Time to neuter?

As your kitten starts to mature into an adult cat, it’s advisable to think about neutering. From an early age (between five and six months) they can give birth three times every year throughout their lives. That could mean quite a number of kittens within a year, not all of which will find a home. So neutering is essential in controlling the stray cat population.

Neutering a male cat is called castration. The process with a female is called spaying and it’s perfectly fine for it to be done when she reaches 5-6 months, whether she has had a litter or not.

The operation is carried out routinely by the vet and your kitten will need to be anaesthetised. Complications are very rare after these operations, and you can usually take your cat to the vet in the morning and collect him the same evening. He may be prone to weight gain after the operation so make sure you feed him a properly balanced diet, like Whiskas.

There are other advantages to neutering. A male kitten’s urge to spray and mark his territory should disappear, he won’t feel the need to roam as much, and he won’t be so inclined to get into fights. This obviously reduces the risk of injuries, like bites and scratches, and protects him from some very dangerous diseases including leukaemia and cat AIDS which are contracted through sex, or through wounds caused by scratching and biting. Neutering will also reduce the risk of mammary tumours and womb infections in female cats and urinary tract problems in males.