When is best time to sterilise?

My kittens Ka and Sam are now 5 months and 1 week old. They're female and male respectively.

Their sibling Maggie's mom called me yesterday morning to tell me that Maggie had tried to hump one of the other cats. Maggie is a male and from the same litter as Ka and Sam.

Should I be worried about Ka getting pregnant by her brother? When is the best time to neuter and spay them? Their birthday is 11 Nov 2003.

Thanks in advance!

Five Cats' Mom

Yes your female can get pregnant, it is time for both of them to get spayed and neutered.

hissy: Thanks! I'm keeping them separate for now.

I recall the vet saying something about how it might be better for the male to be sterilised later as if his sex organs aren't properly developed yet, he might have urinary problems or infections later in life. Have you heard of this?

In either case, Ms Ka will have to definitely go for her sterilisation next week. Sam, I'd like to confirm the above first before having him go under.

Our other two boy and girl had theirs at 6.5 months. But Mag's early development had me concerned (if it is related at all).

Thanks again!

I recall the vet saying something about how it might be better for the male to be sterilised later as if his sex organs aren't properly developed yet, he might have urinary problems or infections later in life. Have you heard of this?

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As far as I am aware, early spay/neuter studies have found no short term or long term effects. It used to be thought that early neutering caused an increase in the incidence of FUS but this theory has since been disproven. My males that were neutered at 4 months of age and also at 6 months of age have not experienced any problems.
What age does your vet recommend for males?

Here is some more info:
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/repo...ly-neuter.html
"Critics have claimed several possible detrimental side effects from early neutering. It is commonly believed that neutered animals are less active and more prone to obesity than unaltered animals. It was also suggested that neutering at an early age would stunt normal growth. In male cats in particular, it was feared that early castration would affect the development of the urinary tract and lead to an increased incidence of cystitis or urinary obstruction.
Observations of urinary tract development showed no differences between the three groups other than the differences related to sex and these were consistent across all groups. The investigators measured the diameter of the urethra in the male kittens only and found no differences between the groups.Concerns have been raised that early neutering would result in smaller diameters in the urinary tract, resulting in an increased incidence of cystitis and related problems. This does not appear to be the case. The main differences observed between the groups occurred in the comparison of secondary sex characteristics. Males were examined for differences in the development of the penis and prepuce (skin covering the penis), as well as for the development of penile spines. The penile spines were absent in Group 1, smaller than normal in Group 2, and normally developed in Group 3. In the examination of the female kittens, investigators found that the vulvas were more infantile in Groups 1 and 2 and normal in Group 3. None of these differences had any impact on the ability to catheterize the kittens. Concerns that development of the urinary tract might be arrested or impaired by early spaying and neutering proved unsupported."

Well, neutered cats (no matter what age they are when neutered) are prone to obesity IF the owner isn't aware of the the fact that neutered cats doesn't need as much food as intact ones. So if the owner knows about it and reduces the amount food given after the cat's been neutered there's no reason to believe that the cat would get fat.

When it comes to growth, experts don't fully agree. It's been proven that neutered cats often develop longer legs because it takes longer time for a special part in the bones (I'm sorry I don't know the English word for it) to develop. However this in fact effects the cats health, people disagree on.

But, when it comes to the urinary tracts, they aren't effected.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! It's a relief to know studies have found the urinary tract unimpaired. I'd thought to let them enjoy their kittenhood a bit more but considering the risk, I think I'll take them in next week.

Thanks again!