At what age should i spay my kitten?

Question

I just got a new kitten a few months ago. At what time should i spay her?

Answer 1

Hi there...many shelters will perform a spay/neuter as young as 8 weeks or if the cats weigh at least of 2/3 lbs so they can withstand the anesthetic. Here's the website which discusses early spay/neuter for cats and it's effects: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/health/early-spay-neuter.html
This website is for dogs and cats:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/ope/ivb/spay-neu.htm

Most vets will recommend 5/6 months as a general rule.

Answer 2

Both "Wags" & "LoveMyCat" - although somewhat contradictory - have both given you really good replies.

My research indicates that it CAN be done within a date range as early as 8-16 weeks - as long as the kitten weighs at least 2 lbs.

Since female kittens can get pregnant as early as 5 months, shelters are spaying them very early to avoid even more accidents from happening - from a shelter's point of view, that is entirely understandable. The last thing a shelter needs to be faced with is yet more kittens ... that they might end up having to put to sleep.

On the other hand, if your kitty is kept indoors and is not allowed around any males who've not been neutered, your vet might not want to do the surgery until after your kitty is closer to 6 months old.

Not having had a kitten for quite a while, I don't know if this still holds true, but I remember being distinctly told that it was healthiest for the cat to have her first heat before spaying. Like I said, it's been a very long time since I've had a kitten, so vets might have a different opinion these days. In fact, I'm almost certain that they've since changed their view on this.

Be prepared you're going to continue getting 2 different points of view on this subject : your local humane society will advocate early spaying ... your vet community is going to advocate holding off until the kitty is stronger.

Bottom line : only YOU know how dilligent YOU can be in keeping your kitty away from any of the neighborhood studs ... and you should base your decision accordingly.

Whatever you decide, ' wishing you and your kitty the best of luck and a loving lifetime of happy, healthy companionship !!

Answer 3

There is a new philosophy going around about spaying at as young as two months. While this is possible, it should only be done by the most skilled vet. At that age, arteries are the size of speghetti and veins are even smaller. Cats can develop adhesions, just like people, and, I know, from personal experience, an early spaying or neutering, in the hands of the ordinary local vet, can have some terrible outcomes.

If you spay your cat between five and six months old, it will be fine. It is an extremely rare circumstance, when a cat comes into heat before five months old. Shelters have begun to push the limits towards spaying and neutering before a kitten is adopted out, because too many people put it off, until it is too late, and there is another litter of kittens out there.

This answer will probably get so many thumbs down, you won't get to see it, but ask your vet, if you don't believe me. Too many people, these days, are willing to go with the latest trend, just because that is what everyone is saying should be the case.

Answer 4

We have a rescue and spay or neuter all of our kittens at 8 weeks old or 2 pounds. They bounce back from the surgery so much faster then an older kitten does. I would suggest if she is at least that age do it as early as possible. We have found that some of the kittens that have come in to us even at 4 months old are already in heat and we even had one that was pregnant at that age, so don't delay, get it done now if she is at least that age.

Answer 5

Depends on your vet. I had a kitten spayed at 12 weeks old. Some prefer to wait until at least 16 weeks or older.

Answer 6

My vet wouldn't spay mine until 5 months.

Answer 7

Six months for a female to be spayed, eight months for a male to be neutered.

Answer 8

4-6 months and try to get it done before she goes into heat for the first time. She will reduce her chance of getting mammary tumors greatly if she never goes into heat. Congrats on your new cat :)

Answer 9

when she is around 6-8 months old.

Answer 10

you can do it at 4 months, but i like to wait 6- so you kno everything is there =]