We follow the current
recommendations of the ASPCA and the American Veterinary Medical
Association for early neutering of all pet kittens before they go to
their new homes.*
Compared
with neutering at a later age, early neutering between 8 and 16 weeks
old has been shown to result in a faster, easier
recovery. Reproductive organs of young kittens compared to older
kittens
are quite small and undeveloped, which means their removal potentially
causes
less bleeding, less pain, and healing is rapid. In the years (since
1996)
that we have been doing early neuter, we have been continually
fascinated
at the way young kittens are up and playing and eating normally only 12
hours
after surgery. In contrast, older kittens and adult cats, especially
the
females, are lethargic and not eating for a week after surgery,
apparently
because of pain.
Veterinary
research studies have not found any convincing evidence of ill effects
of early neutering compared to neutering at age 6 months or
age 12 months. In fact, early neutering seems to offer only advantages
over
neutering at older ages. In addition to faster and easier recovery,
kittens
neutered early apparently achieve slightly greater adult size and have
a
lower risk of mammary cancer. Kittens that are neutered early are less
likely
to develop aggressive behavior and urine spraying habits compared to
early
maturing kittens neutered at later ages. For more information about
early
neuter, please read the following articles:
From
the American Association of Feline Practitioners:
AAFP Position Statement: Early Spay and Castration
From the Journal of Reproductive Fertility:
Early-Age Neutering of Dogs and Cats in the United States (A Review)
From the ASPCA:
Spay/Neuter Your Pet
From the Winn
Feline Foundation:
Early-Age Spaying and Neutering
