Spay neuter pets? February is Feline Fix By Five Month! Kittens and puppies and litters, oh my! If you conduct a feline fix by five months, you’ll save a LOT of headaches. It’s all about spay and neuter, and the benefits gained for everyone.
But a survey sponsored by the Feline Fix by Five Months awareness campaign shows that not all veterinarians or pet parents are aware of or have implemented this approach. They compiled responses from over 200 licensed veterinarians in the United States as part of a blind survey to determine attitudes toward spaying and neutering cats.
SPAY NEUTER SAVES PETS LIVES
Animal advocates have been preaching to the choir for years. The American Veterinary Medical Association (among others) endorsed a consensus document calling for the sterilization of cats at five months of age or younger if they are not intended for breeding.
According to the survey, 31% of respondents use age and gender to determine the best timing for sterilization. In fact, 61% advocated for spaying female cats at five months or less. But 57% wait until boy cats reach six months or older to sterilize.
When asked why they wait, veterinarians believed performing the surgery before six months of age puts cats at risk for urinary tract disease, blockages, and bone and joint disorders. “None of these concerns are supported by veterinary research,” said Dr. Philip Bushby, DVM, MS, DACVS, veterinary medical advisor to the Fix by Five Months campaign.
Esther Mechler, Program Director for the Feline Fix by Five campaign says the survey provides valuable insights for the program. Using this data drives increased awareness by sharing expert studies that undercut myths about future health risks. While there is no one-size-fits-all situation, it’s clear that the benefits far outweigh the consequences.
What Is Fix By Five Months?
When I first worked as a vet tech *mumble-mumble* years ago, six months of age was the standard “fix pets” date. In the years since, several studies have supported performing the spay-neuter on much younger animals. Some shelters recommend and perform sterilization on 8-week-old babies once they reach a certain weight (often two pounds or more). These surgical techniques are safe. Pets recover more quickly, and the benefits of relieving cats and dogs of reproductive angst are immeasurable.
The Marion’s Dream FELINE FIX BY FIVE program suggests simply dropping the 6-month age to 5 months also makes a huge impact for good.
WHAT ABOUT DOGS SPAY-NEUTER?
Yes, dogs are different. Sure, “fixing Fido” before a litter-ary mistake is ideal. There are some canine-specific issues, though, that don’t apply to cats. For one thing, dogs don’t get pregnant as early as kitties can. Nor do they go in and out of heat as frequently. Stay tuned next week for more about this issue in spaying and neutering dogs.
If you have a furry baby in your future–c’mon, you KNOW you WANT to adopt!–please prepare yourself for a lifetime of love and fun. One of my care manuals like COMPLETE KITTEN CARE or COMPLETE PUPPY CARE offers all the guidance you need to start off on the right “paw.”
Be sure to consult with your veterinarian for the best options for your furry wonders!
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest book giveaways and appearances related to my September Day pet-centric THRILLERS WITH BITE! Amy Shojai, CABC is a certified cat & dog behavior consultant, a consultant to the pet industry, and the award-winning author of 35+ pet-centric books and Thrillers with Bite! Oh, and she loves bling!
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2 Comments
Kathy
on February 23, 2025 at 11:17 pm
We adopted a cat (actually she adopted us) and we found out she was pregnant when we went to have her spayed! Sad that she had a ‘kitty aborti… (2019)’, but she’s still with us and doing good! Didn’t want to spell it out in case people are weird about that.
It’s NATIONAL ADOPT A DOG MONTH! How will you spend your celebration? Wait, your dog didn’t tell you? Well, for Shadow, it’s “dog week” every week of the year, but the “official” celebration takes place the 4th week of September every year — and has been celebrated since the first event in 1928. But October celebrates dog adoptions all month long. Check out my most popular dog-centric blogs in this post.
Have you thought about dog bite Halloween safety? and I’m not talking about vampires, either. Many dogs enjoy the howl-idays. But dogs biting kids happens more often at this time of year than any other.
This is a timely subject so I try to revisit the information every year. I write about this every year because it’s so darned important. With Halloween in the offing, this is the perfect time to brush up on dog safety issues and protect your kids, too.
To give equal time, there are many kitty-centric Halloween myth-teries you’ll find fascinating, especially about black cats.
While nonstop doorbell rings and visitors showering attention may be doggy bliss for your pet, even friendly laid back pooches get their tails in a twist over the disruption to routine. That can be dangerous for the pet—and for the human. Learn more about dog bites and kid safety here…
August 17 is Black Cat Appreciation Day to counter the Halloween black cat negative myths. Of course, those folks who share their lives (and pillows!) with a special black cat know better. Sadly, too many black cats remain in shelters rather than being adopted.
In fact, some evidence supports the notion that black cats (one of the first “mutations” of wild coat color), enhanced what I call the feline friendly factor. Black cats often seem to be much more agreeable and love spending time with their chosen human. Maybe that’s why so many of the so-called witches were associated with black kitties.
People have more difficulty picking cats because they assume all felines are the same. And because usually, cats pick us.
Halloween pet safety is needed every year. Halloween at its best is a night of mystery, fun, and thrills for human children and many adults. It’s important to keep your human kiddoes safe with these tips, but no less important for the pets. I write about Halloween pets safety every year because it can be a nightmare for your furry kids.
Do you enjoy dressing up the house—and yourself—for the holidays? If you want to include Halloween pet costumes, start now to get them used to the notion. Most of the costumes don’t fit Bravo-Dawg, and I’ve not yet tried Shadow-Pup. I’ll share pictures if/when that happens.
Meanwhile, be sure to keep pets safe over Halloween, though. Dogs and cats aren’t always fans of wearing Halloween costumes, but with these tips, you can help pets accept the notion.
Halloween Pet Costumes
Some pets enjoy dressing up, particularly the small dogs already used to wearing coats and sweaters in cool weather. There are many pet costumes available from pet products stores, from fancy to plain. If your outgoing, confident pet is willing, you can have great fun with costumes. But if your pets don’t care for dress up, don’t press it. Many pets may bite over Halloween out of fear of change.
Even reluctant pets may be persuaded to wear a fancy collar or bandana or painted toenails.
Every year, I write about our old cat needs. While Karma-Kat has just reached middle age, cats age at different rates. When do you consider your cat old? Is your old cat a senior kitty by age 8, or 13, or…when? For cats, what is old? Here’s how the experts define ‘old age’ in cats…
Can we take a minute to talk about something almost every pet parent deals with?
Although pet hair and odors are a small price to pay to have our furry ones at home with us, the fuzz and funky smells can sometimes seem overwhelming!
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We adopted a cat (actually she adopted us) and we found out she was pregnant when we went to have her spayed! Sad that she had a ‘kitty aborti… (2019)’, but she’s still with us and doing good! Didn’t want to spell it out in case people are weird about that.
So glad she’s with you in her forever home!