyers), who want to sell /buy  them already neutered, and still - 12 weeks

do it at 16 weeks, if it is conventient for you and your vet. no problem at all.

You can also spay at 15, no medical problems if the kitten is healthy and normal weigh, and it is OK for you.

Good luck!

Lol

I know I am splitting hairs here.

My kittens were from a top breeder. She didnt push me into a spay contract as I have heard others do, but probably because i wasnt some wide eyed shclep that would do anything as ignorant as not spaying.

The only reason to rush, is the pair are brother and sister.

Don't want any babies, and I dont want my little girl getting breast or uterine cancers.

Im going to call the hospital again and get the schedule, if its a drop off at 9am, pickup at 5pm, then obviously I could juggle it all.

Does anyone think there is any benefit to getting them fixed seperatly?

Actually I should, the girl is very very dominant and super playfull (attacking her brother), the boy is already a laxed out cat, like he's five years old (both bengals, the boy is a snow, I think the snows have a different disposition in my opinion, I have another snow bengal (see avatar), 11 years old.

If both are that young, the danger of  pregnancy is virtually nonexistens.  EVEN if both would happen to mature early.

  If one of the were adult / older  /  experienced, it were another  thing.

The danger of breast and uterine cancers, and uterine inflammations, comes if they go empty heat many times, they dont come at once to kittens. Although the risks becomes greater and greater of course as time goes by.

So, if you dont have any planes of taking litters - (you say they are top notch?) (with the breeders fully accept of course), do spay.

And  early spay is better than a late spay.

But the hurry isnt extreme, not medically speaking.

Good luck!

Thanks for that insight.

Very keen and detailed.

And no, I don't expect any liters

And ironically all the idiots (my family) who said it was absurd to pay what i paid sad after they came home "maybe you could breed them, and make your money back" 

Personally, I think the breeders should do tighter contracts, or do forced spaying.

Especially with bengals, what they say "For experienced cat owners only" is so true. I am experienced, and love them to pieces.

I routinely get mine done at 8 weeks.  It is so much easier recovery IMO.  Within few hours of being operated on they are released and  after coming home they go right back to being little nuts 
 

Wow 2 months.

Well I have never read that it is more dangerous, the only quips I have (at least if I were a breeder)

Are they healthy/stable enough (maybe so after weaning).

Are they mentally right?

My kittens took about a week to not fear me, and 10 days to fall in love with me, at the 12th day, constantly sleeping on top my legs at night, etc.

I want them to recover and be over it,  don't want them getting traumatized in the post op room either.

I will talk personally to my vet, maybe their weight will determine it.

Thanks again guys, and by all means always promote altering as the best help we can do for animals.

I routinely beg people through my life to let me pay to fix their animals. Luckily maryland is a good pet state, and that situation is rare.

Korina said:

Personally, I think the breeders should do tighter contracts, or do forced spaying.

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Most reputable breeders do neuter before adoption. I do all my litters at 10 weeks, then when they leave at 12 weeks all vet work is done including vaccinations and microchipping.

Mine have all settled into their new homes right away, if it took a week to not fear their new owners I'd be a pretty concerned breeder.

If 15 weeks suits your schedule then by all means do it then.

Well my breeder is reputable, maybe its different in USA?

Here a breeder is applauded for waiting 12 weeks, do you know how many people said "wow they are big for kittens"

All those people got theirs at 8 or less weeks.

I think its all about mitigating risk.

And like I said, my pet hospital (major one) told me 16 week minimum.

I will talk to my doctor and have her explain.

I don't know if Oci's are more "wild" then bengals, but certainly more rare.

On that alone I would not let leave unaltered.

As far as the fear, I dont know how to explain it, they were skiddish, if I moved towards them they would try and hide, but not hide too hard.

Its part of bengal brain to be evasive (or to evade).

With the use of wand toys, and food conditioning (basically just lay next to them when they eat, pet them when they eat)

Like I said a week later they were coming to me, but still flinching if I went to pet their face,  I conditioned that out of them with more petting, now they cant get enough.  Now they wont leave me alone

Next thing is to be held for extended periods of time (ability to submit is very good for the cat, they feel safe, and you can keep them safe if you have to hold them at a vet, scoop them up if something dangerous is on the floor).

Korina said:

Well my breeder is reputable, maybe its different in USA?

Here a breeder is applauded for waiting 12 weeks, do you know how many people said "wow they are big for kittens"

All those people got theirs at 8 or less weeks.

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All the American breeders I know early neuter, and none let their kittens go before 12 weeks. With 16 weeks being very common also. I don't know anyone who'd let them go at 8 weeks.

Over here we aren't allowed to let them go before 12 weeks, the US doesn't have the same strict rules but still many breeders follow the 12+ weeks as being best for the kittens - and if the new owners don't' agree they can go elsewhere. 

Not sure what you mean in asking if Oci's are more wild? They've got no wild blood in them, just pedigree cats in their creation. They are extremely energetic, but more people orientated and in your face than Bengals (I have several friends who breed them)

I'm glad your kittens are now comfortable around you, good luck with their operations. Little ones recover so fast, they'll come home like nothing has happened.

If next Friday is a good time for doing it for you (and if your vet is scheduling surgeries for that day), go ahead and tell the vet they're 16 weeks old. My vet likes to wait for 5 months, and I've had kitties go into heat at 16 weeks, so I'll tell him they're 5 months old even if they're younger. . .he probably wonders why my 5-month-olds are so small! But he's never said anything.

One random question for my own curiosity---are your kittens TICA registered?

Wow, you got a 16 week in heat?  I will be more carefull petting her, don't want to "awaken" her

So yea, I forgot how surgeries are done, drop em off at 8am, pick em up at 5.  I dont really miss work.

The doctor I know there wasn't doing surgery next friday, but is the following. So I will be going Nov 30th.

Now that you say the early heat can come, I might change my mind again!

I asked the receptionist if they asked for confirmation of birthdate, and of course they dont.

As to TICA, they are not yet, and they will be, I just wanted to be 100% on the names.

I have them set as Micha (snow boy) and Stella (snow girl),  and will probably give them my parents first names as middle (the reverse of our greek tradition, first son is named after Father's father, and first daughter is named after the mother's mother)

I can't wait to register, many owners dont register the pets, let alone add a picture (there is also a gene pool family tree site for bengals)

Korina said:

Wow, you got a 16 week in heat?  I will be more carefull petting her, don't want to "awaken" her :lol3:

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Hehe, I don't think petting will set her off! I had a feral tom in the spare bathroom at the time; I think that's what made my girl go into heat so early. But 16 weeks isn't unheard of, although not very common. I once heard about a kitten going into heat at 14 weeks, but i didn't know that cat personally so I can't verify the story. That's the earliest I've heard of.

Willowy said:

I once heard about a kitten going into heat at 14 weeks, but i didn't know that cat personally so I can't verify the story. That's the earliest I've heard of.

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One of my Queens started at 14 weeks, not just a kitten call either

missymotus said:

One of my Queens started at 14 weeks, not just a kitten call either

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Well, there ya go, first-hand knowledge. I'll remember that; now i have it from a trusted source!

I wish some vets wouldn't insist on waiting . It's just not in the best interests of the kitties.

My main vet clinic says 6 months but I know at least 2 vets of the many there will do it sooner if you sign a waiver just cause they do not normally do them before 6 months.  The clinic vet will do any cat 8 weeks officially but will go a week younger.  Another clinic will go 4 months or older.

Only issue is some of the clinics will give rabies shot as part of the package which may not count in some places.
 

My Mooch did go into heat at 4 months.  It was just a few days before I had both girls scheduled to be spayed too.  Noodles was looking at her like "what is wrong with you!?"    They both bounced back from the surgery just fine.

Korina said:

And no, I don't expect any liters

And ironically ..(my family) who said it was absurd to pay what i paid sad after they came home "maybe you could breed them, and make your money back" 

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Now I wasnt thinking of taking litters to get ´even on´ the money. If you are even the least serious, there are seldom surplus money out of breeding.  A fantastic hobby yes, but seldom plus money.

Of course, your losses will surely be lesser than  growing quality grape wine in Sweden, or say, Michigan.   .   I presume it may be somewhat easier in Australia, though.  

Nay, what I meant is to broading the  genetical pool, it is good to use more than a few good queens and Sirs.  So is at least the thinking here in Sweden, where we do try to encourage owners of good young males to let them father at least some litter before they go neutered  (we do have traditionellay late neuters here).

So, my belief is, the late neuters arent good, asp not for moggies allowed to go out.

But using good males as extra source for studs - is a nice and useful idea.

In some degree, also using good females. 

Both of course, with the original breeders accept yes, and cooperation with a good mentor to choose suitable partners..

Korina said:

As to TICA, they are not yet, and they will be, I just wanted to be 100% on the names.

I have them set as Micha (snow boy) and Stella (snow girl),  and will probably give them my parents first names as middle .....

I can't wait to register, many owners dont register the pets, let alone add a picture (there is also a gene pool family tree site for bengals)

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Interesting. In Sweden (= the big european association Fife) they gets the names from the breeder, and the breeder does register them.

You as owner do use of course your own home names home at your place, and these are usually more or less different for the registerd paperwork names...

But I presume if the owner wants to register them in another association, she can change names - sending in both the original official names, and also the new registry names she wish to use.

OR if she wants to reregister them as her own cattery.

OR??

Im wondering a little, if you perhaps got your bengales without paperwork although paying full price??

catsallaround said:

I routinely get mine done at 8 weeks.  It is so much easier recovery IMO.  Within few hours of being operated on they are released and  after coming home they go right back to being little nuts 
 

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Willowy said:

Well, there ya go, first-hand knowledge. I'll remember that; now i have it from a trusted source!

I wish some vets wouldn't insist on waiting

. It's just not in the best interests of the kitties.

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Wow the thought of a vet wanting to wait until that age is just crazy to me!!!!

Like CatsAllAround my fosters are frequently fixed at 8 weeks, so long as they are otherwise healthy and weigh a minimum of 2 pounds (which is the Nationally accepted standard). Personally I think the 10-12 week range is the best time to do it- they are big enough and bounce back quickly. 

I see people "rehoming" their kittens younger than 8 weeks but I could never imagine a reputable breeder or even shelter doing that. In many states it's actually illegal. All the good breeders that I know of won't let their kittens go before 12 weeks and always make sure they are fixed before leaving. 

I suppose none of that really matters in response to your question. They are certainly old enough and I'm sure weigh more than 2 pounds (or else you have a bigger problem)! If it works for your schedule than have it done. It's better to fix them a week early than a week too late!!!!

I really appreciate how proactive you are being in making sure they are altered before reaching maturity so as not to contribute to the pet overpopulation! If more people were like you we wouldn't have to have kitten fosters anymore. I would miss it, but not that much! 

And, congrats on the new additions! We need some pictures!