Is 5 months old too late for Hermie to be fixed?

[NoahsMommy]

We rescued Hermione from a woman that does TNR. When we took our baby home, she said she would take Hermie to be fixed and it would only cost us $35.00.

We've been talking about when to do it and she was concerned Hermie might have scar tissue due to her little laryngitis problem when we first got her. I consulted my vet and they recommended the vet doing the spay do an exam first, to make sure she'll be OK under anesthesia.

I told this to Carol (TNR woman) and she got back to me after talking with her surgeon tech daughter, saying she wanted to wait until Hermie was 5 months old.

Is that too long? When will females go into heat?? I'm so worried she'll have "feelings" and that it'll create problems.

Let me know what you think. Thank you!

[catlady1945]

Cats going into heat vary, but usually it is at 7 or 8 months.

[NoahsMommy]

Thank you catlady1945.

We've only had kitten boys, our girls already came fixed, so I'm unsure this time. With Noah and Basil, I fixed them as soon as I could.

[Randy_K]

No, five months is not too late.

[IttyBittyKitty]

But I would be keeping her indoors as a precaution. Most girlies don't come into heat until at least six months, but I had a girl kitty who did go into heat at five months. Unlike other cats we've had who have been in heat, she showed no signs of being in heat or of any discomfort at being shut up inside. It wasn't until she was mating under my bedroom window one night that I realised that she was on heat!!

[wolflady]

No, in your household, 5 months wouldn't be too late. I have seen some situations where kittens 6 months old had kittens, but since your baby is inside with all "fixed" kitties, she should be fine. On the other hand, it's probably not too early for her to get fixed either. The vet at our shelter is fixing kittens as early as 6-8 weeks!! But I do know that they are doing it earlier and earlier nowadays. I remember when everyone had to wait until the 6 month mark.
I would go with what you think is best. I would say, sure she'd be fine to wait until 5 months, but if you want to go with the exam first to see if it can be done now, that would be fine too

Give that cutie a kissie for me!
**hugs**

[TheAntiPam]

Sounds like a perfect time to take care of Sir Jury for Hermie. My Noodle went into heat at about 5.9 months - but fortunately she is around all fixed kitties.

As far as I know, even if she did have her first heat, there wouldn't be anything terrible about having her fixed after that. The only problem I know of about letting cats "mature' is that male cats sometimes start marking their territory and don't stop even when they get fixed.

Good luck to you and Hermie - tickle her tummy for me!

[NoahsMommy]

Hrm...you all have me half convinced to just take her to our vet, where she has always gone, for her spay soon. I don't want to risk her being an early bloomer.

I don't know if saving $$ is worth waiting. I DON'T want her or the other cats to know anything about S-E-X (although, poor Micah sure knows his fair share. ).

[Barbara]

Tigris' mom - a Siberian Forest Cat - was what you call an early bloomer. She began to date his dad before anybody knew about it and was pregnant before anybody noticed. She gave birth to 4 wonderful and unplanned babies and one of them is our handsome Tigris.
However for her it was nearly too much. She was so small -7 months at birth time - and the babies nearly eat her up. However she was a very good mom and after the kittens had left her gained weight again and was fine.
The kittens all got very good homes -they were just too cute and very healthy and strong

[K & L]

Our little Boo came into to heat very young! It does vary but can happen as early as 4 months. If it were me, I'd pay the extra and not take the chance.

[neko1]

All my kitties were fixed at 6 months and I never had any problems. I think it's a good idea to get her fixed now.

[Former User]

We asked about this from our vet on Friday when we went to take Tessa & Felix for their shots, and he said that he never does cats that are under 6 months old.
I guess it varies on cats then when they get mature. Kitty was done when she was close to 8 months because she wasn't ready yet.
Good luck on whatever you decide

[sasvermont]

As far as I know, 6 months is the standard. Some shelters spay the little ones way too early as far as I am concerned, but their concern is that they do not want cats reproducing under "their watchful eye"....so they often do it at 3 or 4 months. The same is true with male kitties. All that said, I think you will be fine with 6 months, keeping the little one inside and your doors secured so that if she does become "receptive", no unaltered male cat can come courting!

Juni Rose is scheduled for September for her spaying. She is so, so tiny now....I may just wait another month. My vet really encourages spaying and neutering.....at six months.

Good luck. She will be fine!

[Felicia's Mom]

I had one spayed at 6 months and had no problems.

[Killearn Kitties]

Six months is normal here as well. I know our vet isn't happy to do it much earlier.