How young is too young?

[Elisabet]

I have been looking over breeders in Denmark and Scandinavia in generel, just for fun, not that I have the room for another cat/sphynx.
But I am pretty chocked, angry and upset.
I see that many breeders are selling the kittens when they are 16 weeks.
Thats a good thing.
But by then the cat is spayed.
I dont know much about this, but I have always been told that a cat should have changed teeth and/or be sexually mature or if not... Then close.
My male was fixed as soon as I could. But not until he was 5-6 month old and had changed his babyteeth.

Am I totally wrong? Is it okay to spay a cat that young?

 

[pinupcats]

From what my vet has told me, there is no scientific proof that early spay/neutering hurts cats. It was once believed that it had an effect on how they developed and grew but now the medical community does not believe that altering them at 4 months of age is that big of a problem. My vet's rule of thumb is that the cats be healthy and have a good weight - preferably at least 5lbs before he will alter them.

I believe the Winn Feline Foundation did some research on early altering and also did not find anything adverse to the long term health of the cats. Here is an article about it http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/early-neuter.html

From a breeders point of view, I am glad that I can alter my kittens at 4 to 5 months before I place them in their forever homes. Breeding is not for everyone and it is a lot of hard work, commitment, time and money. If I could not alter my kittens before placement, I do not think I would be breeding. I've just seen this breed exploited too much and too often to ever feel comfortable letting my companion kittens go before I am able to alter them through my vet.

I have been looking over breeders in Denmark and Scandinavia in generel, just for fun, not that I have the room for another cat/sphynx.
But I am pretty chocked, angry and upset.
I see that many breeders are selling the kittens when they are 16 weeks.
Thats a good thing.
But by then the cat is spayed.
I dont know much about this, but I have always been told that a cat should have changed teeth and/or be sexually mature or if not... Then close.
My male was fixed as soon as I could. But not until he was 5-6 month old and had changed his babyteeth.

Am I totally wrong? Is it okay to spay a cat that young?

 

[Mews2much]

Wrinkles breeder will not alter kittens until they are 5 months old.
She will be altered in 2 week and will be 6.5 months old the.
Cleo was altered at 3.5 months old.
I had my male that I lost at age 5 altered at 3 month and everything was fine.
I will not do girls that young though.

 

[Maggies mommy]

I know what u mean elisabet when i was looking for my sphynx alot I mean alot were already altered! Maggie got spayed when she was 6 months with me

 

[Brooke]

I have been looking over breeders in Denmark and Scandinavia in generel, just for fun, not that I have the room for another cat/sphynx.
But I am pretty chocked, angry and upset.
I see that many breeders are selling the kittens when they are 16 weeks.
Thats a good thing.
But by then the cat is spayed.
I dont know much about this, but I have always been told that a cat should have changed teeth and/or be sexually mature or if not... Then close.
My male was fixed as soon as I could. But not until he was 5-6 month old and had changed his babyteeth.

Am I totally wrong? Is it okay to spay a cat that young?

There have been many studies done that show there's nothing wrong with spaying/neutering early but for some reason there is still a debate about it. Many vets won't do early spay/neuters still but the ones that do will judge by the weight and health of the kitten more than the kitten's age. Altering the kitten before sexual maturity will prevent the kitten from developing some of those nasty habits of adulthood, too. And, in the male kittens, IMO, it looks a lot "nicer" back there if you get them snipped early. (My two rescue boys were neutered as mature adults, and sometimes they still look like intact males, if you know what I mean...)

I agree with pinupcats - it's a wonderful thing for breeders to be able to alter kittens before placing them! An unaltered kitten in the wrong hands...that's how backyard breeders are created.

This is also great for shelters to be able to alter stray kittens and puppies before sending them out to new homes and hoping the new owners will follow through with their end of the contract and not end up with more pregnant, homeless animals. In fact, I've read that shelters are one of the reasons early spaying/neutering has become more popular in recent years.

 

[Elisabet]

Decibel is getting spayad on February 8. She will be 13 month by then.
I know she is a bit old. But because of the whole murmur and hole in the heart thing we decided to have it done on Denmark's number 1 hospital for animals.
And they have a waiting list apparently.
So she is on the pill and will stay that way for another month.
My vet through 7 years totally understands our choice.

 

[Brooke]

Decibel is getting spayad on February 8. She will be 13 month by then.
I know she is a bit old. But because of the whole murmur and hole in the heart thing we decided to have it done on Denmark's number 1 hospital for animals.
And they have a waiting list apparently.
So she is on the pill and will stay that way for another month.
My vet through 7 years totally understands our choice.

In your case, I probably would have waited, too! Best of luck on February 8th!

 

[pinupcats]

In the USA we do not have access to the "pill" as they do in Europe. There is no kitty "birthcontrol" that can be given in the USA so altering earlier is truly better if the cats are healthy and with good weight.

If however, a cat has a medical condition that warrants waiting until it is older, then an exception in that case may be warranted and needed.

Good luck to you and your kitty on the 8th!

Decibel is getting spayad on February 8. She will be 13 month by then.
I know she is a bit old. But because of the whole murmur and hole in the heart thing we decided to have it done on Denmark's number 1 hospital for animals.
And they have a waiting list apparently.
So she is on the pill and will stay that way for another month.
My vet through 7 years totally understands our choice.

 

[nbolin]

I would think for a female cat....not so much a problem....for a male cat..the big reason why they wait til 4/5 months is because they need to wai till thier "Berries" drop in order to neuter...so that seems quite odd to me

 

[Mews2much]

Wrinkles breeder is lucky that I am very honest.
She gave me a choice.
I could take her in Sept like I did or wait until Nov and she woud alter her.
The reason I decided to take her in Sept is because I wanted to show her as soon as she was 4 months old so she would get used to showing.
I am paying almost $400 to have her altered.
We are having it done the lapo way.
I also am taking a list of what meds not to use.

 

[pinupcats]

I would think for a female cat....not so much a problem....for a male cat..the big reason why they wait til 4/5 months is because they need to wai till thier "Berries" drop in order to neuter...so that seems quite odd to me

If you saw my 3 month old males, you'd have no doubt their "berries" have dropped! LOL...

In the years I have been breeding I only ever had one male that had an undesended testicle. I was still able to get him altered at 5 months of age. The vet was able to go in and find the "berry" and remove it.

:Laugh:

Cyndee

 

[PitRottMommy]

I'd like to throw some information in here that one downfall of early neutering with males (this goes past the 4-6 month range and down to just a few weeks) is that the penis of the male is subject to never fully developing (which the Winn foundation study finds conclusive with their data).

Winn's study also states that of the 31 kittens tested, none showed conclusive data for different urinary tract problems...they also followed up only 3 years post surgery. We never received a full description on their entire lives. Most males have urinary problems around 5 years of age or older. Therefore, the information I provide is based on personal experience and that of other veterinarians I have worked for. Across the board, the general consensus is that kittens neutered at 2 months or less have an increased prevalence for urinary problems, as we've noted in our careers (ranging from 7 to 57 years). Read on:

For most cats, an underdeveloped penis isn't a problem. In theory, he's never going to put it to good use having been neutered. However, since the penis never reaches full potential in growth, the end of the urethra and tip of the penis may never either. Length is certainly affected (which Winn did not test). This can cause major problems in cats that have urinary stones, "sludge" or chronic urinary tract infections. Essentially, what might pass through the tip of the penis in a fully developed male may not in a male with an underdeveloped penis. This can predispose them for urinary blockages and may, in some cases, necessitate a perineal urethrostomy (affectionately dubbed the "P.U. surgery"--some describe it as a "sex changing", while this is a misnomer).

The general age for males to have substantial urinary problems is between 5 and 8 years of age. Genetics do play a large role, some may start having problems at just a few months of age (whether that happens to be due to neutering at an early age is something that would have to be determined with further testing). Those that begin at a certain age generally continue to have problems for the rest of their lives. The PU surgery can be a huge blessing for these cats.

That being said, I am an advocate for early alteration. My male cats were altered at 3 months of age. I have not had any medical necessity to extrude their manhood an/or catheterize them...therefore, I cannot tell you if they have underdeveloped parts. I have, however, taken precaution and put them on a diet that shouldn't lend to any urinary problems. Thus, I hope to never encounter any.

 

[PitRottMommy]

If you saw my 3 month old males, you'd have no doubt their "berries" have dropped! LOL...

Oh, yes.

But I think you improperly describe them. Don't you think, given the size of the kittens and their masculinity, that they might be closer to the size of apples?

 

[Sam lewis]

There is no pill in the UK either, I've never heard of it, so maybe it's available in some counrties but not all of Europe. Mo was neutered at 6 months as the breeder asked me to. But I understood that it is carried out when the vet thinks the kitten is healthy enough to have the operation, so could be a bit younger or older depending on the kitten. Obviously the vet assesses each kitten before agreeing to neuter it safely. I'm sure that any decent vet would say something if he/she thought it was not ready or safe to do I would hope!!

 

[Elisabet]

I cant believe that birthcontrol to dogs/cats are only available in Denmark or maybe the rest of scandinavia.
How do you give your females a rest if you are a small breeder and don't have separate quarters for your cats?
Im thinking tiny condoms.
I give Decibel a pill once a week to keep her from going into heat again until I can get her spayed.

 

[pinupcats]

Trust me, I know many breeders who wish we could do this for our girls. You are very lucky to have that availble to you.

I try and give my girls a very good rest between litters. 6 to 8 months, and I also try and not breed them until they are a year old. For the most part, my girls do just fine with this but I have had to spay two girls due to Pyometria because I held them out too long for breeding. One girl was just over a year old. Its a tough balance for sure.

Tiny condoms! LOL... question would be, who would put them on! HAHAHAHA...

I cant believe that birthcontrol to dogs/cats are only available in Denmark or maybe the rest of scandinavia.
How do you give your females a rest if you are a small breeder and don't have separate quarters for your cats?
Im thinking tiny condoms.
I give Decibel a pill once a week to keep her from going into heat again until I can get her spayed.

 

[Elisabet]

Tiny condoms! LOL... question would be, who would put them on! HAHAHAHA...

ROFLMAO

 

[gizmo6370]

In the Netherlands we also have the pill for cats and dogs....but there are also risks involved.....they can get pyometria or tumours from it....

 

[Elisabet]

I know the risks and I am only using it temporarily. I think its would be more wrong of me to let her go through another heat-period before I can get her spayed.
My brother wont let his cat get spayed. He has been using them for years. I have urged him to get her spayed, but he wont listen to me.
I have made him aware of the risks.

 

[gizmo6370]

I know the risks and I am only using it temporarily.

Ohw....it was no comment on the use of the pill....it was ment as information for Cyndee....because she was saying that some breeders wil be glad to use it.....so i wanted to mention that there are also risks involved

 

[pinupcats]

Thanks Gizmo6370 -

There are risks with using anything basically. We risk our cats by not breeding them, we risk them by breeding them, ect.. same goes with taking and/or giving medications. It's evaluating the risks and deciding what is best for the cat. Having options is of course ideal and my comment was meant that it would be ideal if we had that option if circumstances warranted it. The more options we have, the better choices we can make, or at least that is the theory!

Ohw....it was no comment on the use of the pill....it was ment as information for Cyndee....because she was saying that some breeders wil be glad to use it.....so i wanted to mention that there are also risks involved

 

[Elisabet]

Ohw....it was no comment on the use of the pill....it was ment as information for Cyndee....because she was saying that some breeders wil be glad to use it.....so i wanted to mention that there are also risks involved

That is what happens when you use a language different from your own.
I wasn't in any way offended.
I was just saying that I had weighed the cons and pros.
I don't believe in it as a long term deal either unless you have no other choice.
I think it has to many side effects and to great a risk of Pyometria.
Decibel had swollen nipples the first few times.

But if the scan had shown that Decibel was to weak to get spayed, I would definitely consider having her on them for the rest of her life.
I would think it was better than to be in heat and get scratches because the only male in sight has no balls and have no idea why she is behaving strange. LOL

 

[Elisabet]

Cyndee:

Do you have any idea why you don't have the pills?
I am just wondering. You have so many pills both prescription and over the counter to humans that are banned in Denmark.

 

[pinupcats]

Hi Elisabet,

I honestly don't know other than perhaps the FDA has not approved it for use in the USA?

Cyndee:

Do you have any idea why you don't have the pills?
I am just wondering. You have so many pills both prescription and over the counter to humans that are banned in Denmark.

 

[gizmo6370]

But if the scan had shown that Decibel was to weak to get spayed, I would definitely consider having her on them for the rest of her life.

In the Netherlands we have something called Suprelorin.....in the beginning it was only used on dogs.....but now they use it for cats also.....it's getting spayed without surgery.....have you ever heard of it ?
Here's a weblink about it.....

http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/breeding/suprelorin.htm

That was also an option for Decibel if she couldn't have the surgery