The support for early spay and neuter in cats is growing. Over the last few decades, more data and research are proving that long held myths on waiting to fix your feline is completely unnecessary. Right now, current veterinary recommendations are to spay and neuter your cats by five months benefiting cats, owners and veterinarians’ alike.
Why the sudden change?
This actually isn’t that new. Epidemiologic studies conducted in 1981 and 2005 document a significantly lower incidence of mammary neoplasia among cats spayed before their first heat cycle. One of the earliest studies was conducted in 2000, followed by another in 2004 to show support of sterilization of cats by 5 months. The Veterinary Task Force on Feline Sterilization, which comprises 11 experts representing the breeding, shelter, and behavior communities, spent a year reviewing and discussing all available literature to reach the recommendation—released at the 2017 North American Veterinary Community Conference—to sterilize kittens by 5 months of age.
What health benefits are included in spaying and neutering my cat?
For male animals this includes partial or complete protection from testicular cancer and tumors; prostate tumors and infections; and perineal and inguinal hernias and infections.
In female animals it prevents: breast cancer; mammary tumors (which are malignant or cancerous in about 90 percent of cats); uterine infections; false pregnancies; mastitis; transmissible venereal sarcoma; ovarian cancer, cysts and infections; uterine tumors; and chronic endometritis. Spaying and neutering also prevents generational continuation of harmful congenital defects and genetic traits such as epilepsy and hip dysplasia. Most importantly, spaying and neutering prevents unplanned, unwanted litters of animals.
What are some behavioral benefits to spaying and neutering my cat?
Unaltered animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than those that have been spayed or neutered and doing something as simple as altering your pets can prevent/stop many of these behaviors. They will be less likely to roam, yowl, wail, bite, display aggressive behavior, or spray or mark their territory. Intact males will do just about anything they can to find mates, including escaping from your home, which puts them at risk of injury or fights with other males. Females in heat can also be prone to escaping or calling feral cats to your yard resulting in unpleasant calling, fighting or spraying doors and windows of your home. Roaming can also expose your cat to dangerous diseases, including feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. Spaying or neutering can help improve your cat’s mood. Unaltered females become stressed when in heat and often lose weight or condition while in heat, females are also not immune to spraying or peeing inappropriately while in heat.
What about surgical risk and anesthesia?
All surgeries come with a small risk. However, the benefits far outweigh the risk when spay and neuter surgeries are now relatively common, quick and most of them have minimal to no side effects. Some of the advantages AAFP Position Statement Early spay and castration include a shorter operative time, better intra-abdominal visualization, less anesthesia is needed and rapid recovery. Careful care should be made to keep the kitten warm during surgery. Another way to prevent worry is to ensure you are choosing to do the pre-operation blood panel before surgery to look for possible underlying medical conditions.
Doesn’t this affect their growth? Don’t they get fat after alter? What about males urinary health? Don’t females need to have a heat cycle or a litter to grow properly?
These are common misconceptions veterinary practioners and recently studies have been trying to educate the public on being that they are at this point, myths.
In a 1996 study, Root et al. demonstrated no difference in urethral diameter between cats neutered at 7 weeks, neutered at 7 months, or left intact. None of the short-term or long-term studies have shown increased incidence of urinary obstruction among neutered male cats. M.A. Herron of Texas A&M reported in 1972 that neutering before sexual maturity had relatively little effect on the diameter of the urethra in male cats
Lack of exercise and overfeeding will cause your pet to pack on the extra pounds—not neutering. Your pet will remain fit and trim as long as you continue to provide exercise and monitor food intake. Spaying/neutering your kitten while they are still young means they are still in the active phase of their life and regular exercise helps keep weight off.
There is no medical evidence to justify allowing a cat to have a litter before spaying. In fact, spaying female cats eliminates the possibility of developing uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the threat of mammary cancer which increases with every single heat cycle.
Studies suggest that early neutering is not associated with serious health problems and does not seem to adversely affect skeletal, physical or behavioral development in the cat. The removal of hormonal influences on the growth plates of the long bones results in delayed closure, resulting in bones that are actually a little longer. However, no clinical significance to this difference in size has been found thus far.
Why should my breeder practice ESN before kittens can come home? Isn’t this greedy?
A good breeder’s goal should always be to do what’s best for the kittens and cats under their care. This may include socially, behaviorally, mentally and physically. We know an altered cat is a healthier happier pet.
A breeder ensuring that any surgical costs, complications or risks no matter how small falls on them isn’t motivated by greed, it’s the opposite. They are thinking of the kitten’s health and welfare and taking the stress of possible future surgical costs, behavioral or hormonal problems out of the way for their pet owners. They’re also paying for the additional vet bills that go hand in hand with spaying/neutering themselves.
It’s actually more concerning if a breeder is willing to sell you a pet with no guidelines on when to spay/neuter or expecting you to shoulder the responsibility of behavioral or hormonal behaviors if you wait to long to alter.
However, I still also state that breeders have a right to protect their lines and the cats they produce. They have probably invested countless hours doing research, being mentored, growing and learning as a breeder not to mention putting thousands of dollars into their cats, showing, growing and raising a cattery from the ground up. Once a kitten is placed into a home—the breeder loses precious control over that cat. Even the most responsible owner has had a ‘whoopsie, my kitten slipped outdoors and is now pregnant’ moment. Your breeder wants to avoid intentional and accidental pregnancies. Someone abusing, neglecting or unethically breeding cats from their lines would also reflect badly upon them.
Early spay/neuter is endorsed by the AVMA, American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), American Humane Association (AHA), The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Association of Shelter Veterinarians, Society for Theriogenology, American College of Theriogenologists, and The Cat Fanciers’ Association/ Winn Feline Foundation, CATalyst Council, Feline Fix by Five, among others.
-Tara Hackett
Supporting articles
Is There an Optimal Age for Cat Spay or Neuter? | Today’s Veterinary Practice
New Advice on Sterilizing Kittens: Earlier Is Better
Dealing With Concerns About Pediatric Spay/Neuter | ASPCApro
AAFP Position Statement: Pediatric sterilization in cats, 2020
Educational Resources — Feline Fix by Five Months
The Case for Neutering at Five Months of Age | Today’s Veterinary Practice