What Age Do Kittens Need To Be Fixed

At 6 8 weeks of age kittens are not ready to stop nursing.

What age do kittens need to be fixed. Early or pediatric spay neuter is done at six to eight weeks of age. Standard spay and neuter at five to six months. Usually a mother cat will begin denying opportunities to nurse between 8 and 12 weeks of age and thus the kitten learns to deal with frustration in a natural way. Learn more about kittens and their needs as they grow in our kitten guide.

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. Learn what to do when you find kittens outdoors. If you don t see her monitor the kittens from a distance for a few hours. Wait until your kitten is several months old.

Fixing a kitten at a younger age is pediatric neutering among the many veterinarians and organizations that endorse it is the american veterinary medical association. If their mother returns leave them be. Female cats and dogs do not have to have a litter before being fixed. Some vaccines might be given together in one injection that is called a combination vaccine.

There are three general options. Some experts suggest getting a kitten spayed or neutered when the cat is as young as two months old. Sterilizing your pet while young before the first heat cycle has been shown to reduce certain cancers specifically mammary tumors. You can safely have a male kitten neutered at eight weeks of age if your veterinarian determines the cat is sufficiently healthy.

Finally waiting until after the first heat somewhere between eight to twelve months of age he says. Kittens need to weigh at least 2 pounds before surgery according to web md. Kitten vaccines are usually first given at about six to eight weeks of age and repeated approximately every three weeks until about 16 to 18 weeks of age. Younger kittens may heal and bounce back more quickly than their older counterparts and no long term side effects have been noted in cats fixed at a.

Before you do anything remember never separate kittens from their mother cat. The usual recommendation is before six months of age for cats and before six and a half months for dogs. Fix early for health. To avoid behavioral changes or issues from developing it s best to get your kitty fixed prior to puberty.

The bc spca supports early age spay neuter procedures for dogs and cats. Really any opportune time between. Consult your veterinarian to determine the best time for your pet.