Can kitten go out before being spayed?

[malfoyy]

We have a 14/15 week old kitten from the rescue.

We've had her two weeks and she's had all the jabs.

Our vet said it's safe for her to go outside before being spayed and to have it done at 5 months, end of August.

I'm certain when I last had a kitten (18 years ago as had older cats in between) I kept her in until she'd had the op.

What is best? She's desperate to go out and is a little Houdini but I do t want her to be at risk.

The general rule is that the cat cant get pregnant until at least 6 months of age as they don’t come into heat. However, I would still keep her in if it was me. You can get her spade sooner than that and don’t most rescues do that before they are re-homed?

Literally out into the garden is one thing, but able to get out of the garden and roaming free is another.

They gave us a voucher to get it done. Said too young to do now.

I'd happily let her wander in the garden while I'm home but I don't want her on the loose when I'm at work. I definitely want to keep her in for another week or two regardless.

Because the vet said fine to let her out I feel conflicted.

NO! Definitely not.
We adopted a mum and son. She was two and he was 18 months. Do the maths!!
Vet is an idiot.

No. My PIL kitten became pregnant at younger than 6 months

Also, it might escape and then what? Too risky

No!

Mine came from rescue spayed at 2 months - vets working at big rescues will do them as soon as they weigh a kilo.

However I still kept them in til 6 months as frankly they didn't have their brains switched on and they weren't interested. They would have been a liability.

Our kitten was spayed by rescue centre at 4 months. Cats can get pregnant from 4 months. I'd push to get yours spayed soon.

www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering/enr

Kittens should be spayed at four months at latest as they can come into heat then

I would change your vet they’re are clueless

Okay thanks. Instinct was a 'no' so that's what we will do. I'll let her wander the garden with me in it a bit in the interim. We have no local toms but I know that doesn't mean they won't come!

They can be spayed from about 4 months but some vets won't do it that early. I would keep her in or find a vet that will do it. Cats definitely do get pregnant before 6 months.

And yes I'm leaning towards getting her done sooner. 4 months would be end of July.

I wouldn't let her out at all. She could suddenly run off. Not worth the risk.

I'm away for 3 nights at the start of August and a week at the end. I'll try to get her done after the first trip so we are here to keep an eye on her in case of infection. My mum is coming to feed cats and will hang around for company.

@Wolfiefan I'll take heed and keep her in completely. Thanks.

It's worth getting her microchipped at the same time (if she isn't already!)

This is very strange, I’ve never thought about it before- but all these comments that vets won’t do slaying before 4 months- our adopted kitten was brought home from a major (“colour” x) rescue centre and we were allowed to pick her up at 8.5 weeks, spayed etc etc jabs done

Should she not have been done at such a young age? Feel dreadful now she may have been too little?, I just presumed the big rescue company knew what they were doing

SillyMoomin That's fine! Rescues often neuter once the kitten weighs 1kg and they are always fine. There are unfortunately still many old fashioned vet's out there who think you need to wait until 6 months - it is certainly partly due to them that we end up with so many accidental pregnancies and unwanted litters.

Letting them out before neutering is big risk - you may not be aware she has come into season, and if she has, she will be determined to get mated no matter what. Not only is that a risk of another unwanted pregnancy but also risky for a young, not at all streetwise, cat to roam far and go missing or come to harm. I believe many of the friendly stray mums with kittens we see at rescues are just such kittens allowed out before neutering and never found their way back home so end up having their kittens in someone's garden etc.

As viccat says, we (Celia Hammonds) neuter kittens in our care once they weigh 1 kg (that's around 10 or 11 weeks usually) and advise clients to neuter at 4 months.

@hannah1992 was wrong. Cats can get pregnant way before six months. So my advice would be to neuter at 4 months and keep her in till then.

Oh that’s good :)

Sorry to hijack op!

OP - why don't you contact the rescue shelter you got her from and ask their advice?

Thanks everyone.

I haven't had chance today but am making calls tomorrow to get her booked in for as soon as they are willing to do it.

I'm not taking any risks.

My kitten was spayed at 16 weeks, it's not too young. And no, I wouldn't even risk letting her out until you've had it done.

You could train her to walk on a harness, she would get used to the garden, can't escape and when she gets out on her own she will be more familiar with 'her' patch.