[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

194.0. "Min age for neutering" by MANANA::DICKSON () Wed Jan 08 1986 15:40

On a recent visit to the vet I found out that current practice is
to neuter cats much younger than before.  Waiting for physical
maturity is no longer a requirement.

They previously thought that too-early neutering lead to later
complications in the urinary tract, but more recent studies have
shown that there is no relationship.  They still don't know what
DOES cause the problems, but they know that age at neutering is
NOT the cause.

First I've heard of this.  When you look in the books, they say
wait.  I guess the books are too old to have gotten the word?

Our Izzy is 5.5 months old now, old enough for neutering according to
Dr Clough.  We sure want to get him before he starts spraying.  Do
we need to wait?  I need definitive info before we can proceed on
this.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
194.1MOTHER::DUVALThu Jan 09 1986 14:213
My cat is 6 months old and my vet said it was the perfect age to have
him neutered.  Most vets suggest that you have your cat neutered between
6-8 months.  I'm sure that varies depending on which vet you talk to.
194.2VAXWRK::DUDLEYThu Jan 09 1986 17:089
Just a year ago, my vet wanted to wait until Kiwi
was 9 months old to neuter.  We compromised on 8
months.  He had not started spraying or anything
at 8 months.
I would think Angell Memorial Hospital in Boston
would be a good source for the most recent devel-
opments on this issue.

Donna
194.3EIFFEL::SAVAGEThu Jan 09 1986 21:304
 Just as in .1, we had our male and female (litter mates) 'fixed' 
 at six months - on the vet's recommendation.

 Neil
194.4GUMDRP::TOLLESFri Jan 10 1986 13:143
Any cat I have had (male and female) has been neutered or spayed at
six months of age, as recommended by different vets and have not had
any problems. 
194.5PEN::KALLISFri Jan 10 1986 13:448
The reason there's variance between vets is probably because the best time
depends upon the individual catten's (between kitten & cat) development.
Not all humans mature at the same time either.

Usually, your vet will have enough of a medical history to know
what's a good time.

Steve Kallis, Jr.
194.6AJAX::CALLASSat Jan 11 1986 19:136
Since Maine Coons mature late, they should be neutered late. When I got Zorro,
the contract I signed included never declwing him and not neutering him before
he was a year old. I was told that neutering Maine Coons too early can stunt
their growth.

	Jon
194.7XANADU::DICKSONSun Jan 12 1986 17:211
By whom were you told this?
194.8AJAX::CALLASWed Jan 15 1986 23:141
By the breeder.
194.9SHOGUN::HEFFELThu Jan 16 1986 14:0319
   My vet prefers to neuter at 9 months.  He does make exceptions though.
Pip had an umbilical hernia.  They usually go away in a little while.  Pip's
was getting bigger so at 6 1/2 or 7 months, Dr. Creel went ahead and did
the surgery for both.  (Anesthesia is dangerous no matter how routine the
surgery, so he prefers to combine when he can.)
   Cinnamon, Sam,and Gandalf were all neutered at 9 months.  No spraying
or sexual behavior occured before (or after) the operation.  Merry was neutered
a little early (around 8 months) because even though he wasn't spraying he
was getting amorous with the afghan that sits on the back of the couch. 
He never did spray.  His afghan lust has diminished since the operation.
I only catch him at it a couple of times a year now and it's getting rarer.
Nazzie will 9 months in a couple of weeks and we're about to have him neutered.
He has never sprayed or shown any sexual behavior.
    I think you're safe to wait as long as 1)he stays inside where he can't
get any girl kitties in trouble and 2) his mom is spayed.  (Cats couldn't
care less about incest.)
                  
tlh

194.10PISA::WINALSKISat Jan 18 1986 00:255
Our family has had two full toms for 12 years each, and we've never had any
trouble with spraying inside the house.  Of course, these cats were allowed
outside.  Is spraying inside the house a problem with indoor cats only?

--PSW
194.11YOGI::DEBMon Jan 20 1986 00:4614
RE: -1

When I was growing up, we had a Main Coon that was allowed outside but still
sprayed when he was allowed in the house. He stopped once we had him neutered.

I was speaking to my vet this week about getting my kitten 5 month old kittens
fixed next month. My vet said that the curent practice is to wait until the
male is 8 to 10 months before neutering. Part of this is due to reducing
the risk under anestisa, but more important, they feel that it gives the
cat's uniary tract more time to grow so that the cat may be less prone to
FUS, etc.

Deb

194.12MANANA::DICKSONMon Jan 20 1986 15:205
It would seem that all vets do not read the same journals.  Or at
least do not believe everything they read, as Dr Clough said explicitly
that "waiting for the urinary tract to mature to reduce FUS chances"
was NOT current practice.  At least not HIS current practice, but he
spoke like this was general medical knowledge.
194.13SHOGUN::HEFFELMon Jan 20 1986 17:3912
  In a case like this, I would would tend to wait.  We don't *know* one way
or the other whether early neutering is nasty, but I never heard anything
bad about waiting on neutering (other than concerns about spraying, etc.).
             
   It's sort like what my vet said to me when I asked if Brewers yeast would
help keep fleas away from the cats.  He said that he'd never seen any evidence
about it's effectiveness one way or another but it couldn't hurt and it might
help so why not try it?
                                                            
tlh


194.14PUZZLE::CORDESJAThu Nov 06 1986 17:5217
    If you are neutering your cat for the purpose of controling spraying
    it would help to understand why cats spray.  They spray to outline
    their territory.  They do this not so much to ward off other males,
    but to attract females.  It is part of the mating instinct.  If
    you have no unspayed females at home and you keep your cat inside
    there is a very good chance that he won't ever spray.  There are
    exceptions to this rule, however.  The reason for early neutering
    is to neuter before the cat matures and is ready to attract females.
    
    One of our cats was a tom for about 13 years and he sprayed constantly
    at first.  Now that he is fixed and seperated from the whole females
    he has stopped spraying altogether.
    
    There is hope for male cats afterall.
    
    Jo Ann