Conclusions. The optimal age to spay/neuter a cat is before it reaches 5 months of age. For owned cats, the optimal age would be 4 to 5 months; for cats in shelters, the optimal age could be as early as 8 weeks.
When should you have your cat fixed? Each pet is unique and your vet will be able to offer advice on when you should have your cat spayed or neutered. However, we typically recommend spaying or neutering kittens at around five to six months old. Adult cats can also be spayed or neutered.
The main reasons that vets are reluctant to advise early neutering is that they feel there is a higher risk of surgical and anaesthetic problems (Murray et al, 2008), as well as an increased risk of urinary tract problems, growth plate fractures, obesity and behavioural issues (Spain et al, 2004).
Cats have their first estrous (reproductive) cycle when they reach puberty. On average, puberty, or sexual maturity, first occurs in cats at about six months of age, but this can vary slightly by the time of year (length of daylight hours).
We recommend spaying or neutering your indoor cat around five to eight months, but all ages should receive this care. We are here to help you with a custom wellness plan through all stages of your cat's life.
Spaying makes for a calmer cat. Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and won't be prone to cat calls and the incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with.
Spayed female cats in the study lived 39% longer and neutered male cats lived 62% longer. The reduced lifespan of unaltered pets can, in part, be attributed to an increased urge to roam.
Do cats bleed when they're in heat? In the vast majority of cases, cats don't bleed when they're in heat, although it is possible. Blood in their urine or around the genital area could be a sign of a urinary tract infection, so if you do spot any blood, be sure to contact your vet right away.
We recommend having your female cat spayed before her first heat cycle. Allowing your cat to have a litter of kittens would contribute to the problem of pet over-population.
In general, in small breed dogs (less than 50 pounds) we recommend spaying around 6 months. In large breed dogs (greater than 50 pounds) we recommend waiting until after skeletal maturity but before the second heat cycle(usually 12-15 months) in spaying female dogs or anytime after skeletal maturity in male dogs.
When should I spay my female dog? We recommend waiting until your dog is at least over 6 months and likely even older for larger dogs. The benefits are much more pronounced in larger dogs, but there is not a lot of difference for lap dogs.
Research has actually shown that it's safe to spay or neuter as early as eight to 12 weeks. That's when shelters generally perform the procedure.
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.
Myth: Spay or neuter surgery is painful and can harm my dog or cat. Truth: During a spay or neuter surgery, dogs and cats are fully anesthetized, so they feel no pain. Afterward, some animals may experience some discomfort. With pain management medication, pain may not be experienced at all.
Being in heat is not typically painful for cats, although they may feel some discomfort or agitation. When your cat in heat makes a loud, howling sound, you may assume they're in pain. But rest assured, the increased vocalization (known as “caterwauling”) is just your cat's way of attracting a potential suitor.
When it comes to cats in heat, here is everything you need to know. Female cats reach sexual maturity and can breed from about 4 months old. They will then come into heat (or season) every year around February to October. Female cats have many short periods roughly 2-3 weeks apart.
If you don't get your female cat spayed, they're going to go into heat. And if you're experiencing a cat in heat for the first time, you're probably wondering: how long does a cat stay in heat? Typically, a cat will stay in heat for around 3 to 7 days, but this cycle can last as long as 20 days for certain cats.
Keep the Litter Box Clean
Cats love to mark their territory, especially when in heat. By keeping the litter box clean and free of cat urine, you'll encourage your cat to keep marking it, instead of marking your carpet or sofa. Also, it's wise to avoid ammonia cleaners; they may stimulate spraying behavior.
Once estrous cycles begin, cats may go into heat as often as every 2-3 weeks. Cats are seasonally polyestrus (also spelled polyestrous), meaning they can have multiple cycles during their breeding season. Breeding season would normally be during warmer weather and longer daylight hours.
Generally, spaying or neutering your pet will not change its personality. If there are any effects on behaviour, they tend to be positive (reducing unwanted behaviour). Spaying or neutering will not change your pet's affection level or playfulness.
It is much better for your cat's health to be spayed or neutered. For example, female cats that are spayed before their first heat will have a much reduced chance of mammary cancer and will be unable to develop pyometra which is a serious uterine condition, both of which are main causes of death in cats.
Spaying and neutering will improve your cat's health, reduce the risk of health problems, and should be done as early as possible. Spaying/Neutering early will: Decrease the risk of mammary carcinoma. Prevent diseases of the uterus, ovaries and testes.
As a profession, we need to recognize that there is, at present, no scientifically sound basis for waiting until 6 months of age or older to sterilize cats and no contraindications for spay/neuter at 4 to 5 months of age. Anesthetic concerns about juvenile surgery voiced in the 60s and 70s are no longer valid.