Hi

Could you tell me your opinions and experiences on early neutering of kittens, approx. 14 weeks old. Please - only breeders who do/have had it carried out or have considered it and decided against it and the reasons.

Thank you.

Misskizzy-Persians

I'm very interested in replies to this post too - still researching and will more than likely decide to early neuter my babies before they're placed in new homes. My vet does early neutering and from what i gather, the kittens recover much more quickly than older cats. My vet informed me that previous neutering decisions were taken "after the first season", not due to the fact that the cat would somehow suffer by not having a season (talking females here), but because by that age, their weights would mean the operation was easier - times have changed and early neutering is no longer as "difficult" as waiting for the kittens to grow, my vets inform me there is no real difference between neutering at 15weeks and neutering at 6 months.

I have had three girls neutered at 14 weeks (after lengthy discussions with the vets beforehand) and in each case I was amazed at the speed of their recovery. It gave me extra peace of mind that the girls would be safe from any bybs. I did have worries the early neutering may affect their growth but I have to say in my kits cases this certainly hasn't happened. Only one vet in our practice will early neuter and he says it is size rather than age that matters. However he is from New Zealand and they have been early neutering over there for about 30 years.

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

Hi

My kittens have been neutered at 13-14 weeks for the last 6 years. No major problems so far, the kittens recover very quickly indeed, in fact as soon as they get home they're looking for food and often playing immediately too. The only minor problem I've had was a slight infection in one girl post-op, sorted out very quickly with antibiotics. I've had around 70 kittens early neutered now.

I would recommend it to any breeder - it's the only way you can be certain that your kittens won't be bred from against your wishes.

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My vet refuses, and so do the others in the area, we are a bit too rural I think, otherwise I would definitely have seriously considered it.

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LOL - it's certainly rural where I live, no amenities in my village and my vet is 12 miles away. I don't think any other vets in the area would do early neutering though. (that's 2 other practices)

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I see that The Cat Group are recommending neutering at around 4 months:

http://www.thecatgroup.org.uk/ (Got to Policy Statements, number 1).

And that the GCCF endorse this:

Welcome to the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy

Also, The Cat Group have a paper concerning anaesthesia of kittens for neutering (link is in the policy statement mentioned above).

The two Cat Group papers are quite technical, contain proper academic references, and may help to convince a vet who perhaps doesn't specialise in feline matters.

I've early neutered for about 4 years now. At first, only one vets in our practice would do it - but after the others saw how easy it was, and how quickly the kittens recovered, they're all converts. They also agree that size is important, and prefer the kittens to be around the 3.5lb mark as an absolute minimum. The weight is important due to heat loss during surgery. Many vets will early neuter boys, but not girls.

1kg or 2lb approx is often quoted as the minimum weight.

Kittens are often neutered at 8 weeks or even less in the US.

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We'd definitely consider this but our vet won't do it.

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Our darling Foxy is now at Rainbow Bridge. R.I.P. little one, you'll always be loved.