Early castration of cats

Having a tomcat or female cat castrated at an early age.

There is a new phenomenon: Tomcats and female cats become fertile at an earlier age. Cats can be sexually mature when they are 5 months old or earlier. Many people still don’t realize that a female cat can already have kittens if she just isn’t a kitten herself anymore. People tend to think that there is time left, until their super cat surprises them again! What do you do with a box full of kittens of about 10 weeks old? The animal homes are full; they even offer their kittens on internet. As time goes by it aren’t kittens anymore but cats.

The animal homes should consider an early castration before replacement. New owners would have less concerns; the decision to castrate in time has already been made for them. The stray cat problem is also handled effectively in this way. Stray cats don’t reproduce anymore.
Foundation Castraatje, called 25 veterinarian clinics. We asked them what would be the best age to have a tomcat and female cat castrated. The veterinarians in the huge cities mentioned an average age of 6 months. Outside the huge cities they advised 8, 10 or even 12 months. We also asked them if we could make an appointment for our tomcat, which had started to spray and for our female cat which peed at doors and on mats, both 4 months old. Not possible

Early castration is hardly done or not done at all by veterinarians in Holland. IN this way you don’t only get undesired nests but also a huge chance on uncleanliness which quite often is a reason to dump the cat.
The animal health care has improved a lot during the last 10 years, but the various age advices for castration of tomcats and female cats are absolutely unacceptable.

In North America early castration has taken place for over 25 years without any problem an age of 13 weeks. In 1993 the American Veterinary Medical Association confirmed that they support early castration and many have joined them since and a lot of research has been done. We tend to wait to see which way the wind blows. Most negative remarks are made by people which haven’t be absorbed in the matter and stick to old habits, idle gossips or completely out of date information. Hope is place don young veterinarians which are interested in the many advantages of an early castration.

You might haven’t noticed it, but if you look around in the dark, you will find many stray kittens, which are so hungry that they are massively looking for food. Kittens, if they stay alive, will grow up and become wild cats. The problem keeps growing. The cats cannot be blamed for it. We, the people, must change and take our responsibilities. Early castration is a step in the right direction.