Neutering (the surgical act of castrating a male or spaying a female) is viewed as the most humane way to control the feline population. With an estimated quarter of a million unowned cats living rough and with cat rescues facilities full to capacity, it’s more important than ever to prevent unwanted litters. But there has long been debate as to when is the best age.

Table of contents

To keep the cat population stable, at least 75% of cats need to be neutered. The 2022 Cats and Their Stats (CATS) Report found that 85% of cats in the UK are neutered. Great news, you might think, the cat population ought to be pretty stable at that estimate. But sadly, this is not the full picture. You see, many of these neutered cats might already have had one litter (or more) by the time they are neutered. For the cat population to be truly controlled, the timing of neutering is also critical. And sadly, the CATS Report also found that around 39% of female cats remain unneutered by the time they reach a year old. 

At what age should cats be neutered?

Traditionally, neutering was carried out at six months old. However, cats may reach sexual maturity from as early as four months of age. With this in mind, the traditional practice of neutering cats at six months has been challenged, with many vets now advocating earlier neutering, or kitten neutering.

The exact age at which it is best to neuter a cat varies, depending on the cat’s individual circumstances. Most of the research looking into the age of cat neutering has been done by The Cat Group; a group of charities including RSPCA, Cats Protection, International Cat Care and PDSA. They have recommended that kittens born to owned cats should be neutered by the age of four months. 

Rescue kittens, including feral kittens young enough to undergo socialisation, should be neutered before they are rehomed. Many cat breeders have also adopted the practice of neutering their litters before they are sold. Usually, this means the neutering procedure is carried out between the ages of nine and fourteen weeks of age. 

Benefits of neutering cats by four months of age

Population control to reduce the numbers of unwanted kittens is a major consideration. But there are other reasons to neuter cats before they reach sexual maturity.  

Every two weeks, female cats will call loudly (and make quite the nuisance of themselves) when they do not become pregnant. Females that are not neutered are more likely to suffer from pyometra (infection of the womb) and reproductive cancers. Unneutered males will stray over a large area, will mark their territory with their (very stinky) spray, get into cat fights, road traffic accidents and engage in regular loud caterwauling. Both male and female unneutered cats are also more likely to contract infectious diseases; such as FIV, FeLV and cat flu, which can then be passed on to their kittens. 

What are the perceived risks of kitten neutering?

Some of the perceived risks of kitten neutering include anaesthetic and surgical complications, an increased risk of developing urinary tract disease, late growth plate closure and obesity. 

However, studies have shown that there is no evidence to support that kitten neutering has any negative behavioural or developmental consequences. The risks of surgery and anaesthesia on young kittens are now considerably reduced by published information on improved techniques and drug protocols. At Cats Protection’s main site, of 338 neuters performed in kittens under four months of age over a two-year period, there were zero mortalities. Kittens tend to recover from their anaesthetic much faster than older cats. And are soon eager to eat and move around after their surgery. 

How to find a vet who will neuter kittens at four months or younger

The Cat-Kind website holds a database of veterinary practices and veterinary surgeons that are happy to provide owners with advice about kitten neutering. You can search the map for vets in your area who have pledged to neuter kittens from four months or younger. 

Further reading: