MY PET WORLD

Is there a certain age to spay/neuter?

Q: When I purchased an Abyssinian kitten about 18 years ago, the breeder said I should have the cat neutered at 6 to 7 months old. Recently, I had the cat put to sleep due to old age. In searching for another kitten, I learned that now most breeders have kittens neutered before selling them. Does such early spay/neuter affect their growth and general attitude later in life? — B.M., Hudson

I’m sorry for your loss. And, yes, times have changed.

“Early spay/neuter is now routine in cats and dogs,” says Los Angeles, Calif.-based veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber. “From a shelter perspective, it makes perfect sense, since over-population contributes to the reason why so many animals are found in shelters.”

The answer is somewhat different for dogs, since recent studies show some types of cancer may be more prevalent in dogs spayed or neutered at under a year old (particularly some larger breeds), Werber says. There doesn’t appear to be a similar issue in cats.

“It’s an added expense and a second time of undergoing anesthesia around 12 weeks later if the dog is spay/neutered very early, so I suggest that some puppies may be better doing it all at once,” Werber adds.

When cats are spayed/neutered early, hormonal changes may contribute to weight gain. This is important since obese and overweight cats contribute significantly to the current epidemic of diabetes, as well as other problems related to excess weight.

“In dogs and cats, we’re still unsure of the hormonal impact of early spay/neuter,” Werber says. “No question, it’s a safe surgery; that’s not the issue. Medically, it’s also better to spay a dog or cat before the first heat.” Werber is not questioning the importance of spay/ neuter. “Ultimately, I believe when to spay/neuter is a personal decision that should be discussed between the veterinarian and the client,” Werber says.