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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Female Kitten Neutering

37 replies

LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 18:29

Hello! Some advice please!

We are getting our kitten at just over 12 weeks in August. We were hoping she could be neutered before coming home (as have heard rescues neuter at 8 weeks!) Though we have been told this isn't possible and therefore isn't recommended. What has surprised me is the vet suggesting 6 months.... everywhere I read says 4 (so 16 weeks) as that is when they mature. I want to do whatever is best for her, but am terrified she will get out and stray too far searching out a tom if she goes into season before it is done. I really don't want her pregnant either!
What is best?

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 20/06/2021 18:33

There is a kitten neutering database online that gives details of vets near you that will spay at 4 months. I used it for my 2 boys when my vet also said they wouldn't do it until 6 months. I'll see if I can find it for you

SpindleWhorl · 20/06/2021 18:34

At least 6 months is honestly best. You do need to supervise a kitten anyway when they're young. Do you not have fencing in your garden? Will you not be keeping the kitten in when you're in bed, at work, etc?

dementedpixie · 20/06/2021 18:34

www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering/find-a-vet

dementedpixie · 20/06/2021 18:35

@SpindleWhorl

At least 6 months is honestly best. You do need to supervise a kitten anyway when they're young. Do you not have fencing in your garden? Will you not be keeping the kitten in when you're in bed, at work, etc?
4 months is the advice, not 6 months; so 6 months isn't best
Original poster
LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 18:36

@dementedpixie

There is a kitten neutering database online that gives details of vets near you that will spay at 4 months. I used it for my 2 boys when my vet also said they wouldn't do it until 6 months. I'll see if I can find it for you
Thank you, I will have a look!
OP posts:
dementedpixie · 20/06/2021 18:38

I've put the link on for you

Original poster
LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 18:39

@SpindleWhorl

At least 6 months is honestly best. You do need to supervise a kitten anyway when they're young. Do you not have fencing in your garden? Will you not be keeping the kitten in when you're in bed, at work, etc?
Oh, I understand this! I never knew something so tiny could make me feel so worried, she is only 4 weeks and already she is so important to me. I definitely will be supervising her, we do have fences but I know Cats can climb and jump easily.... I just want to protect her as much as possible, but realistically cats can and do get out even with best intentions and all my research points to going into season increasing their efforts to escape 😔
OP posts:
SpindleWhorl · 20/06/2021 18:43

Ah bless you, OP. I've never found a vet who recommended under 6 months but if you can find one who is happy to do it, then I completely understand.

Having a kitten is brilliant.

Original poster
LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 18:43

@dementedpixie

I've put the link on for you
That's amazing thank you. The vet we are registered with is in fact coming up when I put in our postcode. Albeit the alternative of the two sites.... but both nearby and same partnership. I will ring our more local one on Monday to enquire! It is actually the mother cats vet who said 6 months. That's hopeful then!
OP posts:
gamerchick · 20/06/2021 18:45

I don't think it matters. Once you experience that first season, you'll be booking her in anyway. It's bloody awful.

Original poster
LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 18:45

@SpindleWhorl

Ah bless you, OP. I've never found a vet who recommended under 6 months but if you can find one who is happy to do it, then I completely understand.

Having a kitten is brilliant.

Thank you. Looking forward to the joy she will bring!
OP posts:
Allgirlskidsanddogs · 20/06/2021 18:50

I got a kitten earlier this year. Vet explained that a cat’s fertility is influenced by the length of daylight. My kitten was born mid January and is being spayed in mid July.

Original poster
LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 18:54

@Allgirlskidsanddogs

I got a kitten earlier this year. Vet explained that a cat’s fertility is influenced by the length of daylight. My kitten was born mid January and is being spayed in mid July.
Could you explain this a bit more please? She was born mid May and I would prefer she was spayed by mid September...
OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/06/2021 18:54

I would go to a vet who would do it sooner. A female in heat can be really determined and kittens are bloody quick. When we brought ours home they were considered too tiny to neuter. We had to always ensure at least one door shut between them and outside. Eg. Shut them in kitchen when going out front door. And make sure kids didn’t open windows or doors. Really stressful.
Also worth asking if they can microchip while they are under anaesthetic. If not already done.
Wishing you many happy and healthy years to come OP.

dementedpixie · 20/06/2021 18:55

Yeah, my boys got microchipped when they went in to get neutered

Original poster
LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 18:59

Thank you, exactly what I have been feeling Wolfiefan!
I think she will be chipped straight away when we get her? I thought that needed to be the case! Is it better to wait and chip then?

She is having vaccinations at 8 and 12 weeks before she comes to us.

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 20/06/2021 19:19

You don’t need to wait no. Our vet just offered to do it when they couldn’t feel it!!

eurochick · 20/06/2021 19:23

@gamerchick

I don't think it matters. Once you experience that first season, you'll be booking her in anyway. It's bloody awful.
Yep. We endured lockdown 1 (when vets were not neutering) locked in the house with two horny kittens. 😳
Original poster
LittleTabby · 20/06/2021 19:54

Oh dear 🤣

OP posts:
Cleverpolly3 · 20/06/2021 19:58

My female kitten was spayed at five months and she is fine

More breeders now actually have started to spay or neuter kittens before selling just to ensure backyard breeding doesn’t occur

thecatneuterer · 20/06/2021 21:09

@Allgirlskidsanddogs

I got a kitten earlier this year. Vet explained that a cat’s fertility is influenced by the length of daylight. My kitten was born mid January and is being spayed in mid July.
That's far too late and your vet is talking bollocks. Four months is the guideline. Six is far to late and she could easily be pregnant by then. Get her done now and get another vet.
thecatneuterer · 20/06/2021 21:11

Our rescue neuters all kittens before they go out. They only need to weigh 1 kg (so that means around 10 or 11 weeks usually). If you're in London OP you can come to our clinic and get her done at three months.

thecatneuterer · 20/06/2021 21:12

OP - please ignore that bollocks about daylight or whatever it is. Get her done at 4 months

Gubanc · 20/06/2021 21:20

It's very hard to get kittens neutered early in this country. My 'neutering' vet does it at 12 weeks, kittens should be 1.5 kgs or near that. I know lots of breeders neuter their cats before they go to new homes. Just phone vets, ask to speak to vet and not the receptionist and explain.

RuleOfCat · 20/06/2021 21:36

I watch a number of kitten foster channels on YouTube, all American and Canadian, and it's absolutely standard to spay or neuter them once they're over 1kilo, healthy and at least 8 weeks. They're always neutered by 12 weeks, before going to their forever homes. I've never once seen a complication from this - they seem to bounce through it. It's only ever the adult females (the mother cats) who have occasional complications post-spay. So I really don't understand vets' reluctance to do speuters before 6 months - that's way too late.

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