What is the best age to spay a kitten

You are preventing more than just the birth of unwanted kittens when you get your cat spayed or neutered. You are also protecting them from some serious health conditions. Today, our Douglasville vets discuss the best age to have your kitten fixed as well as the benefits of having your cat spayed or neutered.

What are Spay and Neuter Procedures?

We refer to having your cat "fixed" when we talk about having your pet spayed or neutered in a more general sense. While spaying involves removing the reproductive organs from female pets, neutering involves removing the testicles from male animals.

When is the Best Time to Spay or Neuter a Kitten?

Various people have different ideas about the best time to neuter or spay your cat. Standard spay and neuter procedures are typically carried out at around five to six months of age, whereas early or pediatric procedures are typically performed at about six to eight weeks of age. However, if your cat is healthy, these procedures can be done at any point in their life. Therefore, it is never too late to spay or neuter your cat; even healthy cats who are in their teens can undergo this procedure without risk.

As kittens can start reproducing when they are as young as 4 to 6 months of age you might want to have your kitty 'fixed' before they reach puberty, or have their first heat cycle to prevent accidental pregnancy or certain health conditions.

It's always best to talk to your veterinarian so they can inform you when the best time is to have your kitten spayed/ neutered. 

The Benefits of Getting Your Female Cat Spayed

One female cat and her progeny are thought to be capable of producing up to 420,000 kittens in just seven years. A major factor in reducing the number of unwanted kittens in your neighborhood is having your female cat fixed.

Looking past the prevention of unwanted kittens, having your female cat spayed has a handful of health benefits. For example, there's less risk of your cat developing malignant mammary tumors later in life if she is spayed before her first heat cycle.

Spaying can also help keep your cat from developing an infection of the uterus, and developing cancers of the reproductive organs.

Spaying might also help eliminate several unwanted female cat behaviors such as heat-induced howling, increased and overly intense affection, intense rubbing on objects, marking territory with urine, and the desire to wander.

The Benefits of Having Your Male Cat Neutered

Some health benefits of having your male cat neutered include a reduced risk of your cat developing prostate or testicular cancer.

Male cats that are neutered often show less inclination to fight with other male cats, helping to reduce the risk of serious injuries caused by fighting.

The desire for your male cat to roam in search of females may be diminished by neutering him. Less wanderlust lowers the possibility of suffering injuries from long-distance auto accidents.

Having your male cat fixed may also help to prevent him from spraying around your home and property to mark his territory, and will prevent your cat from fathering countless kittens.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

There are many great benefits to having your feline friend fixed. Contact our vets in Douglasville today to schedule your cat's spay or neuter procedure.

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While you can have your kitty spayed at any age, the best time to do so is before she goes into heat for the first time. This will prevent not only any unwanted litters but also some possible health issues for your little girl later in life.

Reaching Maturity

Typically, your furry companion will become mature when she reaches 5 to 8 months old, according to the Feline Advisory Bureau. At this point, your kitten can have kittens of her own, leading to a number of unwanted little babies for you to deal with. Once she goes into her first estrus or heat cycle, she'll remain in heat for 21 to 30 days, according to the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. During this time, she won't be able to have a spay surgery because of the medical risks involved, and you'll have to wait until she's out of estrus.

When to Spay

To prevent your little one from going into heat, ideally she should be spayed prior to or right around 5 months of age. The youngest a kitty should be before she's spayed is 8 weeks old. Little ones this young need to be at least 2.2 pounds before surgery, recommends the Ohio Alleycat Resource. Young kittens tend to bounce back after surgery pretty quickly. Of course, your feline friend needs to be in good health to go through surgery; if she isn't, your vet will tell you when she is ready to be spayed.

What is Spaying?

The spay procedure is a routine surgery in which your vet will remove the reproductive organs of your kitty. These organs include the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Your vet makes a small incision in your little one's abdomen to do this, after which he'll close the area with surgical sutures. In seven to 10 days, he'll remove these sutures or they will dissolve on their own. During her recovery, your furry friend may have to wear a special collar, known as an e-collar, to prevent her from licking or chewing at her sutures and causing an infection.

Spaying Ages

While spaying is traditionally recommended for kitties between 4 and 6 months of age, spaying as young as 8 weeks old is considered safe, according to Cat Channel. Many animal shelters actually spay kitties prior to adopting them out at this age. Each kitty is unique, though, and your vet may have recommendations of his own for your little one, to determine the best age to spay her. In addition, certain local laws may dictate when you spay your little one. Some municipalities specify that kitties must be spayed by 4 months of age, while others require it by 6 months of age, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Considerations

Spaying your kitty prior to her first heat means you won't have to deal with any of the unpleasant behaviors associated with estrus. These include loud yowling, a constant desire to go outside and urine marking. Her number one desire during this time is to find a male kitty to mate with, which is why she wants to escape outdoors. Spaying her between 2 and 5 months old means you won't have to deal with any of this. Plus, her chances of developing breast and ovarian cancers is reduced, as are her chances of developing pyometra, a potentially deadly infection of the uterus, according to the Kokomo Humane Society. Note that it's never too late to spay a kitty, so if you adopt an unspayed older feline furbaby, have her spayed right away, as long as she's not in heat.

Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet, medication, or physical activity routines. This information is not a substitute for a vet’s opinion.

References

Writer Bio

Based in Las Vegas, Susan Paretts has been writing since 1998. She writes about many subjects including pets, finances, crafts, food, home improvement, shopping and going green. Her articles, short stories and reviews have appeared on City National Bank's website and on The Noseprint. Paretts holds a Master of Professional Writing from the University of Southern California.

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