Age to neuter and microchip small cat

[Adhdparent123]

My female cat is small, currently less 1.1kg at 16 weeks. My vet generally recommends neutering at 2kg and microchipping at the same time under anaesthetic to avoid discomfort.

Given that she is gaining around 100g a week it's extremely unlikely she will be 2kg before the 20 week limit for microchipping so I was wondering which option would be better:
A. Wait beyond the 20 week limit, until 2kg to neuter and microchip (she doesn't go out yet so not overly concerned about the lack of microchip)
B. Neuter and microchip below 2kg
C. Microchip and neuter separately, microchip at 20 weeks, neutering under anaesthetic later when she reaches 2kg.

Does anyone have any advice?

I would get her neutered as soon as possible and chip her at the same time. You don't want her going into heat - believe me!

A or C. There's a much larger risk of anaesthetic death in animals under 2kg (actual stats are something like 15 x more likely although overall still a small risk and we do obviously anaesthetize much smaller animals regularly). Absolutely no reason you can't chip a conscious kitten. I do it all the time (vet nurse), lots of likilix and they rarely even notice. A small cat is very unlikely to come in to season when under 2kg in mid winter so you should be fine to wait a bit.

If she is not going out (so no chance of being lost) I would just wait. There is zero chance of getting into trouble for being late microchipping her. Vets that work in rescue often are neutering kittens at 12 weeks but do what your own vet is comfortable with. I work at a vets and we have a 2kg policy unless there is a strong reason to neuter earlier (usually brother-sister pair) as they are easier to intubate, less likely to get hypothermia etc. Hormonal cycles in cats are partly dependent on daylight so a small kitten that is reaching maturity in the winter probably won’t come into heat until a bit later than average. The only reason I would microchip earlier is if she is starting to go outside, and it’s fine to do it conscious if necessary. We don’t chip puppies under anaesthetic because they need the chip way before neutering age - it’s just a convenience/sparing them a needle thing for kittens.

C, microchip and neuter separately. That's what I'm doing with my current 6 month old kitten. She's had her microchip and will be spayed in early Spring.

I’ve just rescued two kittens one is 13weeks the other 8 weeks and both have been microchipped, they also gave us two spaying vouchers that must be used before the kittens are 6months old.

Wait until she's heavy enough. You shouldn't be letting her out until she's neutered anyway so the microchipping isn't needed, there is a leeway to 23 weeks.

If she's not 2kg by 23 weeks you need to talk to your vet about why.

Thanks all, seems that A or C are the preferred options, I will speak to my vet and see which they suggest. I am leaning towards A as I have no intentions of letting her out before summer.

For anyone concerned about her weight she was the runt of the litter and has been gaining weight steadily since I got her so the vet is unconcerned by how small she is.

If you're in England she needs to be chipped before 20 weeks.

I would get her spayed sooner rather than later.

My latest rescue had a horrible life before she was picked up as a semi-feral, which might have been avoided if her original owners had spayed and chipped her at the earliest opportunity.