When to neuter?

[Anxioustabbycat]

I am getting a new kitten end of September. So excited and have been so depressed since lost my last one.
We are getting a boy I have just called vets to book kitten check etc and been told they don't neuter until 5 months 😮. I thought 4 months was normal now??? Anyway I have googled and found a few other localish vets that do 4 months and 3 months for ferals. So why the difference? When should I book my new baby for the chop? I would rather do early to be really honest. Btw my vets is a large vets hospital so I'm really surprised they are doing it so late. Any inside information in this?

My vet said aim for around 18 weeks, that's when ours is booked in for. I know they used to do it at 6 months but then it also wasn't unheard of for 6 month old kittens to manage to get pregnant just before they were booked to be spayed.

I think the reference on ferals being done earlier is regarding a Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) situation, where they want to ensure they neuter every feral they can safely, and will do it a little earlier so any kittens trapped can be released.

I got mine done at 4 months.

My vet does ferals from 12 weeks and pets from 16 weeks. When I'm fostering kittens, the boys get done as soon as they reach 1kg and have their bits.

My guy was between 3 and 4 months (his exact age isn't known).

We do ferals as long as they weigh at least 1 kg. For clients' cats we say four months.

Allergictoironing has the reason for doing ferals earlier completely correct. There is no difference in mortality as a result of the operation/anaethesia though for those we do at 1kg (so around 11 weeks usually) and those we do at four months. In both cases complications are extremely rare, but doing them younger still doesn't make it more likely.

The reason for us recommending that our clients wait until four months is because that is the current veterinary guideline and we don't want to be sued.

I had to take my two to an alternative vet as mine says 6 months. Mine were done at just over 4 months at a vet in a different town

Thanks all. I will book him for 4 months at a different vets. Don't want any antisocial habits starting.