Purr-fect age to desex sparks debate

By SALLY COOPER 

Kittens as young as eight weeks old are going under the knife in an effort to tackle cat overpopulation in Victoria. 

While most veterinarians encourage owners to wait until their cat is at least five months old, the RSPCA says cats can be desexed as early as eight to 12 weeks.

RSPCA Victoria animal policy manager Mhairi Roberts said the earlier cats are desexed the less likely it is that they will reproduce.

“Cats can become pregnant as early as four months of age, which is well before the traditional desexing age of five-and-a-half to six months,” Ms Roberts said.

In addition to preventing unwanted pregnancies, early age desexing can offer significant animal welfare benefits, she said.

“Desexing surgery is faster and easier when carried out on younger patients as their anatomical structures are less developed.” 

A 2010 RSPCA research report found less time under general anaesthesia was required for younger cats, and the incision site was smaller when compared to traditional age desexing.

However, not everyone supports the cause, with cat owner Balinda Machell left “devastated” after the death of her three-month-old kitten from complications with the surgery earlier last year.

“I was told that she couldn’t maintain her body temperature during the surgery,’’ Ms Machell said.

“It was horrible … I would never get my cat desexed so young again.”

The RSPCA maintains that the benefits outweigh the risks despite the greater chance of pets having a lower percentage of body fat and a higher risk of hypoglycaemia.

“We believe desexing is a key component to reduce the number of companion animals entering shelters and pounds,” Ms Roberts said.

Despite attempts to address Victoria’s cat overpopulation problem,  statistics found that 32.95 per cent of cats were euthanased in 2014-2015.