Thread: Neutering

Originally Posted by Antonia

Funny you should mention the head Jackie. When visiting our breeders last Saturday I couldn't help noticing all three of their intact boys have huge heads. I remember thinking how they reminded me of tadpoles.

Luv that description Antonio but have to say I haven't noticed that with my breeders boys,both the older retired one & the new stud boy are both b****y big all over....

Just a quick shot of replies while at work.

The breeder we got Schrödinger from stated 10month as well, but said if he starts to show signs of spraying then to get him in quick. We've noticed over the last couple of weeks that he's starting to play quite rough (much to the detriment of any near limbs), when im at the vets next I'll inquire about neutering.

Also, noted that with Schrödinger his body is getting very long and big, but his head is still small, looks like a goomba bless him

We've just had Monty done at 6 months - I would have happily left it longer but he'd started to take more than a friendly interest in his sister so thought it was best to nip that in the bud sooner rather than later

Originally Posted by NCarver

Would be curious to find out why 10 months? Seems rather arbitrary. Perhaps you might ask the breeder what the reasoning is behind it.

It took awhile (my breeder has been experiencing problems with her ISP — which consistently ranks at the bottom in customer service), but I got a reply. They talked to their vet after receiving reports that early neutering of males ...

.. there were a few problems with fractures in the hip growth plates. It does not happen very often but it can happen. We talked to our vet and she told us it would be best to put in our contracts for the males 8 to 9 months of age for neutering. The theory is that the males need the higher testosterone levels longer in their bodies as they mature. Maines are a slow maturing breed.

So I was mistaken regarding '10 months'. When I looked at the contract it does say 'around 8 to 9 months of age' and now I have the reason behind it. Comments? Thoughts?

I am definitely bookmarking this topic. I am wrestling with this neutering decision also.

Spartacus is into his 6th month and he has become more aggressive toward the parrot just in the last week or so. I didn't even think about it having to do with this subject, but now I am wondering.

I have read a lot on the internet that says if a Maine Coon is neutered early they won't get as big as they normally would have. Since you are all Maine Coon owners here I guess this is the best place to find out if that is true...I would love to see how big he will get, but don't want to risk the spraying and aggressive behavior. I've always had my other male cats neutered at around 6 months.

Will wait and see what develops in this topic before I decide.

It was reccomended we get our Moggy neutered at right around 6 months of age. We're getting him done Monday a few days shy of 6 months. We want to do it before he starts spraying all over

So...even though he uses a litter box fine now, I can expect him to start spraying? (*scared!*)
Don't mean to sound so ignorant...but I have never let a cat go over 6 months without neutering and have never had to deal with this before...was just putting it off because of all the stuff I've read about neutering stunting a Maine Coon's growth.

Maybe I should be calling my vet Monday morning for an appointment....

Originally Posted by afgreyparrot

So...even though he uses a litter box fine now, I can expect him to start spraying? (*scared!*)
Don't mean to sound so ignorant...but I have never let a cat go over 6 months without neutering and have never had to deal with this before...was just putting it off because of all the stuff I've read about neutering stunting a Maine Coon's growth.

Maybe I should be calling my vet Monday morning for an appointment....

I am not sure about MCs but I had a cat in my teens. Who was litter trained and we didn't get him fixed at first and he started spraying EVERYWHERE and it was awful. So we got him neutered but he still kept spraying. They said if you wait to neuter until after the male cat reaches sexual maturity more of a chance occurs that he will still spray.

I can only assume it comes down to a number of factors such as if your tom goes outside or is strictly a house cat, if he has female company, etc. which may prompt such action. Also remember that Maine Coons take longer to mature so take that into account.

Our Schrödee is now 9 months old and i'll probably jinx myself by saying this but hasn't sprayed yet. We would of got him "done" earlier but due to a clause in his contract which states he's not to be castrated earlier than 9 months (i thought it was 10 tbh) we've had to leave it later so by the time he's finished his current medication run i reckon he'll be in the 10 month stage before he goes for the chop. That does have me flapping somewhat but thinking about the longer maturity of MC's i dont think we'll have an issue *famous last words*.