Getting kittens fixed questions

My kittens are about to turn 8 weeks I have 3 girls and 2 boys. Right now is a hard month money wise but will pick up soon. I heard about early S/N. Would it be ok to N the boys first and wait on the girls? There is NO way they can escape outside. I refuse to let them go to their new homes untill they are fixed. Or should the girls be done first? Also is it safe to do the early S/N?

I would do the girls first in case and yes I personally feel earlyer the better

I always heard the earlyer the better too! So I called my vet to find out the cost and such. She ask how old they were, and I told her 6 weeks, she then told me it was to early, that I couldn't have them fixed until 4 months! I've never heard of such a thing! I think I'm going to call my old vet!

Good luck with the babies, so awesome of you to have that done before they go to their new homes!

Early s/n is extremely safe. It doesn't matter too much whether you do the boys or the girls first when you're talking 8 wks vs. 12 wks, but overall it is more important to have the girls done first for two reasons. First, the surgery is more invasive and young animals really do have much easier recoveries. Female kittens under 5 months of age are playing a few hours after surgery as if nothing happened but if they're older than 5 months then they take a day or two to feel up to their usual activities after surgery. Second, and even more importantly, females become sexually mature much earlier than males. A 5 month old kitten can easily become pregnant but a male isn't really able to sire a litter until closer to his first birthday.

How long are you planning on keeping the kittens? Till they are 3-4 months old? I'm not a big fan of early spay/neuter - at least for those UNDER 4 months old.

I perfer getting both done at 6-8 months. And when breeding, I never had a problem with a new owner not getting them done when it was required. If pushed, I'd get them done at 4 months, but not earlier.


Don't bet on the males. I know a siamese breeder who let their little 5 month old male run with her adult females thinking it would be ok (never had a problem in the past). That 5 month old male was a daddy at age 7 months! Its very untrue that a male doesn't mature or breed till a year old!

We were always told by our vet to wait until they were about 4-5 months old before we had them neutered. I don't know anyone who had it done earlier.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

How long are you planning on keeping the kittens? Till they are 3-4 months old? I'm not a big fan of early spay/neuter - at least for those UNDER 4 months old.

I perfer getting both done at 6-8 months. And when breeding, I never had a problem with a new owner not getting them done when it was required. If pushed, I'd get them done at 4 months, but not earlier.


Don't bet on the males. I know a siamese breeder who let their little 5 month old male run with her adult females thinking it would be ok (never had a problem in the past). That 5 month old male was a daddy at age 7 months! Its very untrue that a male doesn't mature or breed till a year old!

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As a rescuer and as someone who has seen far too many situations where cats get pregnant UNDER the age of 6 months....I do believe in pediatric spay/neuter. Our rescue has spayed/neutered HUNDREDS of kittens at 10-12 weeks of age and have not had a single kitten come back to us. You can certainly call around to vets around your area and see whether they are willing to spay/neuter at 10 weeks.

Katie

Many vets near me want to wait until 6 months, too. But my rescue has started spay/neuter before the kittens are adopted. (We used to adopt them out with a free spay/neuter certificate.) We make sure the kittens weigh at least 2 pounds before the surgery. There was a period of time where we were calling around to find a vet who would do the pediatric speuter.

So think of yourself as being ahead of the curve. In 10 years, I think almost all vets will perform pediatric spay/neuter. For now, it may take a little research to find a vet who is knowledgable about it. Maybe take in the Winn study info to your vet, and let them know why you want it done early.

Gar was neutered early, and he is just fine. For Festus I waited until 6 months, because I had heard that it is better to let an animal have one "heat" prior to spaying. (Now I know that is not true.) Festie had never stepped foot outside my house, and just before she got spayed she snuck out through a window screen, and spent the night outside! Let me tell you I was in a panic trying to get her to the vet quickly, although she was not in heat when she got out. But it really showed me how even if you try to be careful, if your animal isn't speutered, you could end up with an unwanted litter!

Good for you for doing your best to provide for your babies. I would do the girls first, too!

I was going to have my babies spay/neutered at 8 weeks by my vet however that was going to cost an arm and a leg. I found a low cost spay/neuter that will do it at 12 weeks so i am going to wait the extra 4 weeks and have it done for way less. It was going to cost like 180 for each cat and another 40 for the visit and I have Mom and 4 babies. I am now going to pay $35 each for Mom and 2 girls and $25 each for my 2 boys! So it was going to cost like $940 and now I am going to pay $155 which is WAY BETTER! I would call around and do some research to see if you can find a LOW cost spay/neuter clinic.

LOUISIANA
Animal Welfare Inc
PO Box 4797
Shreveport LA 71134
318-221-0053
www.animalwelfareinc.org
Provides a discount for s/n for pets of residents with low income.
Lafayette Animal Aid
Lafayette LA
337-232-3089
Provides a small discount for s/n for pets of residents with low income.

Spay/Neuter Intervention Program (SNIP)
St. Bernard Parish Animal Shelter
115 W. Agriculture Road
Chalmette, LA 70043
504-278-1535
www.sbanimal.homestead.com
Free spay/neuter of cats and dogs brought by retired residents and by people on any type of public assistance. Low cost spay/neuter for cats and dogs for everyone else.

Jefferson SPCA
1 Humane Way
Harahan, LA 70123
504-733-PETS
www.jspca.org web site
For anyone in the community, Jefferson SPCA provides discount certificates for cat and dog spay/neuter with participating veterinarians. Serves Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, St. Charles, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne parishes.

Southern Animal Foundation
Spay/Neuter Intervention Program (SNIP)
PO Box 4164
New Orleans, LA 70178
504-861-7729
Mobile clinic that visits sites in Hammond, St. Charles, Slidell, New Orleans, Jefferson, Mandeville, Plaquemines, Amie, Abita Springs, and St. Bernard.

Louisiana SPCA Feral Cat Initiative
New Orleans LA
Web www.la-spca.org
For feral cats residing in Orleans Parish. Also check the web site for their low cost s/n for tame cats and dogs.

I have been familiar with pediatric spay and neuter for 5 years, and I have always had positive experiences with it. I feel that any rescue organization or ethical breeder SHOULD alter before the kittens go to their new homes. I also believe that if for some reason you can't find a vet that will do it before 16 weeks, then keep the kittens until that time. Although, I am finding more and more vets are going toward pediatric altering, as the studies and research is out there, showing the benefits. I also believe that we will see early altering becoming more the norm, I do hope that sooner, rather than later.
I also say good for you, for doing the best for your furbabies.

I would also do the girls first, for the reasons already mentioned. When they come home, you can't even tell they have been spayed.

Huge fan here of early spay neuters!! I do them all at 8-12 weeks. The earlier the better and there are no problems with having it done early. Why wait until after 4 months when there are risks involved with that like the cat reaching her first heat and becoming pregnant, or males beginning to spray and everything. Why wait?

I would do it as soon as possible, 2 lbs is the minimun weight so as long as they are that then you are good to go!! Good luck!

I'm also a big supporter of early spay/neuter, wish all rescue groups followed the practice, i believe it could seriously cut into the overpopulation if it was common practice... I'm sure there is a vet in your area who does them, and also that is so great that you are getting it taken care of before they go to their new homes

I had Chevy neutered at 8 wks. He acted like nothing had happened. My other kittens are almost 8 wks but they are still under 2 lbs so we will wait a few weeks. I think it is a great thing to do it early, they bounce back so fast.