I got Bug in late August from a vet, who had a shelter situation. it was a very small town, and that was the rescue for several towns. I picked the kitten, and was told for the $85 fee, I would be able to get him neutered and first set of shots. I was told he was 8 weeks, and they set up the neutering for the next week. He was VERY quiet when I brought him home for several days. I began to panic when he didn’t seem to snap into kittenish behavior, and took him to a new vet, where I was told he was no more than 6 weeks, if that.
She said it was a terrible idea to neuter them at that age, and I must wait until at LEAST 8 months of age. So I called the original vet back and cancelled the upcoming trip to the vet. I was then told the ‘free’ neutering was only good if I did it immediately. I declined. I thought that was a bit odd, too. I would think that was way too early, but what do I know?
So here we are, months later, and Bug did absolutely snap out of his momentary shock at being moved and away from his 3 siblings, and runs everywhere at top speed. I kept him in the house for months, but he began to bolt outside when the door opened to the back yard, and one day when I was going to work, I couldn’t catch him, and so left the door ajar so they could all come and go at will.
He is a brazen thing. I called the vet yesterday to see about when he should be snipped and clipped. Well, now I am told at least 9 months, and they will not consider doing it any earlier. I worry about him wandering, learning to spray furniture, all the things we neuter to prevent.
is she correct? Should I wait another month or two?
Kittens are routinely done at 6 to 8 weeks without issue. Usually as soon as they hit two pounds. I get the occasional litter of ferals to rehab, and I spay and neuter prior to going home at 8 weeks
We used to do them routinely at 6 Months. I would hesitate to do them earlier due to the recent research concerning the detrimental effects of pediatric neutering on large breed dogs. I know cats aren’t dogs, but we have hormones for a reason! But I would say now would be fine. It’s a simple surgery. Maybe call around to another vet or see if there is a neuter scooter around and get him done for $50!
I’ve also heard the two-pound rule. Personally, I’ve had my kittens (males) neutered as early as 12 weeks, and as late as five months. There’s no way I’d risk letting them hit sexual maturity and start spraying before the surgery occurred. If you wait until 8–9 months, I feel like you’re well into the danger zone for that behavior.
or…I could put you in touch with an old cowboy who puts them head first into a cowboy boot and does it himself!
(Don’t even think about it.)
Yeah, this. You don’t WANT the secondary sexual characteristics in a cat. That stinky tom cat pee and the spraying sucks. Makes it difficult or impossible to live in the house.
Bwaaa haaa! :lol::lol::lol:
Back when I was a kid, the barn vet would lay a clean garbage bag down on the picnic table, and bob’s your uncle!
Yikes! What a horrid vet! 2 pounds/8-12 weeks. Boys are usually quite quick and simple. The anesthesia is what affects them the most. Hope he doesn’t already have too many kittens out there!
Spraying and behaviour are 2 good reasons to do it.
I have heard “the boot method”, but haven’t seen it done, nor would I want to!
Neutering in the boot - not spaying! Times and attitudes have changed over the years. Out in the toolies, vets were not dime a dozen, ranchers did what they had to do.
A friend’s husband, a small animal vet, did a litter of boy barn kittens for us at 12 weeks or so. They were definitely not yet teenager cats, but more than giveaway size. The remaining 2 boys are about 14/15 years old now and showing no ill effects of the early snip. I also have a formerly stinky former tomcat who is a middle aged blob of housecat now. My first intro to him was when he came up to me at the barn and threw his stinky tomcat self against my coveralls - cute, til I realized how stinky he was and cute til I drove home in the stinky coveralls and they made my car stink like tomcat, too. Here’s hoping your kitten is a late bloomer or you can find a vet to take care of things before he gets stinky!
I rescue and our kittens are ALWAYS neutered at 2 pounds unless there is something wrong with them. Never an issue. And the reasons you mentioned are a good reason to neuter sooner than the vet wants to
OK thanks everyone. I know everyone has an opinion, and you all know better than most. I think I will call the local spay and neuter clinic, since this vet is throwing shade my way. So far, he is still acting like a baby. I want to keep him there!
My one cat was neutered at 8 weeks and he’s now almost 5 yrs old and doing just fine.
My other cat was done once he met the minimum weight for the vet I used so he was about 3 months old.
Make that call!
Yes to the 6-8 weeks or two lbs - whichever comes first. The whole 8 to 9 months is a myth, supposedly letting the “develop” or some such. Baloney. I’ve had all my boys done at 2 lbs and it didn’t affect them at all. I think it made them nicer. I left Baler a little late because we weren’t sure how old he was and he kept getting URIs. He’s fine, too. They can start spraying at 6 months - no thank you.
I have another question now, concerning the two boys. I feed them in the cat room. I sometimes feed dry, and sometimes canned. They are both voracious eaters, and when I give them canned, they go nuts. My rooms are all sort of on top of each other, no hallways, and so I must go thru the cat room to get to the bathroom. whenever I do that they go quite mad. They race for their perch, and cry and coo to be fed. I mostly ignore them, but it is quite annoying. And when I am dishing out the food, they are on the little perch, it is about 2 ft by 2 ft, so just enough room for 2 bowls and 2 cats, I would gladly shut them out and let them in later, but that would be impossible as they will never let me in by myself.
Maybe try dishing out the food elsewhere and then put it where they eat when it’s ready? I do all mine, cats and dog, in the kitchen and then distribute accordingly (mine are separated for meals or chaos ensues) to different locations. Doing it that way has also cut down on the “OMG, she’s walking by my food bowl, it must be time to eat!” mentality. They don’t start up until I actually go collect their bowls for mealtime. When I pick up a bowl, all bets are off, but everyone knows where to go and I feed in the same order, so they mostly stay out from directly under my feet.
I do this same thing–prep in the kitchen–and get no begging when I walk by where the cats are fed. When I pick up the dishes and start the process, though, they call congregate and tell me exactly how to prepare their meal, and walking the dishes over is a mad rush. But just walking by normally? Ho hum, mom doesn’t have the bowls, so nothing fun is happening.
I do feed treats in a different spot, and if I head over there, I instantly have three little beggars. But that’s my own fault, because I often cave and hand out treats when they tell me they’ve never–ever!!!–been fed before. :lol:
Eventually they will learn that every time you appear food is not necessarily forthcoming. Poor little Baler thought that every time I came into the bathroom where he lived while he was teeny that he was going to get fed. He learned. I also have taught my cats the “get down” command. Dinner time is NOT self serve time and no, I do not need your help. You may have to say 'get down" while you are placing them on the floor but they can and will learn. Nothing more annoying than an animal helping itself when you are serving.
I have 12 cats and the cacophony at feeding time is just ….nuts. One boy sounds like a fire engine, another thinks that volume is the key.and on and on…yow. The only two that don’t talk are Baler and Teddy - Teddy because he has damaged vocal cords (from surgery). I might use feeding time as my ring tone if I ever get a cell phone! lol
TWELVE CATS!!! holly moley!!! I did fix the plates in the kitchen, and it went much better. They still did climb all over each other, as it was not possible to put down both dishes at the exact same moment, so they both dived for the same bowl.
As far as the neutering, I did call the spay and neuter clinic and for $80, they will neuter, chip him, give him a collar and pain meds for 2 days. I am not messing with the vet for this. If she wants to wait that long, she is out of luck.
I feed mine dry and on the bathroom counter, just so it can be away from the dogs. The cats KNOW they won’t get fed if they are on the counter, ao i will say get down, and not put the food out until after everyone’s on the floor. It works for me.
