What Age Do Kittens Have To Be To Get Fixed
While you can have a kitten fixed as young as 6 weeks old the procedure is usually performed when your little one reaches 8 to 12 weeks of age.
What age do kittens have to be to get fixed. Most breeders and legitimate pet stores will only offer kittens for sale as young at 8 weeks with some waiting until 12 weeks of age. Wait until your kitten is several months old. Kittens as young as 8 weeks old can be spayed or neutered although some veterinarians recommend the procedure be performed between 4 and 6 months of age according to the cat care clinic. Kittens need to weigh at least 2 pounds before surgery according to web md.
Before you do anything remember never separate kittens from their mother cat. Learn what to do when you find kittens outdoors. Learn more about kittens and their needs as they grow in our kitten guide. Sterilizing your pet while young before the first heat cycle has been shown to reduce certain cancers specifically mammary tumors.
It is ideal to spay the kitten before five or six months of age as female kittens can become sexually mature between the ages of six and nine months although some mature as early as four months. Some experts suggest getting a kitten spayed or neutered when the cat is as young as two months old. The pets are a good size the owners have already trained and accepted them and the anesthesia and surgery are usually safe says dr. If you don t see her monitor the kittens from a distance for a few hours.
Modern veterinary science and medical practice have proven that the spay and neuter surgeries required to get cats fixed can be performed safely when a kitten reaches eight weeks of age or. Fix early for health. Generally when they are between 8 12 weeks. Finally waiting until after the first heat somewhere between eight to twelve months of age he says.
This is usually when they are around 8 weeks old. Cats can become sexually mature as young as 4 months old and if you re cat male or female has access to the outdoors during this time they could be contributing to accidental litters. If their mother returns leave them be. To avoid behavioral changes or issues from developing it s best to get your kitty fixed prior to puberty.
Females are fixed at 2 to 3 pounds.