I WAS SHOCKED

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

2 weeks sounds awfully young, but without examining the evidence as to how kittens that age cope with the procedure and the anaesthetic, I wouldn't like to way it's wrong to do them that young. 

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Two weeks is too young but there is a lot of evidence to say that early neutering is a very good thing. The cats bounce back quicker and it prevents a lot of behaviour problems that develop in unneutered cats. (and also in cats that are neutered too late) When I was on a branch visit to the NCC a couple of weeks ago, we heard that it;'s safe to neuter from 6-8 weeks but the first step will be encourage vets to drop down to 4 months and then go from there.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Actually, kittens deal with anaesthetic very well, and bounce back from being spayed a lot quicker than 6mo kittens do, and early neutering has been practiced for over 20 years now, so wouldnt be done if there were serious issues - and also, a lot of kittens are operated on for other reasons and are fine.

[Ela]

sorry but we don't agree with the neutering of kittens at such young ages at all.  In bodies so small you are bound to hit something else not to mention the damage the anaethestic would do to developing kittens.

I personally would not authorise very young kittens to be neutered/spayed. However, I cannot agree with your second sentence as if that were the case I do not think they would  do continue to do it. If loads of kittens were damaged then I am sure the practice would cease. I am sure they have the correct equipment to be able to see the minutest body part. I do appreciate the concern about anaesthetics however, but also know that there seems to be different anaesthetics nowadays for different circumstances and I would think that in a vet practice that does perhaps a lot of ops on very young kittens would of course have all the anaesthetic needed for the purpose. Where as vets who seldom operate on young kittens may not.

We have over the years found it necessary to authorise a vet operate on very young kittens say about 4/5 weeks old and all have come out of the anaesthetic well and appeared to suffer no problems as a result of an anaesthetic. I know this is not ideal to us but sometime to save a life or pain we have to do what is necessary. Although I appreciate neutering and spaying at such an early age does not come into this category.

[madkittyrescue]

sorry but we don't agree with the neutering of kittens at such young ages at all.  In bodies so small you are bound to hit something else not to mention the damage the anaethestic would do to developing kittens.   For us 4-6 months is sufficient and we are happy to deal with the work involved in chasing people to confirm its been done with kittens we've homed.

Our vet practice also has a steady stream of aussie vets... many of whom have never flank spayed and just won't do it unless they can go midline.... flank spays are apparently not done over there!?!?!?

[Hippykitty]

My vets always spay midline. But not at 2wks ! 

[Ela]

Sounds like someone winding you up lol

The particular practice has a number of locum vets over a year from Australia and I also confirmed it with the owner (British) who has been a vet in practice for more years than I can remember and a vet who I deal with every week and also a vet nurse I know at that practice. He however will not neuter/spay young kittens or allow the Australian vet to do so Although many of them insist spaying females mid line.

[CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls]

Sounds like someone winding you up lol

[Millys Mum]

Crikey, two weeks! 

I have a friendly vet who can be sweet talked into doing ferals at around 12 weeks but always has a good grumble first. Those Ausies must have such good eyesight!! 

You would hope so or more than a pair of balls would go missing   

[Pinkbear (Julie)]

Crikey, two weeks! 

I have a friendly vet who can be sweet talked into doing ferals at around 12 weeks but always has a good grumble first. Those Ausies must have such good eyesight!! 

[Indys Mamma]

My vets say 5-6 months

Indy was done on the dot of 5 months, maybe a little shy of it... but this is because he was getting very agressive and dominant towards the dogs... since the snip he is so much more settled with the other animals

[Liz]

Sorry we are old fashioned Beijing and Archie will be done a t 6 months which is a nice way of saying this is your Christmas pressie as we are both off for 3 weeks so they can be spoilet rotten along with all the others in fact their Christmas budget for new things is more than we plan to spend on the rest of the family!

[Desley (booktigger)]

I have only ever heard of 6 weeks as the youngest, I wouldnt be comfortable with 2 weeks, I think that is waay to young although I have no objection with 8-10 (I actually wish we neutered that young, would guarantee no one could forget to get them done on time then). On a similar subject, my vet has started neutering males from 3 months as long as they have dropped, which is good

[Ela]

The youngest I had ever heard of before was 6 weeks but 2 weeks, blimey.

[blackcat]

was just reading the cat section of the local council website for the area I am looking to buy in and they recommend that pets (cats and dogs) be neutered by 3 months, no later than 6 months. Also, as I think I have already mentioned, Shadow was neutered when I got him at 3-4 months and his stitches were ready to come out the day I took him home ... It doesn't seem to have done him any harm apart from his remaining equipment being rather more petite (and he didn't start cocking his leg until he was about 18 months).

[JackSpratt]

It does sound young but if the operation can be performed and has no negative effects on the cats growth I see no problem with it.

[Ela]

Blimey, that doesn't sound right

That has come from a horses mouth so to speak. Well an Australian vet who now practices here.

[Janeyk]

Blimey, that doesn't sound right

[Dawn F]

that does seem young very small target - I suppose at least it would mean they were sorted before they went to new homes and for peds it would cut out the risk of back street breeding

[Ela]

This morning someone rang and asked for a voucher and for some reason we discussed the neutering/spaying age in the UK. She advised me that her vet had told her that in Australia some vets will neuter/spay at 2 weeks old. A while ago someone from that particular practice rang me for a voucher and I asked them if what I was told was true and she confirmed that it was.