When should I have my kittens spayed/neutered?

I have an 8 week old kitten now, female, and will be adopting another one soon, which will be male. Often I see that shelters have kittens as young as 8 weeks, who have already been fixed...
Someone told me if I neuter a male before 6 mo. the cat can have urinary problems later, like leaking etc.
Do you know anything about this to be true or not?
When is the best time to sterilize? Does sterilizing at an early age cause problems for a female?
The low-funds-shelter I adopted my little female from, wants me to have her spayed before she reaches 6 mo...

Our vet does pediatric surgeries and spays/neuters healthy kittens as soon as they are at least 2 pounds.
The majority of vets will spay at 4 months.
All of my cats, both male and female had pediatric surgeries, none has any urinary issues.
I did have one cat that was neutered at 9 months, he did develope FUS, but I don't think his surgery had anything to do with it.


You may have to call around if you want pediatric spay/neuters done, otherwise, 4 months is the average age.

My vet won't do them till they are 6 months old, and he won't budge on this either. So really, you are at the mercy of the vet in your area and what his or her policy is

Some places with do early like Aryln said. Otherwise standard is about four months also like Arlyn said heh.

I would never have a male cat neutered before five or six months old .The vet i work for told me their penis is not developed all the way and yes they will have severe problems down the road.

The early spay and neuter is to new for me to try, so all my babies are going to to wait till at least they are 5 months.

JMO and .02 cents

Originally Posted by Straykat

I would never have a male cat neutered before five or six months old .The vet i work for told me their penis is not developed all the way and yes they will have severe problems down the road.

The early spay and neuter is to new for me to try, so all my babies are going to to wait till at least they are 5 months.

JMO and .02 cents

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The studies done show that not to be true at all.

My boys are between 1 yr and 8 years.
All were neutered at 2 pounds, none have any issues.

My babies were fixed at 3 months. I think it really depends on the vet's views on this.

For me, the jury is still out on the long-term effects of pediatric spay/neuter. There are vets in my area who perform the procedure on kittens as young as 12 weeks however, they are few and far apart in pricing - none are less than $300 for either a male or a female.

However, there may be a low- or even no-cost clinic in your area that will perform an early spay/neuter. Here is a link to a listing of such clinics by State. Maybe one in your area would be the right way to go for you. http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html

There are studies out that show both sides of the scale regarding the long-term issues with this procedure on kittens. Until the evidence is more compelling, I think it is safe to wait until they are at least 4 to 6 months old.

Best of luck,

~gf~

both of my kittens (1 male; 1 female) were fixed two weeks ago, and they were 8 weeks. of course it's too early to tell, but my vet says they are healing nicely.

...my husband was so sweet to snooker, he said he felt sorry for the poor little guy when he went to groom himself and found stuff missing...

Originally Posted by Arlyn

My boys are between 1 yr and 8 years.
All were neutered at 2 pounds, none have any issues.

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Arlyn, I just have to say ... I really love your siggy. What is the origin of that Haiku? Did you write it?

~gf~

I am a vet tech and at my current work we do it at 4 months. At my old work we did it at six months. It is basically doctors prefernce. It is fine to do as early as 4 months!!

Thank's for your answers to this!
It's not that I want to have them fixed early, but I think I'd like to have it done no later than 6 months; just wondering if 5 moths would be causing problems, but I guess it shouldn't be much of an issue, sounds like.
By the way, do you use pain killers for them, male or female, for after the surgery? For how long? I would think that especially a female would need something, and even a male must be somewhat sore afterward? I had a tiny mole removed from my own leg, and even tho it seemed like nothing, it sure stung quite a bit later that day. But maybe it's not like that for a male kitty? I guess I just feel sorry for them if they have to be in pain...

I'd suggest getting it done ASAP. You can get them fixed when they weigh 2 pounds; my girl kitten was spayed a 8 weeks.

They can have kittens at as young as 5 or 6 months, so you've gotta be careful.

Missy and her 5 kittens got done yesterday. The kittens just turned 14 weeks, they would be up and running around as usual if I didn't have them confined for their own good.

Missy is fine but not nearly as active as the little ones.

Garfield was neutered quite young, about 3 months I think. Festus was almost 6 months old. Garfield is still all boy, and at about 16 months old, he has shown no problems. I don't see what neutering has to do with the penis, it is the testicles that are removed?!?

If you go look at the pregnant cat thread, you will see what can happen with unplanned pregnancy. Getting your kits neutered and spayed by 5 months old will prevent this problem!

I think usually there is no pain control after the surgery, because the pain is supposed to help keep the cats quiet, and from over doing it. On the other hand, it is rather barbaric not to offer something after a surgery. Your vet can advise on this issue!

Except for my first kitty, who did have an unplanned pregnancy all of ours have been done just around six months. Sounds as if there are plenty getting it done earlier with no problem though. Our Bucky will be going in for her surgery in the middle of September.

On a side note, I agree with Becky, seems like the vet should give our kitties a little something for the pain.

Actually our kits got a pain shot before coming home, time release sorta, lasted for about 36 hours.

My vet's suggestion was 4 months and 5lbs. And that is when I had Mooch and Noodles done. And just a few days before they were scheduled to go in, Mooch started going into heat.

Here it is at 5/6 months and the vet does give a pain shot, with more meds later if the cat seems to need it.