barbaraz@tektronix.UUCP (Barbara Zanzig) (01/18/84)
<> Anybody out there have opinions on whether to spay a kitten before or after she comes into her first heat? Note: the question is not WHETHER to spay, it's WHEN to do it. I have a ~6 month old female that is going to come into her first heat any day now and am wondering whether to "do the deed" before I have to put up with it. Barbara Zanzig tektronix!barbaraz
ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan) (01/18/84)
My vet says 5 1/2 months. I got about two weeks to go on my kitten, then, "snik, snik".
tjj@ssc-vax.UUCP (T J Jardine) (01/18/84)
. We have had one or more cats as pets for the past twenty years. We currently have six, all spayed, three females and three males. The advice we have received most consistently from Veterinarians is to wait until the kitten has attained its full growth, usually at about one year. Kittens we have had spayed before then seem to remain smaller in size and don't develop the same amount of strength as those we have had spayed after one year. The quality of their coat of fur also seems to be affected. I understand what you will go through with a six month old kitten, but particularly if it's your only one you will be much happier putting up with the few days to a week and a half (at most) of meowing and other antics. Ted Jardine TJ (with Amazing Grace) The Piper ...uw-beaver!ssc-vax!tjj