At what age should a cat be neutered?

I have read as early as 8 weeks and then have read that often cats neutered too young have lifelong urinary tract problems. I'm just curious and wondering if anyone has had any practical experience with this. Has anyone neutered their cat really early and it was fine? Problems? TIA for any info.

All of my males were neutered at 2 pounds/8 weeks.
None have ever experienced problems.
Diet plays a much bigger role there.

I plan to neuter at 12 weeks after mom has nursed and fix her also. I have heard and read it was a good idea.

I've dealt with many kitties who were pediatric neuters and they're all doing fine. It's just better to do it well before their first heat if they're girls....well, ASAP with either gender. They'll never even start spraying/roaming/yowling/fighting, so doing it later in life is not going to happen.

My vet says 6 months is the best age.

Back when I got my big boy Winston neutered, the vets all told me they would not do it before 6 months, however, he was a big boy (despite being bottle fed from ten days on LOL) and at 16 weeks I took him to a different vet and said he was six months. I hated to have to lie, but I wanted him done early so he would stay a clean and wonderful boy. He was done, everything went wonderfully, he healed faster I think because of his youth and excellent health, and is a wonderful huge 7 year old now who has never had a urinary problem *touch wood*
Urinary health is best maintained with excellent nutrition and regular vet check ups too. The ash-magnesium content in some cheaper cat foods has been linked to urinary problems.

2 of my males were done at 12 weeks, they are both fine.

this was an interesting article concerning early spay/neuter thought i'd share it
http://cats.about.com/cs/spayneuter/a/earlyneuter.htm

If I ever get a youngin, I will find an early spay and neuter vet ....

Reilly, my cat that I had to have put to sleep, was on a special diet due to his many health problems. I got that food from the vet. However, I have always fed my cats only food with meat as the first ingredient. Any suggestions otherwise???

Well, it really is true that you get what you pay for, if the food is a whole lot cheaper than average, it probably isn't any good.
I fed Iams for years and all my cats did wonderfully on it. It used to be them ost expensive one out there, but it has come down in price quite a bit. It probably has lost some of it's quality too but I still think it is a decent food. I have heard Nutro also makes decent cat food, as well as chicken soup brand food.
I'm sure lots of members can chime in on their favorite brands of cat food. The vets will push whatever they sell in their office unfortunately, so that is not necessarily your best source of info on the best food for your cat.

I have had all of my pets come to me, early altered before 12 weeks old. Our vet has been spaying and neutering our kittens at 11 weeks old, and they are also adults now, that have never had any problems.
Pediatric spays and neuters have been done for a long time now, and the studies show no harm, in fact it is better for them. Here are 2 articles on the subject of early altering.
http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/repo...ly-neuter.html

http://www.catvet.homestead.com/EarlyAlter.html
I am a strong believer that all pets should be spayed or neutered at a young age to prevent health and behavior problems, as well as the accidental matings, from waiting too long to alter.

I had my kitty neutered at 4 months of age. I've heard that there is little or no difference in early spaying and neutering.

My male cats were neutered when they were 6 months old.
A friend of mine had hers neutered at that age, and one of the kitties died of cardiac arrest while he was under anesthesia.

I think there is pro-cons in both areas, but I will stil choose early spay/neutering.

To me, unless you are a very conscientious breeder, dedicated to the development and improvement of your chosen breed (for dogs and cats) there really is not a good reason NOT to fix your animals. But that is just my personal opinion.

I was just wondering as to the age. We had a kitten several years ago and the vet had suggested 4 months as the time to neuter him. Sadly, we never got there as he got out a window. He opened the screen by sliding it over.

I had noticed when I went to the humane society that a little kitty there seemed to have been just neutered and he was only about 9 weeks old, so I was just wondering. TIA for all your imput. I really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by bronte73

To me, unless you are a very conscientious breeder, dedicated to the development and improvement of your chosen breed (for dogs and cats) there really is not a good reason NOT to fix your animals. But that is just my personal opinion.

I was just wondering as to the age. We had a kitten several years ago and the vet had suggested 4 months as the time to neuter him. Sadly, we never got there as he got out a window.

He opened the screen by sliding it over.

I had noticed when I went to the humane society that a little kitty there seemed to have been just neutered and he was only about 9 weeks old, so I was just wondering.

TIA for all your imput. I really appreciate it.

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I am so sorry you lost your kitten. I can imagine how heart breaking that was.
I have heard of spaying and neutering as young as 8 weeks, and I believe early alter may refer to anything before the normal 6 months, that some vet require. In my experience, a male could have already impregnated a female by 6 months old, and I have had a few females go into heat as early as 5 months.
I think some people just live busy lives and for some they either put back spaying and neutering or it just slips their mind until it is too late. I would like to see more shelters, rescues, and breeders early alter.

Originally Posted by batgirl2good

My male cats were neutered when they were 6 months old.
A friend of mine had hers neutered at that age, and one of the kitties died of cardiac arrest while he was under anesthesia.

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I am so sorry to hear that. That must have been such a shock and devestation to your friend.
I have heard of this happening with one certain anesthetic. Our vet uses Isoflourine, and we haven't had any problems with our spays and neuters in the few years we have went to him, thank goodness.

I agree.. Look at how many members come here that have cats pregnant at 6 months...

My Cassi was 7 months old when her litter was born.
Sadly, because she was so young, none survived past the 24 hour mark.

4 months is the latest I'd wait on either gender unless there are medical reasons to wait longer.