Best time to get male kitten fixed?

Question

I have a 6 month old kitten. I know I will have to get him fixed, but what is the best age to do that. I have heard that declawing a cat is very inhumane. What do you think. Is declawing a good idea. (Just the front paws of course).

Answer 1

You can get him fixed now and also ask for the feline leukemia test, especially if it's a stray or you don't know the parents. Some cats are indoor/outdoor cats and need their claws to defend themselves. As long as you teach him not to scratch your furniture, I wouldn't bother. Buy a scratching post.

Answer 2

Declawing isn't a big deal. THey recover quickly. IT's less traumatic if you do it at the same time as neutering. BY the way 6 months is the PERFECT age for neutering. Call your vet and make an apointment TODAY!! When he feels like a "Big man" which could be anytime, he will start spraying. If he's not fixed BEFORE he beigins that habit, fixing him may not make him stop!! So that's why you should do it ASAP


LiSTEN PEOPLE... I'm not trying to tell people they SHOULD declaw, and certainly it is not necesary, but I feel like I need to give the "other side." I have had cats for 26 years now, and ALL of them were declawed. One was even indoor/outdoor and did fine, even winning a fight against a larger, younger, intact tom. (Although I would be one of the first to reccomend that a declawed cat be indoor only). FURTHERMORE, NONE of the declawed cats, or anyone else's declawed dcats I've ever met, have EVER had "psychological problems,"biiting problems, litterbox problems, or balance problems. They ALL healed within the week, and lived happy, healthy lives. GET OVER IT!! PLEASE!! THere's nothing wrong with reporting the facts, but exxaderating and saying blatant falsehoods and trying to scare people is WRONG!!

SHEESH!!

Answer 3

At 6 months, your cat is currently at the age when most veterinarians recommend neutering. I'm glad you're a responsible pet owner & plan to neuter your cat!

Declawing really is completely unnecessary - it's possible to train your cat not to scratch inappropriately, and you can trim the sharp tips off his nails to blunt them so he won't cause any accidental damage to you or to your furniture. If you provide your cat with good tall (30 inches or more), sturdy scratching posts that are placed near where he spends his time relaxing, he will use those instead of the furniture - especially if you take steps to make the furniture unattractive during the training period.

The Cat Fancier's Association (the feline version of the AKC for dogs) recommends against declawing. http://www.cfainc.org/articles/health/declawing.html

This is an informative article that explains the procedure of declawing, and explains its impact on a cat, as well as offering info on alternatives:
Declawing: A Rational Look: http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=002

http://www.declawing.com has lots of good info

http://www.catscratching.com has great info on how to train your cat not to scratch the furniture, as well as how to trim your cat's claws. The site also has a link to some very nice, well-made scratching posts that are attractive and look good in a living room.

More good info: Cats & Claws - living happily ever after:
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=1

Best Wishes!

Answer 4

Neutering: after 6 months old and before 12 months old is OK.
Declawing: completely inhumane, it is essentially cutting off his fingers. Would you like your fingers cut off? Awful pain, loss of balance, starts biting - which is much worse than scratching, and mauy stop using the litterbox, because it is no fun digging without fingers. Declawing is forbidden in the rest of the world, and if he is really naughty with scratching, you can buy cheap and easy to use claw caps at www.softpaws.com

Answer 5

at exactly 6 months is the best time to neuter a kitten. you don't want to wait too long b/c you don't want you kitty to start and spray/mark his territory. now is the best time if he is 6 months old.

as far as declawing goes, it's actually a very cruel practice that is banned in many places across the US. declawing is not actually just the removal of the nails but actually the last joint of the digit on. so for example look at you fingers...from the last fold to the tip of your finger would be removed. this surgery often cripples kitties as they get older because it causes nerve damage and leaves the animal psychologically scarred because their fingers have been essentially hacked off at the ends. please don't do it. try scratching posts, and the cardboard box scratchers. they work as great deterants to scratching of furniture.

Answer 6

Now is the time to get him fixed - 6 mths. Do it soon so he is less likely to "mark his territory" by spraying urine.
The Humane Society asked us NOT to dewclaw because it is inhumane - the cats' toes' are cut off at the first knuckle. I have always use a clipper. They are in expensive, and do not hurt - my cats purr because they sit in my lap while I do it. Your vet of pet food store will sell them (5 - 10$) and can show you how. My late pussy cat (RIP) would meow like I was hurting her, and I would straddle her on the floor to immobilize her while I snipped. Very easy!

Answer 7

He is 6months now so the time to do it is now,do not wait any longer as he could start spraying.

Call the Vet and get kitty an appt. it is a simple procedure and most male cats do not even act like they had anything done and are acting their normal selves the very next day.

Answer 8

Please do not declaw your cat - it is a cruel mutilation and it can lead to severe behavioral problems. Buy a cat tree. Where I live (Netherlands), declawing is illegal and a vet who does it, goes to jail.
Have your cat fixed right away. Six months is a perfect age. You might not want to wait too long, he might start spraying.

Answer 9

you should do it soon if you don't he might start spraying and trying to get out to find a mate.

Please don't declaw, make sure you have enough scratch posts and different materials. if there is a problem with him scratching get soft claws it's these plastic caps that go over their claw so they can still scratch because that is natural instinct but they can't hurt anything.

Answer 10

Have him fixed now, but there unless you have diabetes or are immunedeficient, don't declaw, there are far safer and better alternatives.
www.declaw.com - check all the facts, it really is a extreme procedure.