When to neuter?

[Brigitte Cowell]

Yes, indeed, Patti! We constantly get emails asking for advice about their spraying Savannah that keeps wanting to get outside desperately...we ask if they are spayed/neutered and it is either "oh no, I hadn't gotten to that yet" or "but they're indoor only so it wasn't necessary" or "he's early generation so wouldn't be fertile"....

 

[F/3]

My vet won't even do them earlier than 5 months or 5 lbs. I understand that is sort of old school but I feel more comfortable if they are older. Maybe I am old school too!

My vet won't neuter until they are six months old. He was Troubles vet (may he rest in piece) he also take care of local lions and tigers.
I just got simba neutered and it was two weeks after his one year birthday. He never sprayed but did do a few drops on my other cats favorite blanket. Hasn't done it again.

 

[Carol]

In South Africa about half the breeders early spay/neuter (before the kitten goes to its new forever home). Usually between the ages of 12 and 14 weeks depending on the size of the kitten. The majority of vets are fine with this in fact about 50% prefer to do it young as they say the kitten recover quicker than the older cats. The thing to watch with young kits is that their blooksugar does not drop after the op. My vet makes sure that their body temp does not drop and feeds them as soon as they wake up. Both my bengals and my Siamese were done at 12 weeks. However we don't have any Savannahs here so I can only speak about all the other breeds.

 

[Per Lausund]

I guess "unnecessary" is a relative term. Many cat breeders feel the risk of sending out unaltered cats too large, that too many pet buyers neglect to get their cat spay/neutered. So unless a breeder is going to keep kittens until they are more than 6 months of age...

I believe I mentioned MEDICALLY unnecessary...

P

 

[Patty]

I do early spay/neuter and to date, my kittens have grown just fine I don't have mine done until they are at least 12-13 weeks old and they have to weigh at least 3lbs.

 

[admin]

I do early spay/neuter and to date, my kittens have grown just fine I don't have mine done until they are at least 12-13 weeks old and they have to weigh at least 3lbs.

I don't think there is a right or wrong...I prefer to wait until about 5 months.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Hi Carol! I don't think personally that Savannahs need any different vet care than other cat breeds, especially the Bengal.... or the Siamese. After all, both of those breeds (well mainly Oriental Shorthair than Siamese although there was Siamese behind my Kashka) were used to develop the Savannah breed!