Thread: True about neuter/spay a MC cat...

Mine got done at 2 years old - I don't know about the size issue, but I am regretting very much leaving it so late for other reasons. Apparently if you leave it till they mature then the body's reaction has a chance to be stronger. Mine is currently going through said reaction and it ain't pretty.
Being a first time MC-Humanz, I can't talk with experience about the breed, but I was told (by my breeder, who really wanted me to spay Neevie - so that's to be taken with a pinch of salt) that she actually would have a better chance to get bigger if I spay her. It's too soon to tell yet if that's true.

Thanks to all for suggestions and info. Maybe I will try to wait a little bit more paying attention to Baloo's behavior and his urine smell! At now, after yours feedback, I believe that wait one year of age is not useful, I guess the right one age is 7/8 months also because I've read that cat's body react better to the treatment when cat is younger... Next week I will meet the vet and I will ask to her as we can agree for the job, basically if Baloo will start to spray I will need to do it as soon as will be possible! I think also that could be a good idea do the work on both cats so they will recover from treatment together. In event of news I will tell you them!

That is very sensible, as you also don't want to risk a chance mating. The cats don't know they shouldn't, and even if you think yours are not mature enough, you could be surprised 9 weeks later and that's not good. Spraying is not really a problem at this young age, in my experience, but watch out for a change in urine odour and get your boy to the vets straight away if you notice it. In your situation, I would suggest that 7 months is a good time for neutering, I don't think delaying any longer will make a difference to their adult size.

Hi ale.agos, if it were me I would get both cats neutered sooner rather than later. I have had three maincoons, two of which were neutered at 12 weeks old, one male and one female and both these cats were enormous. My other boy Oscar was neutered later (6.5 months) and he is the smallest of the three. It is becoming more common in the UK for breeders to neuter kittens before moving to their new homes as this prevents irresponsible breeding. In your case it is really important that your cats don't mate due to then being siblings. As musicalife has said, Baloo and Bluebelle don't know they shouldn't mate and while Bluebelle may not be sexually mature for some time yet, do you really want to take the chance? Yes maine coons are slower to mature, but there are individual differences and she could well be able to become pregnant at only 5.5 months.
As for males spraying, I believe that once they start this behaviour, it can be really difficult to stop. The choice is yours but I would rather have two healthy happy cats than risk pregnancy. And as I have said, my experience suggests that neutering early does nothing to limit growth; if anything, it can make them bigger as they spend longer in the juvenile state where rapid bone growth occurs.