At what Age Should a Cat Be Neutered?
There are many good reasons for neutering both outdoor as well as indoor cats. There are however different opinions regarding the best time the procedure should be carried out.
Below we will explain at what age you should have your cat neutered and the advantages of early as well as later neutering.
At what age can cats be neutered – the main points at a glance
- Early neutering can, amongst other things, help to prevent certain diseases.
- Possible disadvantages of early neutering of cats include impaired growth.
- If you are unsure when to have your cat neutered, a consultation with a vet is advisable.
- In order to avoid obesity, it is particularly important to offer neutered cats the correct amount of food.
When do cats reach sexual maturity?
Cats usually reach sexual maturity between the age of six and ten months. Females reach sexual maturity generally sooner than males.
Please note that the exact time of sexual maturity cannot be predicted. A sudden unwanted pregnancy in your female cat is therefore quite possible, especially if she is an outdoor cat.
You can tell that your four-legged friend has reached puberty when your she-cat is in heat for the first time or when your tomcat suddenly starts marking his territory with urine and he fights with other tomcats. Now it is high time to start thinking about neutering the animal.
Advantages of early neutering of cats
In principle it is well possible to neuter cats before they reach sexual maturity. The main advantage in doing so is to prevent an unwanted pregnancy in outdoor cats.
Since cats sometimes reach sexual maturity sooner than expected, i.e. at the age of around three or four months, some cat owners decide to have their cats neutered early. Female cats can undergo the procedure at an age of four months, tomcats who, as mentioned above, reach sexual maturity a little bit later can be neutered between five and ten months of age.
Early neutering to prevent diseases
Apart from avoiding unwanted pregnancies, neutering cats early can also prevent certain cat diseases, for example the formation of tumours along the milk line. This is without a doubt another advantage that speaks for the early neutering of cats.
What are the disadvantages of neutering cats early?
The very early neutering of cats does not only have advantages, but also disadvantages. For this reason, not every cat owner agrees with carrying out the procedure before the animal reaches sexual maturity.
Early neutering can lead to cats becoming unusually large for their breed. Furthermore, in long-haired breeds it is not uncommon for the animal's coat to become noticeably dull due to early neutering.
If you have your tomcat neutered early, you should also expect that the four-legged friend will be less muscular and rather slender.
Does early neutering cause urinary stones?
It is still widely believed that cats that are neutered early have a greater tendency to develop urinary stones. However, there is no clear evidence of a direct correlation.
It is far more likely that the increased susceptibility to urinary stones in cats is not related to the time of neutering, but rather to the increased body weight that many neutered animals struggle with.
The cause for the increased weight is a combination of changes in the hormonal balance and a reduced urge to move. It is therefore vital to pay attention to giving neutered cats the correct amount of food. If the four-legged friend is already too heavy, our dieting powder Shiimun Slim for cats can help in addition to reducing the amount of food.
What do vets say?
If you are unsure when to have your cat neutered, it is best to consult your vet. Based on their experience they can advise you at what age your four-legged friend should have the procedure carried out.
At what age can cats be neutered – our conclusion
As you can see, neutering your cat very early has advantages as well as disadvantages. A timely consultation with the vet is therefore advisable in order to come to an informed decision that has the well-being of the animal at its heart.
Irrespective of this, having cats neutered is recommended in the vast majority of cases. If reproduction is not desired, you should therefore have the procedure carried out on the cat sooner or later.