How young can a female cat get pregnant? And how old should she be to have her spayed?

Question

She's about a five month old kitten now but I'm afraid she's too young and I don't want to do anything risky. I do want to spay her though. I know years ago they said around 9 months but now I'm hearing much younger, why is that?

Answer 1

I work in feral cat rescue, and we spay kittens as soon as they reach 2lbs now. With newer techniques in surgery and anesthesia and aftercare, as well as the surgery itself being shorter with those advanced techniques, it is much safer a procedure than it was 10 years ago.

A cat can go into heat anywhere from 5 months to as late as 9 months. It varies by breed and individual cat.

So you will be perfectly safe to have your kitty spayed now as long as she is fit and healthy. Congrats on being a caring and responsible pet owner! I personally thank you, along with all my rescues!

Answer 2

Now is a good time, it's best to do it before her first heat and that will be coming very soon. And keep the kitty indoors. :)

Answer 3

I don't know a lot about cats, generally, but I do know that typically, dogs are spayed at around six or seven months.  As for pregnancy, she can become pregnant any time during or after her first heat.

Answer 4

You need to get her spayed right now..She's at that age that any day now she will come into heat and then it'll cost you more at the vet to have her spayed while she's in heat...It's safe, she'll be fine, I promise.. :-)

Answer 5

you should have her spayed at 6months so go ahead and make the appt now so by the time she is of age her appt will be waiting for her...its best not to even let her go into 1 heat

Answer 6

My vet always said around 6 months to be sure the lungs were fully developed and could handle the anesthesia.  But then again, the last female I had spayed was 17 years ago!

I know now that many rescues are spaying females as young as 2 months old.  So, your kitty is easily old enough to be spayed.

At 5 months, she should have had her kitten wellness checkup, her vaccinations and rabies shot.  The vet can schedule her spay any time now, but they prefer kitten to have the vaccinations first.  

Purrs to you and kitten.

Answer 7

Some cats are spayed at 8 weeks, i have three cats, 1 spayed at 3 months one at 4 and one at 2 months and they've all lived to tell the tale

Answer 8

your supposed to get them spayed when they are 6 months so you should get your cat spayed as soon as possible.

Answer 9

9 Months is too late!  There is a very good chance she would have gone into first heat by then.  Cats can come into heat as early as 6 months.  I've seen 9 month old kittens having kittens at the shelter.

Pediactric spay and neuter is quite common in progressive vets and larger humane societies.  Kittens recover in hours, rather than days, and so far, there have been no documented side effects in cats (large breed dogs are different).  Each vet has different requirements and age, but generally two pounds is considered the earliest a cat can be fixed.

But, with your kitten the right time to spay her is now.  Your vet should be able to do it, he might want to wait until 6 months, but if he suggests any later, than I would find a new vet.  He is either not staying with more modern and safer procedures, or is using outdated equipment.