When to neuter - brother and sister cats

[AlexaIncognito]

We have brother and sister kittens who are 3.5 months. I asked the vet about booking in the boy to be neutered as don't want unexpected kittens and had read 4 months to be the age for this. Would have her done later (they aren't outdoor cats yet due to jab shortages etc).

They don't do it until 6 months due to possible 'blocked cat' UTI crystal risks in the future. Reading around online this doesn't seem a clear risk.

They have said in the meantime to keep an eye on the cats from 4-6 months and to keep them separate if we aren't with them. I am concerned this will really upset the cats as they miaow the whole time if separated after flea treatment - but will do it if needed. Are there any ways to make these easier for them?

Also, this just doesn't feel like a foolproof system - is this really general advice? What are the risks of kittens in this age time frame (4-6 months)?

I would find another vet who will do them both at 4 months. With male/female cats it is important to get them done at that age.

I would get opinions from different vets, if you call around a few, the receptionists will be happy to answer what age they neuter boys and girls from. The rehoming centre I used to work at did both from 12 weeks but I guess they were weighing up against the risk of more unwanted litters if new owners didn't get them neutered once adopted...but they wouldn't have been doing that if there was any serious concern about neutering too young.
I agree it seems the distress caused by trying to keep them separate is surely a bigger concern.

Also, if you're interested, I just came across this website where two cat behaviour researchers rate different food enrichment methods (using their indoor cats as guinea-pigs) just thought might be useful if you're having to keep them indoors longer than planned foodpuzzlesforcats.com/

There is a kitten neutering database that will tell you a vet near you that will do them from 4 months. I used it when my vet said 6 months.

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

Find another vet. It wouldn't be the end of the world to leave the boy to six months, but the girl needs doing straight away.

I like to leave the males till 6 months but will do them at 4 if they live with an entire female (usually sibling) or if they're starting to spray.
You could ask them if they'd be happy to spay the female at 4 months.

We had our boy cat done at 3/4 months because he was much bigger than his sister who weighed less than the average 12 week old kitten at that point and was almost 6 months when we had her done. They weren't going out and once he'd been done I felt she was safe. My friend's two were done at 12 weeks before she even got them - totally depends on the vet.

RSPCA, Blue Cross, Pets at Home websites all say 4 months. If I were you, I'd get both cats done asap, otherwise, they'll breed together. Some branches of RSPCA has got an discount offer on at the moment

Had cats for more than 40 years.

Our B/G kittens (siblings) were done at 4 months (both on same day).

@ItsSnowJokes

I would find another vet who will do them both at 4 months. With male/female cats it is important to get them done at that age.

This. I get my kittens neutered at 12 weeks.

My vet advised my girl to be as early possible (about 4.5 months) and the boy to be as soon as his pee started to smell as having a bigger penis would make it easier if he ever developed a uti. He was nearly 8 months old when he was neutered.

He was an indoor cat (and the vet knew I was a responsible owner) so I didn’t have to worry about him roaming or getting another female pregnant. He would frequently mount my girl very ineffectively though.

My boy was done at 13 weeks. Think the weight of them is an important factor.

I would get them done at 4 months. Our first cat got pregnant at 4 months and had 6 six kittens at 6 months. My mother was much more careful with the two kittens from the litter that we kept!

I’d do the girl first, our boy had uti and was neutered at 20 weeks or so but I feel horribly guilty that my vet wanted to wait.

Just had mine done - boy at just passed five months, girl a month later.. and not a day too soon as he was getting a bit aggressive with his humping and she went into season between his and hers - was awful!!

I was very keen as obviously any kittens would not be healthy.. that, and the sex, let alone the pregnancy, are not fun for the poor girl. I hope you find a willing vet as it was my number one concern!

As early as possible as you have two siblings.

Thanks everyone! We will look for a different vet.

Does anyone know if this will cause an issue with the current vet? I haven't been very impressed with them overall for other reasons but I have signed up to their payment per month scheme Kitten Pack thing.

No, I used a different vet for neutering than I use for everything else.

Thanks @dementedpixie - presumably you have to tell them etc?

My vet has a min weight for neutering rather than age. I think its 1kg (possibly 2kg can't remember) which my sibling pair reached at around 5 months so I had them done together. That way they weren't separated or put off by each others smell after returning from the vets and were both recovering at home at the same time.