What are the FAH recommendations regarding spaying and neutering?
To prevent unwanted pregnancies, local humane societies are spaying and neutering as early as 8 weeks of age. However, the general recommendation is to spay or neuter a kitten between 6 to 8 months of age. Cats do not have regular heat cycles. Instead, female cats will ovulate whenever they are exposed to the hormones of an un-neutered male cat. Females are pregnant for approximately two months and can become pregnant again IMMEDIATELY after giving birth. In addition, un-spayed female cats are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer than spayed cats. Un-neutered male cats are significantly more likely to develop urine spraying and marking problems.
