Castration age - urinary problems

[Vio&Juni]

Poor Pichu had a bad day yesterday - he couldn't pee at all and we took him in the evening to the emergency vet and he had to get the catheter (sp?).

He had been bad for the last few days and I was planning on taking him to the vet today (I have a day off), but I couldn't wait any longer. The vet told me that he was castrated too early and his penis is too small, undeveloped, so that leads to urinary problems (together with a few other factors). Now, having Milo who needs to be castrated also, I was wondering what would be the best age to castrate him to avoid the same problems with him.

So, I wanted to know when did you castrate your male cats and how many of you have male cats with urinary problems, so please drop a short answer with the age of castration either way

[emily_the_spoiled]

Usually I have done my guys between 4 to 6 months (depending one how big they are). I have been fortunate and not had any urinary problems with them.

[Medusa]

My vet said no earlier than 6 months and I've not had any problems in that regard.

[critters]

*shrug* I've had 2 blockers neutered as adults, a blocker neutered at 6 months, and a BUNCH of non-blockers neutered at 2 months.

[catnapper]

Allen was nearly a year and we have behavioral peeing. He pees when something doesn't go his way

Pouncer was 7 months and had crystals real bad. He had the surgery last month to alleviate his problem and so far so good

Harry right at 6 months and noooo problems at all

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

My RB Sydney was 8 months. He was perfectly fine afterwards

[kimlovescats]

I usually wait until at least six months and the furry balls are easily noticed! So far, I have not had any urinary problems with any of my boys.

[Medusa]

I usually wait until at least six months and the furry balls are easily noticed!

Interesting that you should say this. That's how Coco Puff got his name. When he walked away, he had the cutest little furry brown "coco puffs" and I hated having them removed but, of course, I had to. And he's still the sweetest, most even tempered boy; never have heard him hiss or growl. He's the baddest cat I have, gets into everything, but that's another story.

[Randi]

Fister was neutered at the age of 1, but you know he had problems with struvite crystals and ended up getting his bits chopped off. However, he's been fine since then.

You may want to put him on a diet which dissolve crystals, if that is part of the problem.

One thing I've heard is, that they can get all sorts of problems, if they're taken from their mom too early. How old was Pichu when you got him?

Sorry I can't be of much help here.

Good to see you here anyway!

[jazzcat]

I'm so sorry to hear about handsome Pichu. Poor little guy.

Wow, I had never heard that the age could cause a problem. I think I would wait till Milo is 5-6 months old.

Ripley was 5 months old and he's only had a few infections in old age that go along with his kidney failure.

Rocky was neutered at 5 months and so far no problems but he's only 3 years old now.

Now I'm very worried because we had Decker done at about 9 weeks old because of the situation of having to trap him and he being a wild/feral kitten. If we couldn't tame him the plan was to release him back into the yard so we went ahead with the neuter but then the sedation from the neuter made it easy for the wonderful vet tech to work with him and by the time he came home I could actually pet him without a towel over him. The rest is history. I really pray my sweet little deck boy doesn't end up with urinary problems.