Best to spay at 5 or 6 months?

My vet wants to wait until my kitten Camille is 6 months to spay, but everywhere I've read recommends 5 months or younger (before first heat). I want to do whatever is best for her long term but prefer not to go through a heat cycle. Many thanks for all thoughts. I'm mew to this site and think it's wonderful. I've learned so much!

The vet I was going to at the time wanted to wait until 6 months also and I talked her into 5 months.  At one time all vets waited until 6 months but advances in anesthetic have made it possible to have it done earlier.  If your vet isn't comfortable with earlier then maybe you could take her somewhere else for the spay.  

A lot of cats now are fixed at 2 months (or 2 pounds in weight) but your vet may not be comfortable doing this.  6 months should be fine for avoiding heat but if you are concerned you could look for a vet who does it earlier. 

I had a kitten go into heat at 16 weeks, and know people who have had them do it even younger :/. So I think even 5 months is risky. Either way, keep a close eye on her and make sure she doesn't get out.

Thanks for replies.  I take Camille to the vet tomorrow for the last of her vaccinations, so I will discuss.  She is 16 wks now, so I have a little time to decide.

Holly was a little more than 16 weeks when she was spayed.  The price the vet gave me was just crazy (over $200), so I was scrambling to find a place that could do it for less.  The local humane society had an opening in their spay and neuter clinic so I was able to fit her in.  

Sam was about 14 weeks.  He probably could have waited a bit longer.  But he had very obvious "boy parts" and was trying to spray.  We had a cat that sprayed indoors and there was NO WAY I was putting up with it again.  I got him in ASAP (and he doesn't spray) 

Cheryl