Age of cat castration.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Anthony Todd — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 17:08:26 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]Had an otherwise healthy cat die during GA for a castrate last summer. There have been others (not many) but I really remember that one as it was one of our new-grad vets' first week working and it hit her hard.[/quote]

Was it under 2Kg [see previous 16 times more likely quote....]

just asking.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Kate Richardson — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 14:14:38 GMT

[quote user="Dalriata"]Would be interesting to get ISFM's take on this.[/quote]

From the ICatCare website-

"Age for neutering

Traditionally male and female cats have often been neutered at six months of age, but this is after many cats reach sexual maturity and not based on any scientific rationale. For social, health and population control reasons, it is now recommended neutering should routinely take place at around 4 months of age.

Timing of neutering is discussed in more detail in a Cat Group Policy statement"

and in a powerpoint presentation on early neutering also for full access on the website (http://icatcare.org/sites/default/files/PDF/Early-neutering-and-TNR.pdf)

"SURGERY AND ANAESTHETIC COMPLICATIONS 775 cats -

Complications based on age

< 12 weeks – shortest anaesthesia time and few complications

13-24 weeks – very few problems

> 24 weeks – highest complication rate, longest surgery times"

I've never personally seen a case of delayed physis closure leading to an increased risk of spontaneous femoral capital fractures in male cats neutered early

RE: Age of cat castration.

Utlendigur — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 14:09:29 GMT

[quote user="Dalriata"]Maybe we just have big cats locally but most are over 2kg at 16 weeks. [/quote]

Must be the longer growing season further south

Found this on a quick search but I think I've seen other articles elsewhere

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12494971

RE: Age of cat castration.

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 11 Apr 2016 11:56:41 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

Re "anaesthetic risk".

When was the last time any of you had an anaesthetic death, let alone one in a cat castration??

[/quote]

Had an otherwise healthy cat die during GA for a castrate last summer. There have been others (not many) but I really remember that one as it was one of our new-grad vets' first week working and it hit her hard.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Dalriata — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 20:10:37 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]

[quote user="Dalriata"]Zero disadvantages.[/quote]

I can think of two

1. increased peri-anaesthetic mortality risk in animals <2kg (Brodbelt "Patient weight was also associated with anaesthetic-related death, with patients under 2 kg being nearly 16 times more likely to die and larger patients (6kg or more) nearly 3 times more likely to die than 2-6 kg patients")

2. delayed physis closure leading to an increased risk of spontaneous femoral capital fractures in male cats neutered early

I got the impression that the fashion for early neutering was imported from US shelters where unless the animals were neutered before rehoming, they were unlikely to be presented again.

[/quote]

Maybe we just have big cats locally but most are over 2kg at 16 weeks. I'm sure with all the work CPL are doing and ISFM this point may be refuted in the future - especially with the quad protocol.

The 2nd point I understand in theory - has it been proven in cats specifically or is this assumed from research in dogs? Thankfully never seen a case.

I think it is generally accepted that there is no greater risk of blocking in younger neutered males, but of course we give appropriate diet advice.

Would be interesting to get ISFM's take on this.

Certainly owners here (rural Cornwall) want to let their cats out by 16 weeks and we already have a horrendous feral cat population and see lots of FeLV and FIV +ve cases, RTAs and CBAs so I will continue to actively promote early neutering.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Francisco Gomez — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 11:19:32 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]

[quote user="Utlendigur"]1. increased peri-anaesthetic mortality risk in animals <2kg (Brodbelt "Patient weight was also associated with anaesthetic-related death, with patients under 2 kg being nearly 16 times more likely to die and larger patients (6kg or more) nearly 3 times more likely to die than 2-6 kg patients")[/quote]

Can you give the reference please.

[/quote]

We only neuter >2kg cats from private clients - the reason wasn't mortality but license of the NSAID.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Utlendigur — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 09:29:02 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Todd"]Can you give the reference please.[/quote]

http://www.rvc.ac.uk/Media/Default/staff/files/dbrodbelt-thesis.pdf

RE: Age of cat castration.

Anthony Todd — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 09:08:31 GMT

Can you give the reference please.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Anthony Todd — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 09:07:13 GMT

Re "anaesthetic risk".

When was the last time any of you had an anaesthetic death, let alone one in a cat castration??

RE: Age of cat castration.

Anthony Todd — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 09:00:45 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Wynne Richards"]

Increased risk of urinary calculi causing an obstruction if an infantile penis, so I don't do before 6 months.

Wynne

[/quote]

I thought that had been disproved many years ago when the FUS started with GoCat?

RE: Age of cat castration.

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 08:43:58 GMT

[quote user="Utlendigur"]unless the animals were neutered before rehoming, they were unlikely to be presented again.[/quote]I've castrated feral cats at 12 weeks for the same reason, I don't like doing it but its better than leaving it for it never to be seen again.

[quote user="Utlendigur"]

2. delayed physis closure leading to an increased risk of spontaneous femoral capital fractures in male cats neutered early

[/quote]I recommended just before sexual maturity so 7-8 months, certainly not before 6, I did my own kitten yesterday aged 8 months although he is still quite small. The reasons as above but also one which is very anecdotal - I believe that by having their testosterone around for a little longer they grow into bigger stronger cats. This is a pay-off between that and them wandering off and fighting and at greater risk of RTAs

RE: Age of cat castration.

Hannah Wynne Richards — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 08:08:18 GMT

Increased risk of urinary calculi causing an obstruction if an infantile penis, so I don't do before 6 months.

Wynne

RE: Age of cat castration.

Anthony Todd — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 22:35:19 GMT

I was wondering if testosterone had any influence apart from sexually related ones?

Bone development was influenced by testosterone I always understood, for instance?

The anaesthetic risk these days must be minute, in relation to age?

RE: Age of cat castration.

Eamon McAllister — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 21:45:29 GMT

Best time to castrate a cat? Before anybody else does.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Utlendigur — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 21:35:02 GMT

[quote user="Dalriata"]Zero disadvantages.[/quote]

I can think of two

2. delayed physis closure leading to an increased risk of spontaneous femoral capital fractures in male cats neutered early

I got the impression that the fashion for early neutering was imported from US shelters where unless the animals were neutered before rehoming, they were unlikely to be presented again.

RE: Age of cat castration.

Dalriata — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 19:50:38 GMT

CPL advise neutering from 16 weeks, they will do them as young as 8 weeks old.

Several advantages - you can use the quad protocol which has better pain relief, they recover much faster, they can go out quicker with less chance of impregnating half the neighbourhood. Zero disadvantages.