Spay/Neuter rant

[Patti]

The thing is, perhaps there are reasonable and legitimate reasons for preferring a kitten to arrive un-neutered.
(don't y'all jump on me!) As I have rescued kittens from shelters at very young ages-8 weeks-and the shelters neutered them, one set of brothers became part of my life. Lost at 5 yrs and almost 6 years. The vet I had (then,) told me the FUS " MIGHT have something to do with it" He was way ahead of his time, I believe. I will put this link here www.2ndchance.info/spayneuter.html by Dr. Ronald Hines. He is making television and post and media news, as a David against the Goliaths of this world. This is because of going against long-held, sometimes unscientific, views, according to him. From my sad experiences, and in my opinion, I like much of what he says--makes me think he's really on to it.

I'd like to be able to make the best decision in my own kittens' health interest, and long life.

That said, I agree it is the breeders perogative to make their own decisions, and expect the buyer to abide by that, or go elsewhere.

The link isn't working

 

[Trish Allearz]

Oh- no one is going to jump on you, Wetcats. There are a million opinions about early spay/neuter in cats- just like in dogs. However- I consider myself responsible for my kittens- but also the kittens they might produce. So when I place an unaltered cat, it is with the knowledge and belief that those kittens produced will go on to improve the breed and will be cared for as much as my own kittens.

 

[Green eyed kitty]

It is the breeders choice to send out the kittens spayed or neutered.

I liked that when I purchased My kitten, I was given an option to bring my cat back to breed with the breeders choice or to spay her. With much thought, I decided to spay her. I guess most people aren't as honest. So I can understand why new kittens leave the breeders fixed.

Sorry the purchaser decided to spread a nasty note to everyone and put you down. Guess since she made it a public deal, then it is all fair in love and war. Bringing it onto a public forum for us to give our opinions is fair in my eyes.

Rant on! lol

 

[wetcats]

Oh, Sorry the link isn't working....It was a well written, well researched, article. IF nothing else, it is interesting reading, and a different way to look at things. From a Vets' purpose of protecting feline health, from unnecessary vaccinations as well. Some of the medical stuff, and science stuff is over my head, but I liked what I read, and liked that this smart man is going up against ALL the big Corps. Knowing something about it--I bred (briefly-it wasn't for me) and showed Standard Poodles, I DO Get IT. Which is why I find this Vet so refreshing.....IMHO

 

[wetcats]

A quick note--I couldn;t/can't take the lose of whole litter, or litter born dead. Too much heartache for me.
I respect you Breeders, and I support your right to make your own decisions, as I stated earlier. I've been
raising animals since I was a little kid on the farm, and over lots (!!) of decades of animals,I believe I can still learn something new.

 

[Green eyed kitty]

Wetcats, I went online and read the article you mentioned. Very interesting and it shows the pros and cons.

 

[wetcats]

OH Good! Thank you so much for making that effort! I thought it was very interesting in the pros and cons myself--basically that there were even any cons.

 

[Pam Flachs]

This is a dilemma I have considered. So far...knock on wood...every kitten customer of mine has honored my spay/neuter clause in their pet kitten contract.

However, my current vet office that I have been going to for a very long time and really, really like...will NOT do early spay/neuters. Their preference for the surgeries is 6 months old or 5 pounds. My kittens leave for new homes between 3 and 4 months old. A few have topped out at 5-6 pounds at that age, and I could have had them altered then, but since I have never had anyone NOT get "the snips"...I have never worried about it.

Lately, however, I am leaning toward finding another vet who will do the earlier spay/neuter in that 3-4 month time frame. I have a two week old litter of new F4B babies, and I have been asking prospective kitten customers if they would mind waiting until 4 months of age, and their new babies will come home already altered. So far, the response is overwhelming in favor of it. Now....do I find another vet who will do early S/N for my kittens and risk my long time friendship (20 + years) with my current vet office? The town I live in is not big; every vet knows one another and the rivalry is rampant, sigh.

I may just try the early altering with my new babies. I will have to drive some distance out of town (40 miles one way) and pray my own vet office doesn't catch wind of my treachery

 

[macmanmatty]

My vet will spay and neuter at 3 months or 3 lbs so I get it done on all of my pet cats I sell. I have had no problems with it. I tell all prospective buyers that I am doing it all most all are ok with it. Also my vet only charges $25 for a neuter and $40 for a spay which is a big plus.

 

[Trish Allearz]

This is a dilemma I have considered. So far...knock on wood...every kitten customer of mine has honored my spay/neuter clause in their pet kitten contract.
However, my current vet office that I have been going to for a very long time and really, really like...will NOT do early spay/neuters. Their preference for the surgeries is 6 months old or 5 pounds. My kittens leave for new homes between 3 and 4 months old. A few have topped out at 5-6 pounds at that age, and I could have had them altered then, but since I have never had anyone NOT get "the snips"...I have never worried about it.

Lately, however, I am leaning toward finding another vet who will do the earlier spay/neuter in that 3-4 month time frame. I have a two week old litter of new F4B babies, and I have been asking prospective kitten customers if they would mind waiting until 4 months of age, and their new babies will come home already altered. So far, the response is overwhelming in favor of it. Now....do I find another vet who will do early S/N for my kittens and risk my long time friendship (20 + years) with my current vet office? The town I live in is not big; every vet knows one another and the rivalry is rampant, sigh.

I may just try the early altering with my new babies. I will have to drive some distance out of town (40 miles one way) and pray my own vet office doesn't catch wind of my treachery

Here is the reason I finally decided to do it, Pam- and I had the same issue as you. My personal vet's office doesn't typically do early spay/neuters. They aren't against them- they just figure for the average client, 6 months is a good time frame.

My FAVORITE and BEST homes have put off spay/neuters and yes, broken their contracts in doing so. Why? Because they are busy, because they don't have cash that month, because time got away from them, because XYZ. Does this make them bad homes? Heck no- if being busy makes you a bad Momma, then I'm bad, bad, bad! It's just the reality of life.

An accident COULD have happened during that time- a kitten got out, a kitten mature quickly and breed with another unaltered cat, etc. You can't control accidents.

HOWEVER- now that my babies are going home fixed, I know that that I've controlled my lines- at least. I KNOW there will be no accidental litters from Stimpy. Or Big Red. (Adorable as they might be!). I know that their owners don't need to worry about the surgery- they don't need to worry about scheduling it nor the aftercare. Or paying for it!

So in the end, the pros outweighed the cons for me. We did 12 kittens this spring so far- CC and BoPeep are still on my list to get done (I want to keep BoPeep- sigh)- and they've all bounced back great. My Mom has been doing it for over a year with the smaller naked ones- and we've seen nothing but great results