Spaying at 5 months, opinions please?

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

When I was at the vets waiting to pick up Kito I was chatting to the staff about kittens (one of the staff is hand rearing a 4 week old kitten - I saw the same kitten 4 weeks ago when she was only about 3 days old and abandoned).  They had a cat and 4 kittens left outside the surgery yesterday and they estimate mum's age as 6-9 months.  Poor thing having kittens when she's still a baby herself.

[Judecat (Paula)]

The nice vet (Simon, definitely making sure that she sees him in future) said she had beautiful markings, was a lovely little cat and that she  was healthy and a good weight, like an idiot I didn't ask what weight she was. She is booked in for Wednesday to be spayed. , I haven't told her that a needle will be involved , or that her side and leg will be bald, bad Meowmy )

I said to my Supervisor at work that I was sorry, she was doing additional training, I had to leave as Bob was due to go to vets for pre-assessment as I couldn't have my kitten having kittens, she was totally understanding as Bob originally went from her to my other colleague that couldn't keep her. apparently she got caught out with Bob's mother.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I'd absolutely go for it if your vet is ok about it.  They can be done when quite small.  How much does she weigh?  You definitely want to get her done before she comes into season as it gets a bit more complicated then.  Many are spayed/castrated at 10-12 weeks these days (some breeders do it before they go to their new homes).

I know it's different for boys but Kito has gone in for castration today.  He's not yet 5 months but a good size and lets just say you can tell he's a boy from the other side of the room! 

[souffle]

I'd go with it as well. Callie was only 5 months too and weighed I think about 1.5kg which they said was fine to spay. Some vets go by weight. My friend has they tiniest cat you ever saw and she still is tiny but she started in heat at 5 months and had to be kept in which was tricky as she kept trying to nip out.

[Rosella moggy]

Ditto what Dawn said with Millie Paula.

£83.50!  Isn't that expensive  or am I turning into my mother? 

[Dawn F]

tilly was done at 5 months, she was actually in season when they did the op!

[Jiji]

As long as she is in good health there shouldn't be a problem, 3 or 4 month neutering is becoming more common. If you are concerned about your vets Cats Protection have a list of vets that routinely perform early neutering  http://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering/enr/menu-early-neutering

[Judecat (Paula)]

I'll see what they say tomorrow, I did trust them, but since David retired I am not so sure. They are getting very big now, and after the Aussie lady said that Bob wasn't the runt but an egg fertilised a few weeks after the others I am not so confident. She hasn't grown into her eyes and ears yet and still looks like a lemur . Still better an early sterilisation than a litter when she is still a big kitten herself. Plus the cancer benefits as well.

[hollycat]

I'd go for it. A tom can smell a female in season from over a 1km  away and they do start young.

Cats protection recommend having your cat done at 4 months
http://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering/enr

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

If they are your normal vets...........do you trust them normally?

If so go for it, ask the question about her size.

[Judecat (Paula)]

Bob, aka Boblet started flirting with Trouble last night, rubbing faces and sticking her rear end in his face, tail cocked, she is going for a pre-op check-up tomorrow. They are saying to operate next week but I am a bit worried about her size, she is still tiny and still hasn't grown into her eyes and ears. She still looks like an opossum. I am also worried that now she is going out into the fenced back garden while I am out there that if she is a 'silent caller' that a tom will come in and leap on her before I can stop anything happening. Now she is used to going out, albeit under supervision, it is really difficult to stop her darting out the back door when it gets opened. I am not worried about Trouble who was neutered years ago and isn't interested.

If they say it is okay to go ahead, do I trust them or are they just after the £83.50 it will cost? They'll get it in a months time anyway?