How Soon Can a Kitten be Spayed/Neutered?

I have heard that neutering when they are tiny stunts their growth. I have a male cat that is 10 years old who was adopted from a shelter and neutered when he was tiny. He was about 6 weeks when I got him and already fixed. He is still a tiny cat, only 5lbs, even though he eats like a horse. He is lithe and wiry like a kitten and still as playful as one. He never acquired the bulk and thickness of the typical male cat. He is a typical yellow striped tabby and not a breed that is commonly slender or small.

I've done rescue for over 20 years. All kitties were spayed at 8-9 week-had one that went 12 because we got her at 10 weeks-went into heat-could have no human male (especially my daughter's boyfriend) even visit the house as she was all over them-really embarrassing. Had one we rescued and took to be spayed-very small and age unknown- and the vet called and said too late-she was pregnant-so we had kittens first then spayed her. Be sure and ask for pain pills for a few days after the operation-have never needed a cone. Best wishes.

I know I've been researching breeders because we really, really miss our Ragdoll and would kind of like another one, and pretty much none of them will let kittens go before 14 weeks and those kittens will generally be spayed/neutered (unless you make some kind of special deal for breeding, but I'm not looking for that so I've not gone into it).

So it can definitely be done before 14 weeks.

I wish I could give you some medically based or backed facts but all I can give is my experiences. I've also read the same conflicting info, and for all our animals we waited until at least 6 months, for the dog and the cats as well.

Best wishes

-Alee

originally posted by: TinySickTears

originally posted by: sled735
I have 3 kittens, 9 weeks old. I was looking online to see how soon they can be 'fixed', but I'm coming across conflicting information.
Some say as early as 8 weeks for males, and around 9-10 weeks for females.
Other sites say no sooner than 6 months old.

Does anyone here have any experience with getting your male kitten neutered at 8 weeks? Did you have any problems?

dogs are 6 months
cats suck so who cares? just do it

j/k i don tknow

Agreed.
It is never too early with cats.

a reply to: butcherguy

when do cats go into their first heat??? you want to fix them BEFORE that happens and they go out and have a one night stand and come back preggars!!

originally posted by: research100
a reply to: butcherguy

when do cats go into their first heat??? you want to fix them BEFORE that happens and they go out and have a one night stand and come back preggars!!

I never had a cat go into heat.

originally posted by: butcherguy
I never had a cat go into heat.

The one you shoved into a oven has gotta count.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: butcherguy
I never had a cat go into heat.

The one you shoved into a oven has gotta count.

You got me there.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

Just asked my sister-in-law who is a vet (not the Vietnam kind) and she said between 4-6 months as it cuts down the risk of breast cancer.

Why would your Vietnamese sister-in-law run the risk of breast cancer for spaying cats?

originally posted by: DBCowboy
Why would your Vietnamese sister-in-law run the risk of breast cancer for spaying cats?

She takes off her underwire bra when doing the surgeries.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: DBCowboy
Why would your Vietnamese sister-in-law run the risk of breast cancer for spaying cats?

She takes off her underwire bra when doing the surgeries.

hmpf.

So do I.

a reply to: DBCowboy

I cant imagine your patients discomfort.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: DBCowboy

I cant imagine your patients discomfort.

Then you aren't picturing it correctly.

a reply to: DBCowboy

Oh, trust me, I did. That's why I got nauseous.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: DBCowboy

Oh, trust me, I did. That's why I got nauseous.

This is a serious thread about a serious topic!

Spraying kittens with something.

As I was telling my band (Herb Phlegm-Farter and The Stinky Nipples) at practice last night, "We are in the business of being serious about our art."

You can catch us every Friday night at a Walmart parking lot.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
You can catch us every Friday night at a Walmart parking lot.

What else would I catch from you in that parking lot?

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: DBCowboy
You can catch us every Friday night at a Walmart parking lot.

What else would I catch from you in that parking lot?

Depends.

originally posted by: DBCowboy
Depends.

As in you need them?