I have a kitten that is three months old, and two other cats, age 6 and 2. The two oldest love a little bit of catnip, but I don't know if it is safe to give a kitten. Also, what is the best age to have the kitten neutered? My other cats were already fixed when I adopted them. Any advice would be great. Thanks!
2006-11-17 11:04:15 · 16 answers · asked by Phoenix 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Only about 30% of cats react to catnip at all. My six are only mildly interested. If the kitten has the genes to react to it he will probably like it after six months or so.
It is never too early to neuter your kitten. Four or five months is a great time and by the time you make the appointment and the arrangements for it he will be ready. The holidays are fast upon us and there will be so many things to take up your time. Make you plans right away - January at the latest.
2006-11-17 12:12:42 · answer #1 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It really isn t the age of the cat as much as it is the weight. A cat/kitten needs to be around four pounds before he/she can be neutered or spayed.
RE: Catnip ...Since only about 30% of all cats like catnip, I would try at 6 months to a year and check it out. If not, he may still like it in another few months, but after that, I would give up. (It only lasts about 10-15 minutes anyway, so it really isn t a big deal whether they do or not.)
2015-07-04 11:36:25 · answer #2 · answered by Deborah 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let your kitten smell the catnip now. If it does nothing for him, try again in a couple of weeks. Don't force it on him. Some cats never care about catnip.
For getting him neutered, that's a judgement call. I'd say eight months -- he'll be pretty close to grown up, but won't yet have the spraying and fighting habits of adults. If you get him neutered earlier, he may grow up weird or playful (you may want him weird and playful). Your vet will want to neuter him at about age six months, if he's pretty tame. If he's feral, your vet will want to neuter him as soon as possible.
2006-11-17 12:46:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat nip is fine at any time. As far as neutering, that is usually done between 6-12 months. Some vets will do it when they are younger, but it's not very safe. The closest to 6 months the kitten is, the better. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER A YEAR. This will only do more damage than not. After a year, a kitten is considered an adult and will begin to change physically. If the cat is not neutered, it can spell out trouble. The actual surgery is fine to do after a year, but waiting allows for extra time for the physical changes to harm your cat.
2006-11-17 11:13:11 · answer #4 · answered by rockerbarbie19 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can give him catnip at any age but he probably won't be interested until he's at least a year or so old, maybe even a year and a half or two. Cats don't respond to nip until they're at least adolescents and sometimes young adults. (Some cats never get to like catnip.)
I don't know the best age for neutering but I know it's quite young. Your vet clinic can advise you, just call the practice and ask. Anyone who works at a vet clinic should be able to answer that question.
2006-11-17 11:10:52 · answer #5 · answered by Mick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat is old enough to get neutered. Some vets will neuter them as young as seven weeks. My sister in law fosters homeless kittens and that is how young they are fixed and they have never had any problems related to it. Also, it is safe to give your cat catnip now, but some kittens that young may not respond to it yet.
2006-11-17 11:05:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It won't harm a cat of any age; however, most kittens under the age of six months simply won't respond to it. As to neutering, any kitten that has been weaned is able to be neutered; vets usually wait a little longer for spaying (female cats) simply because the blood vessels to the ovaries are so tiny in kittens.
2006-11-17 11:07:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was told at the pound that they gauge it by the cats weight on weither or not to fix them yet. Then again Idgie is a girl.
We were giving our cats Catnip at about 1. It wont harm them at any age. It's just part of the mint family. Of course the nice thing with kittens is they're willing to play with anything at that age don't need the added insentive of nip an old shoelace will porovide hours of fun.
2006-11-18 01:04:33 · answer #8 · answered by poetm18 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as for the catnip...dont know when is the youngest to give it to them.. i was told by my vet, 6mo. for the neutering. I had to weight longer cuz had a cat that was tiny at 6months so check with your vet on when is a good and healthy time to get him neutered.
2006-11-17 11:17:44 · answer #9 · answered by kerrberr95 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's fine for a kitten! And you can get him neutered now. Vets say that the younger you neuter them, the faster the recovery.
2006-11-17 11:07:05 · answer #10 · answered by Serena T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋