Should You Get Your Kitten Spayed or Neutered? Weighing the Pros and Cons

In this guide

Bringing a new kitten home comes with the responsibility of deciding whether to have it spayed or neutered. Overpopulation remains a real issue in the cat world, and neutering, unless you’re planning to breed, is one of the most effective ways to address it. Opinions on the subject vary, so here’s a rundown of the pros and cons for both female and male kittens.

Spaying a female kitten: the pros

Having a female kitten spayed at around 8 to 12 weeks, or once she reaches roughly 2 pounds, means she’ll never experience a heat cycle, which can be genuinely painful. Beyond the discomfort to the kitten, heat cycles can also mean disturbed sleep for you, given the howling involved. Spayed kittens are around 25% less likely to develop mammary gland tumours, are protected from uterine cancers common in cats, tend to have more stable hormone levels, and are less prone to urinary tract infections. On a wider scale, spaying also helps ease the burden of unwanted litters on shelters and owners alike.

Spaying a female kitten: the cons

Spaying can be linked to some extra weight gain, since natural hormone fluctuation stops and the body tends to retain more water weight, which can in turn contribute to problems like diabetes, high blood pressure or heart issues later in life. Spaying is also, of course, permanent, ruling out future breeding.

Neutering a male kitten: the pros

Neutered male kittens tend to live healthier lives overall and avoid the risk of testicular cancer entirely. Without the drive to mate, neutered males are generally calmer and less inclined to roam in search of a female. If there’s an unspayed female kitten in the household, neutering the male also prevents an unwanted litter that would need vaccinating and rehoming.

Neutering a male kitten: the cons

Neutering is permanent, removing the testicles entirely and changing a kitten’s appearance in the process, along with ending any future breeding potential. Hormonal changes can also make weight gain more likely, which, as with females, can contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems later on.

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