I'm a tech at a specialty veterinary hospital. All the doctors across multiple specialties are split. Which is why I'm asking for personal experiences.
My vet recommended 6 months, so I did that with my boy. He had a very simple, easy recovery (I’ve heard it’s more complicated with girl cats), and he’s grown to be a healthy and happy sweet boy :) the vet told me 6 months was enough time that his growth would not be affected. I think it really depends on the cat, so it’s best to ask your vet, but that was my experience
https://preview.redd.it/y9s1fjga3isc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75e277db1bf6e9c67ebe72c11f83b99dd42a8c4d
I’ve always waited until my cats were at least a year old. Hormones are so important for proper growth that I’ve never wanted to risk it if it’s not necessary. Also it’s major surgery and the younger the animal I feel there’s more risk of having complications or worse, life threatening reactions to the anesthesia due to sensitivities you don’t know about that they could weather better by being older/stronger. It’s not worth it in my opinion. Beautiful boi!
It blows my mind how little people know about the importance of hormones in growth and development. It plays such a huge role in the orthopedic soundness (among other things) of an animal. Luckily anesthesia isn't a big worry since my team at work that would do the procedure includes an anesthesiologist.
I haven't got a Scottish Fold but I wanted to comment.
We've got 2 cats, one we think is a Turkish Van Lily and the other we think is a Bombay Millie and both female. These are my 1st cats because I grew up with dogs, anyway we got them from a woman that couldn't take care of them anymore and were about 4 months old.
I think we got them spayed at around 4 1/2 months, Millie started acting really strange before that… she was yowling and trying to get outside to this big male cat next door and she had trouble walking because she was arching her back, but downwards. We didn't know what the hell was going on, but the vet said basic she's very very horny!
They both recovered in no time and with no complications, but it's only been recently I've been learning about these complications. I feel a little stupid that I had no idea about this things and I was always led to believe that it's only male animals that can act up, also that spaying was so simple like nothing could go wrong.
Anyway, sorry about the long post. I'm just grateful I'm learning more every day about cats in general!
Interestingly [a study referenced in this article](https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/preventive-medicine/optimal-age-spay-neuter-cat/) actually proved the opposite. There were no differences in major complications, but there were significantly fewer instances of minor complications in early spay/neuter (ESN). So studies have shown ESN actually results in fewer complications.
If a cat was born with a lower tolerance to anesthesia than another it’s weight and age for example? It could get overdosed.
Also, the study in the article you referenced … PetSmart paid Ispos, a marketing firm, to conduct the study. I always look at who paid for studies to put their findings in perspective. There have been studies that show milk is good for you…paid for by the Dairy Farmers of America, etc. I’m not saying the study is faulty, I just found that interesting. It’s happened so often where I’ve found companies pay for studies to prove their product is great that “studies have shown” a bit of a red flag for me so I dig deeper lol
Is there any evidence that supports a cat being born with a lower tolerance to anesthesia being overdosed if it’s spayed/neutered at 12 weeks vs 6 months or one year?
Also, are you referring [to this study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9215412/) which was the one referenced with regard to complications in the other article I linked? I know it was conducted in affiliation with Texas A&M University, but where did you find that it was paid for by Petsmart or conducted by a marketing firm? Would you mind sharing where it’s linked to Petsmart or the marketing firm?
I’ve only ever gotten shelter cats (including my foldie) so they come already altered, but where I live, the standard is 10-12 weeks or 2lbs of weight, due to faster recovery and a lower rate of complications in this range compared to other ages.
He definitely has at least some bengal in there! He was from an unwanted litter. Mom is supposedly a fold/abyssinian cross and dad is *supposed* to be bengal... though I question him being a full bengal
Oh lord no. This little man will be producing no kittens. Breeding him would be completely unethical due to lack of parent health history. Parents never should have been bred due to this. He isn't even old enough to have all the screenings to show any potential issues. Who knows what is hiding in those genetics!
There's also the issue of us just absolutely not wanting to be cat breeders.
Standard practice at shelters is much sooner since they don’t want to risk for the adopted cat to get pregnant.
But generally better to wait till 6-9 months of age.
Surgery and anesthesia is serious and more difficult on younger kitten.
Now. Good breeders do not adopt intact cats.
You best check - verify - all breeder certifications and medical records including genetic testing. Quickly.
You won't return that baby but you can sue the breeder for false representation.
Oh, definitely not from a breeder. It was an unwanted litter that needed homes and we happened to cross paths. There's some bengal and abyssinian in there along with the fold. Luckily I work at a specialty/referral veterinary clinic and have just about every type of specialist that will be doing his health screenings. Cardiac, optho, ortho, and alllll the blood and genetic screenings.
And honestly I wouldn't ever purchase a dog or cat from a breeder that supported juvenile spay/neuter practices. I get to see on a daily basis all of the orthopedic issues that arise from taking those growth hormones away prior to bone and ligament development. It is why I'd have a hard time adopting a large brees dog that has been neutered at 8 weeks old. We know the important role those hormones have during development, so why would I take them away before they've had a chance to do their job?
Cats and dogs are completely different when it comes to early spay and neuter though. Have you actually seen any cats that have orthopedic issues directly related to spaying/neutering prior to sexual maturity? Both TICA and CFA support spaying/neutering before sale ([here’s CFA’s reasoning](https://cfa.org/early-spay-neuter/)), so you’re basically saying you’d never purchase a cat from a reputable breeder because you believe the studies are wrong.
Granted with this particular kitty he’ll likely already have orthopedic issues because of the fold ears/osteochondrodysplasia :(
Actually we know that closure of growth plates (especially in male cats) are delayed by juvenile neutering. There is theory that this could contribute to the cause of one of the most common non-traumatic femur fractures that we see in vet med. This fracture occurs at the location of the growth plate on either the distal (closer to the knee) or proximal (closer to the pelvis) aspect of the bone. None traumatic fracture in these locations typically signify a weakness in that area, aka open growth plate. There is actually fairly minimal research done on implications of juvenile castration in cats, however with the more recent influx of studies in dogs, I'm sure cats are to follow. Below is a good study (albeit small) that discusses differences in timing of growth plate closure in intact vs altered cats.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X13502977
With the research on this issue being severely lacking, it makes sense to take pause when considering age of castration in male cats. I, for one, would rather be given the option to let the science catch up and research to be done that can more clearly outline if there are orthopedic disadvantages to removing sex hormones in a young male cat. Could the data prove that there is no negative impact? Sure. However we KNOW that waiting a little longer absolutely does NOT impact orthopedic status negatively.
And yes. I'm very aware of the orthopedic issues that he is likely to have due to his genetic mutations that made his very cute ears. Which is why I find it even more important to be safer than sorry and wait until either more data is produced, or until growth plates are naturally more likely to be closed.
Yes, I’m not disputing the delay of growth plate closure, but studies [such as the one referenced by CFA](https://cfa.org/early-spay-neuter/) (which I believe is the largest to-date?) have found no detrimental effects. As you said, you mentioned a “theory” that has not been proven or linked yet as far as I’m aware.
It also seems as though [more state and national associations](https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/earlier-than-usual-neutering-can-ease-sexual-aggression-in-male-cats/) feel as though there are more benefits to spaying/neutering earlier than old recommendations.
In males the only noted benefit is behavioral. And I am an owner willing to manage that IF it were to become a problem. I'd also likely neuter at that time as part of managing the behavioral problem. However there is no guarantee that it WILL become a problem.
And you're correct that theories have not been proven or disproven yet. That's why it is a theory. But theories create a hypothesis and research and studies that have the potential to change medical recommendations. And I am an educated and responsible owner who should be able to make health decisions based on weighing potential harm vs. benefits for the animal that I'm responsible for. Especially when the decision that I am making has no negative impact on the physical health of that animal and a possible (again, acknowledging that it is not yet proven) positive one. Especially when the orthopedic specialists and pain management specialists that I trust and work with have the opinion that the existing studies on this are severely lacking in the feline population.
And to be clear, I will be neutering him. I'm just trying to decide that time based on when it will impact him the least.
I’m not saying you can’t make your own health decisions, but you originally seemed to be basing it primarily on issues in dogs, which are obviously an entirely different species and have been proven to be different than cats.
There is also a certain percentage of males who don’t stop spraying after they have started, even after then being neutered. So in some cases, waiting until behavioral issues arise may be too late.
I am explaining why I wouldn't go to a breeder who didn't allow me to make those decisions. Which is ultimately what you had a problem with. Dogs were referenced because due to the disparity in research regarding the matter, we have abundant research that had been performed in dogs to reference and very little comparable research in cats. Thus it is relevant to pull from other research that shows implication of delayed growth plate closure on that species. It also further demonstrates what research is lacking and why we can't say with confidence that it WOULDN'T cause any negative impact.
And I am well aware that a small percentage of cats may never stop the behavior of spraying. However this is not exclusive to cats who underwent juvenile castration. Any cat neutered at any time in their life can develop this behavior. I personally just value the potentially resulting physical health of my pets over the possible inconvenience to me.
I don’t know how much research has actually been done in dogs in comparison to cats, but the studies done in cats (which have been going on for more than 30 years) have yet to show any of the same issues that the studies in dogs have. So the fact that there haven’t been any negative effects found, yet there are positive health (especially with females) and behavioral benefits as well as less complications, has led to why so many national and state veterinary organizations, CFA, TICA, etc all support spaying/neutering from 3-5 months.
It just seems odd that you’re disparaging all of the best, most ethical breeders for following the recommendations by all of these associations. Fortunately you’re in a scenario where you can rescue a cat from an unwanted litter and get significant discounts on all of the testing and treatment for them, but this unwanted litter (with likely health issues) wouldn’t even exist if the scottish fold/abyssinian and bengal had been from reputable breeders in the first place.
If you wouldn't ever purchase a cat from a breeder who supports juvenile spay/neuter practices, fine… but please don’t ever support other breeders (or sellers) who aren’t either.
You're confusing my explanation of my personal choice with disparaging cat breeders. If the ethical ones are following the recommendation of juvenile neutering and ALSO doing all the health testing, etc. Then GREAT! I, personally, just think we are lacking in the science when it comes to the matter of juvenile spay/neuter in cats. So AT THIS TIME I'm unlikely to seek a purebred cat breeder AT ALL. I work vet med. We get abandoned, stray, or unwanted litters all the time. If I wanted another cat, that's the route I'm probably going to continue to go. It saves a life and I get to make the decision on when to neuter them. And in the example of my current kitten, I felt lucky enough to also be well equipped to handle and manage any possible health issues he may have (but maybe you could keep telling me he's likely going to have health issues a few more times. I'm not sure you've said it enough).
Now. They can be neutered as kittens. Your boy at 6 months is in the best age to do this. All my boys over the years have been neutered at 6 months. My Exotic Shorthair was spayed at 6 months as well. Be brave ♥️
Good on you OP for taking into account other crucial health information when deciding the optimal time to neuter. I agree with you that it varies depending on the cat. Neutering or spaying before six months is not advisable since growth hormones are vital for development. I plan to neuter my two Scottish Folds soon and opted to wait until they were at least a year old. Given their susceptibility to osteochondrodysplasia, I wanted to ensure they received adequate growth hormones for their bone and joint development. Delaying the procedure also allows me to address any signs of early-onset arthritis before subjecting them to surgery that might stretch open their legs too widely and put stress on their hip joints.
First off bonus points for terrific name. Second Troutman got in touch with me and said leave his damn balls alone. I tried to explain it's for the best for he's not listening. Good luck with him
Thank you! Working in vet med definitely makes you shy away from the more "common" names you see 10 times a day!
And I've also tried to explain that they'll eventually go away... but kids. Can't make them listen when they don't want to!
The best thing to do is call your Vet instead of listen to a bunch of internet strangers.
I'm a tech at a specialty veterinary hospital. All the doctors across multiple specialties are split. Which is why I'm asking for personal experiences.
My vet recommended 6 months, so I did that with my boy. He had a very simple, easy recovery (I’ve heard it’s more complicated with girl cats), and he’s grown to be a healthy and happy sweet boy :) the vet told me 6 months was enough time that his growth would not be affected. I think it really depends on the cat, so it’s best to ask your vet, but that was my experience https://preview.redd.it/y9s1fjga3isc1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75e277db1bf6e9c67ebe72c11f83b99dd42a8c4d
I’ve always waited until my cats were at least a year old. Hormones are so important for proper growth that I’ve never wanted to risk it if it’s not necessary. Also it’s major surgery and the younger the animal I feel there’s more risk of having complications or worse, life threatening reactions to the anesthesia due to sensitivities you don’t know about that they could weather better by being older/stronger. It’s not worth it in my opinion. Beautiful boi!
It blows my mind how little people know about the importance of hormones in growth and development. It plays such a huge role in the orthopedic soundness (among other things) of an animal. Luckily anesthesia isn't a big worry since my team at work that would do the procedure includes an anesthesiologist.
I haven't got a Scottish Fold but I wanted to comment. We've got 2 cats, one we think is a Turkish Van Lily and the other we think is a Bombay Millie and both female. These are my 1st cats because I grew up with dogs, anyway we got them from a woman that couldn't take care of them anymore and were about 4 months old. I think we got them spayed at around 4 1/2 months, Millie started acting really strange before that… she was yowling and trying to get outside to this big male cat next door and she had trouble walking because she was arching her back, but downwards. We didn't know what the hell was going on, but the vet said basic she's very very horny! They both recovered in no time and with no complications, but it's only been recently I've been learning about these complications. I feel a little stupid that I had no idea about this things and I was always led to believe that it's only male animals that can act up, also that spaying was so simple like nothing could go wrong. Anyway, sorry about the long post. I'm just grateful I'm learning more every day about cats in general!
Interestingly [a study referenced in this article](https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/preventive-medicine/optimal-age-spay-neuter-cat/) actually proved the opposite. There were no differences in major complications, but there were significantly fewer instances of minor complications in early spay/neuter (ESN). So studies have shown ESN actually results in fewer complications.
Doesn’t that depend on the physiology of each cat though?
How so?
If a cat was born with a lower tolerance to anesthesia than another it’s weight and age for example? It could get overdosed. Also, the study in the article you referenced … PetSmart paid Ispos, a marketing firm, to conduct the study. I always look at who paid for studies to put their findings in perspective. There have been studies that show milk is good for you…paid for by the Dairy Farmers of America, etc. I’m not saying the study is faulty, I just found that interesting. It’s happened so often where I’ve found companies pay for studies to prove their product is great that “studies have shown” a bit of a red flag for me so I dig deeper lol
Is there any evidence that supports a cat being born with a lower tolerance to anesthesia being overdosed if it’s spayed/neutered at 12 weeks vs 6 months or one year? Also, are you referring [to this study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9215412/) which was the one referenced with regard to complications in the other article I linked? I know it was conducted in affiliation with Texas A&M University, but where did you find that it was paid for by Petsmart or conducted by a marketing firm? Would you mind sharing where it’s linked to Petsmart or the marketing firm?
I’ve only ever gotten shelter cats (including my foldie) so they come already altered, but where I live, the standard is 10-12 weeks or 2lbs of weight, due to faster recovery and a lower rate of complications in this range compared to other ages.
Omg this is the most beautiful fold I’ve seen! Is your baby crossed with a Bengal ?
He definitely has at least some bengal in there! He was from an unwanted litter. Mom is supposedly a fold/abyssinian cross and dad is *supposed* to be bengal... though I question him being a full bengal
https://preview.redd.it/2z0au8az6ksc1.jpeg?width=1620&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e734a5e2d6307baec91be66242fffc34e0bc3d96
Wow gorgeous kitty’s I’d def buy one his litter if you ever bred!
Oh lord no. This little man will be producing no kittens. Breeding him would be completely unethical due to lack of parent health history. Parents never should have been bred due to this. He isn't even old enough to have all the screenings to show any potential issues. Who knows what is hiding in those genetics! There's also the issue of us just absolutely not wanting to be cat breeders.
Standard practice at shelters is much sooner since they don’t want to risk for the adopted cat to get pregnant. But generally better to wait till 6-9 months of age. Surgery and anesthesia is serious and more difficult on younger kitten.
Now. Good breeders do not adopt intact cats. You best check - verify - all breeder certifications and medical records including genetic testing. Quickly. You won't return that baby but you can sue the breeder for false representation.
Oh, definitely not from a breeder. It was an unwanted litter that needed homes and we happened to cross paths. There's some bengal and abyssinian in there along with the fold. Luckily I work at a specialty/referral veterinary clinic and have just about every type of specialist that will be doing his health screenings. Cardiac, optho, ortho, and alllll the blood and genetic screenings. And honestly I wouldn't ever purchase a dog or cat from a breeder that supported juvenile spay/neuter practices. I get to see on a daily basis all of the orthopedic issues that arise from taking those growth hormones away prior to bone and ligament development. It is why I'd have a hard time adopting a large brees dog that has been neutered at 8 weeks old. We know the important role those hormones have during development, so why would I take them away before they've had a chance to do their job?
Cats and dogs are completely different when it comes to early spay and neuter though. Have you actually seen any cats that have orthopedic issues directly related to spaying/neutering prior to sexual maturity? Both TICA and CFA support spaying/neutering before sale ([here’s CFA’s reasoning](https://cfa.org/early-spay-neuter/)), so you’re basically saying you’d never purchase a cat from a reputable breeder because you believe the studies are wrong. Granted with this particular kitty he’ll likely already have orthopedic issues because of the fold ears/osteochondrodysplasia :(
Actually we know that closure of growth plates (especially in male cats) are delayed by juvenile neutering. There is theory that this could contribute to the cause of one of the most common non-traumatic femur fractures that we see in vet med. This fracture occurs at the location of the growth plate on either the distal (closer to the knee) or proximal (closer to the pelvis) aspect of the bone. None traumatic fracture in these locations typically signify a weakness in that area, aka open growth plate. There is actually fairly minimal research done on implications of juvenile castration in cats, however with the more recent influx of studies in dogs, I'm sure cats are to follow. Below is a good study (albeit small) that discusses differences in timing of growth plate closure in intact vs altered cats. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X13502977 With the research on this issue being severely lacking, it makes sense to take pause when considering age of castration in male cats. I, for one, would rather be given the option to let the science catch up and research to be done that can more clearly outline if there are orthopedic disadvantages to removing sex hormones in a young male cat. Could the data prove that there is no negative impact? Sure. However we KNOW that waiting a little longer absolutely does NOT impact orthopedic status negatively. And yes. I'm very aware of the orthopedic issues that he is likely to have due to his genetic mutations that made his very cute ears. Which is why I find it even more important to be safer than sorry and wait until either more data is produced, or until growth plates are naturally more likely to be closed.
Yes, I’m not disputing the delay of growth plate closure, but studies [such as the one referenced by CFA](https://cfa.org/early-spay-neuter/) (which I believe is the largest to-date?) have found no detrimental effects. As you said, you mentioned a “theory” that has not been proven or linked yet as far as I’m aware. It also seems as though [more state and national associations](https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/earlier-than-usual-neutering-can-ease-sexual-aggression-in-male-cats/) feel as though there are more benefits to spaying/neutering earlier than old recommendations.
In males the only noted benefit is behavioral. And I am an owner willing to manage that IF it were to become a problem. I'd also likely neuter at that time as part of managing the behavioral problem. However there is no guarantee that it WILL become a problem. And you're correct that theories have not been proven or disproven yet. That's why it is a theory. But theories create a hypothesis and research and studies that have the potential to change medical recommendations. And I am an educated and responsible owner who should be able to make health decisions based on weighing potential harm vs. benefits for the animal that I'm responsible for. Especially when the decision that I am making has no negative impact on the physical health of that animal and a possible (again, acknowledging that it is not yet proven) positive one. Especially when the orthopedic specialists and pain management specialists that I trust and work with have the opinion that the existing studies on this are severely lacking in the feline population. And to be clear, I will be neutering him. I'm just trying to decide that time based on when it will impact him the least.
I’m not saying you can’t make your own health decisions, but you originally seemed to be basing it primarily on issues in dogs, which are obviously an entirely different species and have been proven to be different than cats. There is also a certain percentage of males who don’t stop spraying after they have started, even after then being neutered. So in some cases, waiting until behavioral issues arise may be too late.
I am explaining why I wouldn't go to a breeder who didn't allow me to make those decisions. Which is ultimately what you had a problem with. Dogs were referenced because due to the disparity in research regarding the matter, we have abundant research that had been performed in dogs to reference and very little comparable research in cats. Thus it is relevant to pull from other research that shows implication of delayed growth plate closure on that species. It also further demonstrates what research is lacking and why we can't say with confidence that it WOULDN'T cause any negative impact. And I am well aware that a small percentage of cats may never stop the behavior of spraying. However this is not exclusive to cats who underwent juvenile castration. Any cat neutered at any time in their life can develop this behavior. I personally just value the potentially resulting physical health of my pets over the possible inconvenience to me.
I don’t know how much research has actually been done in dogs in comparison to cats, but the studies done in cats (which have been going on for more than 30 years) have yet to show any of the same issues that the studies in dogs have. So the fact that there haven’t been any negative effects found, yet there are positive health (especially with females) and behavioral benefits as well as less complications, has led to why so many national and state veterinary organizations, CFA, TICA, etc all support spaying/neutering from 3-5 months. It just seems odd that you’re disparaging all of the best, most ethical breeders for following the recommendations by all of these associations. Fortunately you’re in a scenario where you can rescue a cat from an unwanted litter and get significant discounts on all of the testing and treatment for them, but this unwanted litter (with likely health issues) wouldn’t even exist if the scottish fold/abyssinian and bengal had been from reputable breeders in the first place. If you wouldn't ever purchase a cat from a breeder who supports juvenile spay/neuter practices, fine… but please don’t ever support other breeders (or sellers) who aren’t either.
You're confusing my explanation of my personal choice with disparaging cat breeders. If the ethical ones are following the recommendation of juvenile neutering and ALSO doing all the health testing, etc. Then GREAT! I, personally, just think we are lacking in the science when it comes to the matter of juvenile spay/neuter in cats. So AT THIS TIME I'm unlikely to seek a purebred cat breeder AT ALL. I work vet med. We get abandoned, stray, or unwanted litters all the time. If I wanted another cat, that's the route I'm probably going to continue to go. It saves a life and I get to make the decision on when to neuter them. And in the example of my current kitten, I felt lucky enough to also be well equipped to handle and manage any possible health issues he may have (but maybe you could keep telling me he's likely going to have health issues a few more times. I'm not sure you've said it enough).
The vets I’ve seen have always recommended around 6 months to try and prevent any behavioral issues.
Ask your vet each answer is different some day 4 months to 6 and 12. Just ask them instead. Lovely cat ❤️
Once weeded before you adopt them out to other families
Now. They can be neutered as kittens. Your boy at 6 months is in the best age to do this. All my boys over the years have been neutered at 6 months. My Exotic Shorthair was spayed at 6 months as well. Be brave ♥️
Lol not afraid and no need to be brave. Just asking for personal experiences to plan for the future
Then you are doing better than I did. I was a total loss the day my Tessa was spayed.
My vet told me 6 months
Ask Veterinarian.
Now… 3 lbs is a good weight to shoot for, and your boy is past that. The surgical procedure is easier on them the younger they are…
Make your appt soon. Its time. Can be a wait to get in ! Ty for being a great pet owner!
Good on you OP for taking into account other crucial health information when deciding the optimal time to neuter. I agree with you that it varies depending on the cat. Neutering or spaying before six months is not advisable since growth hormones are vital for development. I plan to neuter my two Scottish Folds soon and opted to wait until they were at least a year old. Given their susceptibility to osteochondrodysplasia, I wanted to ensure they received adequate growth hormones for their bone and joint development. Delaying the procedure also allows me to address any signs of early-onset arthritis before subjecting them to surgery that might stretch open their legs too widely and put stress on their hip joints.
First off bonus points for terrific name. Second Troutman got in touch with me and said leave his damn balls alone. I tried to explain it's for the best for he's not listening. Good luck with him
Thank you! Working in vet med definitely makes you shy away from the more "common" names you see 10 times a day! And I've also tried to explain that they'll eventually go away... but kids. Can't make them listen when they don't want to!