Kitten neutering issue

RJH2018

Hello there. We recently got two lovely little kittens who have been an absolutely joy to us. They are a brother and sister duo who fight, play, eat and sleep and have settled wonderfully well. They are just about 12 weeks. 

They were booked in to have their second vaccinations but this has obviously been cancelled due to COVID. No problem as they are too young to be outside anyway. The issue is that the female was due to be spayed mid-May and I can see a situation where the vets are still doing emergency work only. 

I have done a bit of Googling and can see that female kittens appear to be able to breed from 4 months-ish but male kittens seem to be more like 6 months-ish. I have asked the vet if this means I don't have to worry about keeping them separate until the male kitten matures but no reply yet. 

I am mentally planning the 2 rooms we could separate the kittens into. My main concern is that they would lose the happy relationship they have now and view each other as strangers. Though maybe we could let them interact once a day under heavy supervision to prevent this...

Does anyone have any suggestions or would this be a reasonable plan if it came to it? I just really don't want more kittens produced, which we could keep and then have to over-burden the poor rescue  centre. 

KxMx

If you've got two opposite cats potentially in heat then do not allow them any supervised contact.

They will also stop at nothing to get each other once sexually mature.

I'd be contacting all local Vets to see who would be willing to neuter the female. Vets are now accepting patients via car park drop off (no contact), so very low risk to you or them.

You could also try local cat charities for further advice. Or the Cats Protection national neutering helpline, open 9:30am-1pm. 03000 121212

While it's not an emergency it is IMO urgent, whereas a single kitten or same sex kittens wouldn't be.

donnac2558

I found this out from a breeder which is not known to the general public, seems when they are showing their cats and do not want them in heat at cat shows.   There is a tablet the vet can give which defers the cat coming into heat.  It is a short term thing.  Perhaps your vet might give you some to tide you over?

Silvertabby

You don't mention neutering the little boy.  This is a minor procedure when compared with the op for spaying a female kitten, so your vet may be willing to do this before May.

This won't stop the little girl  'calling' so you'll have to be extra vigilant with doors and windows - but at least the little boy won't be interested in playing ball. 

RJH2018

Thanks all for the advice. No supervised contact either then. I guess we would have to hope they would still get along after not seeing each other for a while..

The vet has just said to keep them apart, no further advice. They won't neuter the male kitten before 6 months of age (end of June). 

I have asked around the local vets. All the replies so far are "No, this isn't considered an emergency". I will try the local cat charity for advice. 

My husband thinks we should take a view of the situation in a month. If the vets are likely to be shut longer than til the end of June, he thinks we should just let them be together and hope for the best. He hates the idea of them crying in separate rooms for months and months. Then not knowing each other when we finally put them back together. I can't handle the idea of the female getting pregnant though and then having to deal with her distress when we have to give the kittens away. 

KatrinaWaves

Your husband thinks you should just let two closely related kittens have more kittens....

She will be far too young to be pregnant, its an incredibly irresponsible attitude to have. 

Silvertabby

RJH2018 said:

Thanks all for the advice. No supervised contact either then. I guess we would have to hope they would still get along after not seeing each other for a while..

The vet has just said to keep them apart, no further advice. They won't neuter the male kitten before 6 months of age (end of June). 

I have asked around the local vets. All the replies so far are "No, this isn't considered an emergency". I will try the local cat charity for advice. 

My husband thinks we should take a view of the situation in a month. If the vets are likely to be shut longer than til the end of June, he thinks we should just let them be together and hope for the best. He hates the idea of them crying in separate rooms for months and months. Then not knowing each other when we finally put them back together. I can't handle the idea of the female getting pregnant though and then having to deal with her distress when we have to give the kittens away. 

That must be their rule.  Toms can be neutered before 6 months.  In fact, Cats Protection recommend 4 months or younger, as if you leave it later than that then your little boy will be spraying, fighting and be desperate for a girl friend.

Try speaking to CP - they may be able to help, as they are very active in trying to reduce the number of unwanted kittens born.

Please don't kid yourself that if an 'accident' were to happen, you would be able to find homes for the kittens yourself.  Apart from the possibility of having as many as 6 kittens, your little girl is far too young to be a mum and could even have major problems with her pregnancy.

RJH2018

KatrinaWaves said:

Your husband thinks you should just let two closely related kittens have more kittens....

She will be far too young to be pregnant, its an incredibly irresponsible attitude to have. 

Well he thought shutting them in 2 small separate rooms for potentially months would be cruel. I have told him there are possibly no good options if the vets continue to be closed into May and June and that shutting them away is the least cruel option .  

To be fair to him, it was an idea he briefly had because he couldn't stand to make the kittens sad. Normally this is not a dilemma kitten owners face so it seems harsh to judge him when we are so unsure what to do. Hence seeking advice long before we actually do anything. 

RJH2018

Silvertabby said:

RJH2018 said:

Thanks all for the advice. No supervised contact either then. I guess we would have to hope they would still get along after not seeing each other for a while..

The vet has just said to keep them apart, no further advice. They won't neuter the male kitten before 6 months of age (end of June). 

I have asked around the local vets. All the replies so far are "No, this isn't considered an emergency". I will try the local cat charity for advice. 

My husband thinks we should take a view of the situation in a month. If the vets are likely to be shut longer than til the end of June, he thinks we should just let them be together and hope for the best. He hates the idea of them crying in separate rooms for months and months. Then not knowing each other when we finally put them back together. I can't handle the idea of the female getting pregnant though and then having to deal with her distress when we have to give the kittens away. 

That must be their rule.  Toms can be neutered before 6 months. 

Possibly it is their rule but they aren't doing any kind of neutering for either gender anyway. And neither are any of the vets who have responded to me. I can only hope the rules relax by May. 

I have contacted the local cat protection charity for advice. Maybe they know of a vet who could help by neutering either of them or give them something. 

SootySweep1

Hi
You will know when they become interested in each other. The tom will start sniffing & trying to mount his sister. Initially our female wasn't interested & would bat him off but when she came into season she was very keen.
It is easier to get the tom neutered but they are still fertile for some time afterwards.
Our vet wouldn't normally book her in until 6 months because that's when they usually mature but ours came into heat at 4 months so they agreed to do her as soon as she was over her 1st season.
We had a weekend of having to keep them in separate rooms.
Jen

Katiehound

Can't help with the neutering but you should be able to get their second vaccinations as I think this is considered important, certainly 2 vets in my area are doing them. Animals are taken from car park into surgery unaccompanied.