Vet will neuter our cat at 8-9 months old... Isn't that too late?

[elizabeth1st]

Neuter timing

My male kitty will be 6months when I return from a vacation. He will be 5 months at the end of this month. The vet has recommended neutering at 6m. I am concerned about the variability of sexual maturity and the occurrence of urine spraying. In order to ally my fears re spraying should I neuter at 5m plus rather waiting till I return, I will neuter him early sept, approx 3 wk before he's 6m. I also have a 6m spayed female.
Thoughts on that plan?
Thanks

 

[jcat]

It's hard to predict when/if spraying will start. It's usual in Germany to neuter at six months, and our last cat was "fixed" at that age and wasn't spraying. He did start spraying at 3 1/2 years, but fortunately that was mainly in the backyard. An intact male had sprayed there, and that started Jamie spraying in strategic spots whenever I took him outside. He did it for the next ten years. The only time he did it in the house was when a tom cat sprayed the outside of a cellar window. Neutering isn't fail-safe, in other words.

What does your vet say? I'd suppose a few weeks probably wouldn't make much of a difference as far as the surgery is concerned, so if you're worried about spraying, go for it. It's common in the U.S. for kittens to be neutered much earlier.

 

[jellycatfish]

I know this is an old thread from 2013, but I am SO glad I read it. My vet doesn't want to neuter my kitten Happy before 6 months and I was scared he would starts spraying everywhere. From what I understand, wheb he starts spraying it means it is time for him to be neutered - hopefully if this happen my vet will agree to proceed with the operation!
I thought I was being an awful cat mom by not arguing more with the vet, but this thread reassured me. I really like this vet, he is so calm and soothes Happy with his huge hands (the vet is probably around 6 feet 7 inches tall!) and has been really patient with me and my 3000 questions.
So, for the spraying... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.