Early neutering (cats)

Re: Early neutering (cats)

Claire Cameron — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:52:58 GMT

http://www.thecatgroup.org.uk/ - (The Cat Group, launched in 2000, is a collection of professional organisations dedicated to feline welfare through the development and promotion of policies and recommendations on the care and keeping of all cats.) They are a member group of FAB, ESFM and GCCF.

They have links to the following pages re early neuters
http://www.fabcats.org/cat_group/anaes.html
They also include some anaesthetic protocols for early neuters

Re: Early neutering (cats)

Louise B — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 10:44:32 GMT

I am not really in practice but have experience of early neutering. I think the earliest that I have assisted with were kittens about 10-12 weeks old (spaying and castrating). They were ferals so I cannot comment on longterm health/growth but I can say that the immediate post-op recovery was brilliant!!!! The vet didn't seem to find it a problem size-wise either even though she had no previous early neutering experience.

Re: Early neutering (cats)

Caro Laithwaite VN — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:09:44 GMT

I locum but you l think know my mind on it. I am at a practice now that is doing cpl trapped from 8 weeks again good. If you want to contact me l will let you know who it is Ian. The vet is in favour of young neuters and l think she said cpl are doing them from 4 weeks she is quite happy to do the females this young. males need to be old enough for testis to have dropped even as in todays case had just arrived and hardly hit the buffers!!.

Re: Early neutering (cats)

Nicola Smith — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:11:04 GMT

1. Yes

2. Domestic generally 5 months but now getting lots of clients request earlier eg 16 weeks which is fine, ferals - whenever they are trapped 14-16weeks upwards

3. -

4. Yes

5. Yes

Re: Early neutering (cats)

Carol Cottrell — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:10:47 GMT

1) Does your practice early neuter cats? Yes

2) If so, at what age for domestics and ferals? From 4mths onwards, have neutered couple of ferals around 3 mths

3) If not why not?

4) Has the practice looked at all the reserch out there (rather than that somewhat dodgy research from about 15 years ago which had a total sample size of 6 cats) Yes

5) If a national animal charity ran a national early neutering database via its web site, which practices could register their details on if they early neutered, so as to make this service know to the public, would you use it? I would hope so

Thanks

Re: Early neutering (cats)

Saskia Quinn — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:40:26 GMT

[quote user="Ian M"]

1) Does your practice early neuter cats? YES

2) If so, at what age for domestics and ferals? 4 MONTHS FOR BOTH

3) If not why not?

4) Has the practice looked at all the reserch out there (rather than that somewhat dodgy research from about 15 years ago which had a total sample size of 6 cats) NO

5) If a national animal charity ran a national early neutering database via its website, which practices could register their details on if they early neutered, so as to make this service know to the public, would you use it? YES

[/quote]

Re: Early neutering (cats)

Maisy — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:37:56 GMT

Answers from my last permanent practice, haven't seen early neutering carried out in locum positions yet:

1. yes depending upon the vet

2. domestics generally 4-6 months, ferals and rescues (as in the rescue stating the age in which the cat is to be neutered) from 12 weeks

3. n/a

4. vets that carried out early neutering looked into research, those against generally didn't and preferred not to because of ethics.

5. yes I think so.

Neutering puppies at such an early age did pose some potential problems at a later stage yet this doesn't appear to be the same in cats. Therefore I generally recommend early neutering in cats and of course where rescues are concerned, early neutering of either species is going to be a more ethical advantage when trying to reduce unwanted litters etc. Either way, it's weighing up the pros and cons for each individual.