When to Neuter your kitten

paddypaws101

Can anyone tell me how to contact the Mods to ask if this can be made into a Sticky?

Fire_Fox

Send them a PM - board guides are Glad and MrsTine, linkies at the bottom of the Pets board.

gettingready

both microchipping and neutering should be stickies on here

Fire_Fox

gettingready wrote: »

both microchipping and neutering should be stickies on here

Definitely: Chameleon has posted a few good chipping offers as have others, it would be good to have that information not get buried. Neutering is clearly MSE.

kimbyanne

Interesting video. It goes against everything I have ever been told.

I recently got two new pedigree exotic kittens, both males. Indoor cats only.

The breeder I got them from recommended waiting as long as possible (gave a good age of 10 months) to get them neutered so that they develop (get nice big round face, etc) so this video is interesting!

I also know a breeder who is very against early microchipping / neutering saying it is unnecessary at that early age. I can definitely see the need for moggies / outdoor cats who will be interacting with other cats so the risk of unwanted litters is high. It probably isn't so necessary for indoor only cats though (unless there is more than one kitten and they are mixed sex)

Saying that, I do want to get my kittens microchipped soon - granted they don't go out, it's peace of mind

scrabbles_2

kimbyanne wrote: »

Interesting video. It goes against everything I have ever been told.

I recently got two new pedigree exotic kittens, both males. Indoor cats only.

The breeder I got them from recommended waiting as long as possible (gave a good age of 10 months) to get them neutered so that they develop (get nice big round face, etc) so this video is interesting!

I also know a breeder who is very against early microchipping / neutering saying it is unnecessary at that early age. I can definitely see the need for moggies / outdoor cats who will be interacting with other cats so the risk of unwanted litters is high. It probably isn't so necessary for indoor only cats though (unless there is more than one kitten and they are mixed sex)

Saying that, I do want to get my kittens microchipped soon - granted they don't go out, it's peace of mind

I suppose it depends on perspective. Personally I wouldn't take the cat's appearance into account at all, to me there are far more compelling reasons at stake.

kimbyanne

scrabbles wrote: »

I suppose it depends on perspective. Personally I wouldn't take the cat's appearance into account at all, to me there are far more compelling reasons at stake.

True but I guess breeders are in it to get the best looking cats for showing / breeding and their advice follows that thinking even for pets they sell. I think also pedigree cats are usually kept indoors so probably isn't the same urgency to have them neutered

Mine will be done at 10 months or before if their behaviour changes / they start spraying, etc

Fire_Fox

kimbyanne wrote: »

I also know a breeder who is very against early microchipping / neutering saying it is unnecessary at that early age. I can definitely see the need for moggies / outdoor cats who will be interacting with other cats so the risk of unwanted litters is high. It probably isn't so necessary for indoor only cats though (unless there is more than one kitten and they are mixed sex)

The problem is hormonal indoor cats can make Mission Impossible style escape attempts. Rescuers know from experience that people are not as careful as they think they will be, and they also know people often delay neutering for another few weeks after six months if money is bit tight that month. Lastly the breeder you refer to is not addressing the same audience nor the same issues that CP are.

kimbyanne

Fire_Fox wrote: »

The problem is hormonal indoor cats can make Mission Impossible style escape attempts. Rescuers know from experience that people are not as careful as they think they will be, and they also know people often delay neutering for another few weeks after six months if money is bit tight that month. Lastly the breeder you refer to is not addressing the same audience nor the same issues that CP are.

Agree, hence why I said I completely agree with the early neutering of moggies, outdoor & rescue cats.

paddypaws101

kimbyanne....I do understand the points you make, but bear in mind that once a male cat learns how to spray he will often continue EVEN AFTER neutering. Stopping the male behaviour developing in the first place is the best way to deal with this, and that would mean neutering at least as soon as 6 months.
I think scent marking is one of the most common reasons that cats...even pedigrees...are handed into rescue.
More and more breeders are in fact turning to early neutering before they re-home their kittens as a way to stop the BYB of their cats....if all pedigree pets were neutered before re-sale then Gumtree and Pets4homes would be a heck of a lot quieter!