Help Stop Teenage Pregnancy!

Abstract

the optimal age for neutering, traditionally deemed to be between 5 and 8 months, is now questioned, as short- and longer-term studies demonstrate no significant behavioural and physical advantages conferred by traditional-age neutering. Furthermore, a number of safe anaesthetic and surgical protocols have been documented that produce lower morbidity and similar mortality rates in early-age neuters compared with traditional-age neuters.

Veterinary attitudes towards pre-pubertal gonadectomy of cats: a comparison of samples from New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom

“…Our data indicate that veterinarians in New Zealand and Australia are significantly more likely to spay or neuter cats at or below these ages compared to veterinarians in the UK. Accordingly, many New Zealand and Australian veterinarians are already meeting the age targets for gonadectomy currently being encouraged in the literature ( 3.5 months (Joyce and Yates 2011)). …”

“…Pre-pubertal gonadectomy is a broad category which encompasses and exceeds 'early-age neutering' which, in New Zealand, is considered to New Zealand Veterinary Journal 61(4), 226-233, 2013 226 occur between the ages of 1.5-4 months (Walsh and Worth 2008) and generally between the ages of 1.5-3.5 months in the United States of America (USA) (Root Kustritz 2002). The latter age is considered appropriate by proponents of early-age neutering in the UK (Joyce and Yates 2011). Both pre-pubertal gonadectomy and early-age neutering allow early sale or adoption of cats without the associated risk of breeding (Spain et al 2004).…”

“…Studies in the United Kingdom (UK) and New York State in the USA indicate that 51% and 39% of practitioners respectively recommended gonadectomy no earlier than 6 months of age for client-owned cats (Spain et al 2002;Murray et al 2008). The appropriateness of gonadectomy at the traditional age is being debated (Joyce and Yates 2011). A contemporary study in the USA indicates that, at 6 months of age or younger, 43% of cats were spayed or neutered compared to 77% at between 6 and 12 months of age and 87% between 12 months and 4 years of age (Trevejo et al 2011).…”

“…There are few short-term (Howe 1997) or long-term side effects following pre-pubertal gonadectomy (Preston Stubbs et al 1996;Howe et al 2000;Spain et al 2004) and there are potential behavioural benefits for early-age neutered toms (Spain et al 2004). Reviews of the topic continue to suggest that the benefits outweigh the costs, with the caveat that a practitioner must consider the anaesthetic risks to the patient (Bushby and Griffin 2011;Joyce and Yates 2011), consider its individual health parameters and consult with the owner (Reichler 2009). How contentious pre-pubertal gonadectomy (before 6 months of age) is has not been fully ascertained, however early-age gonadectomy (before 4 months of age) remains contentious due, in part, to the historical perception that it may carry long-term risks (Bushby and Griffin 2011).…”

Prevalence of desexed cats in relation to age in a convenience sample of Western Australian cats

“…[12] Although there may be reluctance among veterinarians to desex young cats, some reviewers claim that mortality risks and behavioural problems are no higher for prepubescent animals than for older animals. [13] Anaesthetic risks in young animals can now be controlled, [14] so there appear to be no significant welfare arguments against desexing before puberty.…”