How soon to spay and neuter?

[mimicracra]

Hi all

Getting a brother and sister pair of kittens next week from a local rescue. They will be 19 weeks already by the time I get them home so I'm keen to get them neutered asap! They are still quite small but I'm aware female cats can go into heat as early as 16 weeks.

Obviously they will need time to settle in to their new house too - how soon would it be right to get them booked in for their op at the vets? Thank you.

I have got a boy and girl and got them both done just before six months.

Honestly, I'd have them booked in for on the way back from the rescue.

4 months is the minimum vets will do locally to me. Most prefer 6 months. I would get them both done as soon as possible as cats don't care that they are brother and sister! You can find a list of vets local to you that will spay and neuter at 4 months on the cats protection website.

I should also add, I think it's irresponsible for a rescue to let them go at 19 weeks without being neutered. Terrible rescue!

As soon as they hit 2kg they can be neutered. Was told this by vet yesterday. I want to get my boy done as soon as I can!

19 weeks old is fine. The rescue really should have already neutered them before they come home (or give you a neutering voucher with a contractual obligation to get them neutered!), if you’re reluctant to neuter them at 19 weeks you need to separate them until they’ve been neutered as pregnancy could be fatal for such a young female cat.

My girl was done in rescue at about 5 months (I ‘fostered’ her as the rescue I volunteer for was bursting at the seams with cats) and she still had stitches from her spay when I took her home. That was 3 years ago and she’s currently sunbathing on my windowsill as she was a foster fail

Thank you everyone for the advice, I've decided it's best to get it all out of the way early so getting them Monday and going to try and book them in for their spay and neuter on the Tuesday. Then they will be able to settle into their new home peacefully and without any risks.

They need to be separated completely until at least one of them is neutered or you're going to have a catastrophe on your hands.

The rescue are being incredibly irresponsible here:

Girl asap. Boy 6 months.

Also Don’t let the boy out until he’s castrated.