Early Spay/Neuter

[Kristin]

Does it make a growth difference in cats if they are spayed/neutered early? Zeddie will be coming home already spayed in August, and I was wondering if it mattered. My sister goes on and on about how it is detrimental to their growth and I don't know if her theory is grounded or not.

 

[admin]

Hi kristin...not it does not: http://www.savannahcatchat.com/thre...-adaptation-to-new-home.930/page-5#post-17002

 

[Kronos]

No it wont stunt growth at all. Spaying and neutering early have actually shown to cause the bones to grow longer than they would if not spayed or neutered, because the growth plates may close a bit later than normal.

The only thing some worry about are links between recurring UTIs and early neuter in males... but nothing is proven. Kronos came home at 10 weeks old already neutered, so far no UTIs or any problems. Solo was neutered at the same age and has had 3 episodes of UTIs. Who knows really.

 

[admin]

The early neutering of males causing UTI's is kind of passé...Taj was neutered at 5 months and Cisco at 4 months with absolutely no issues...Taj is almost 3 and cisco is 9.

I think it is more likely that dry food was causing the UTI issue and probably still is, but back then, they had not the research on dry that they do now.

 

[Kristin]

Thanks! I think she is being spayed at 10 weeks...I am bringing her home at 13.
My cousin has a bengal mix and he had him neutered at 4 months, and says his head is much smaller than his body because of it. I know in dogs it can make a difference, but wasn't sure in cats

 

[admin]

Kristin, I highly doubt a smaller head has anything to do with early S/N

 

[Breheart]

My sister and I always have compared the growth and size of Keljin and Kronos, since they were neutered at different ages and are only 1 week apart in age. Kronos was a GIANT baby and young kitten, and hit his current weight way sooner. He was neutered at 10 weeks.

Keljin on the other hand was neutered at 4 months, and he was a runt and always small for his age. He finally caught up in size now at 9 months old. (he is still smaller though, by a few pounds. he also has the issue of small head, large body)

I believe the cat will grow to whatever their genes allow regardless of when they are neutered.

 

[Eolsurion]

Isn't having a head that seems slightly disponportionate to their body a serval trait? Also a medium length tail too right? I'm just wondering, as I think Zeus may be developing into the smallish head to body thing and medium lenght tail, where Abu seems proportionate ... (just plain huge) head and tail included.

 

[Ashley]

Isn't having a head that seems slightly disponportionate to their body a serval trait? Also a medium length tail too right? I'm just wondering, as I think Zeus may be developing into the smallish head to body thing and medium lenght tail, where Abu seems proportionate ... (just plain huge) head and tail included.

Kovu's head seems smaller than it should be.. Glenn is always asking when his head is going to grow... lol His head is about the only thing small on his body.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Isn't having a head that seems slightly disponportionate to their body a serval trait? Also a medium length tail too right? I'm just wondering, as I think Zeus may be developing into the smallish head to body thing and medium lenght tail, where Abu seems proportionate ... (just plain huge) head and tail included.

Yes, a proportionally small head is a Serval trait...as is a shorter tail