Should I Fix My Male Or Female

[Selena800]

Well my cats don't go outside. I have 2 females & 3 males; they are 5 months old. I'm so scared to fix them. I want the best option: Is it easier for males or for females?
And is there any danger for them when they are doing surgery??

 

[Talien]

Spaying and neutering should be a priority for any Cat whether they go outside or not, especially if there are both males and females present in the same house. If you don't get them fixed then your females WILL end up pregnant, and your males may spray in your house to mark territory and may be prone to more aggressive behavior. Cats are also far, far more likely to try to escape outside when they have not been fixed so you will constantly have to deal with Cats trying to run out the door when you go in or out, and if you leave windows open in the spring and summer they will undoubtedly destroy the screens to get outside.

There are risks with any surgery (mostly from anesthesia) but the risks are very low with spaying or neutering, almost nonexistent for males, and a female is much more likely to have complications while giving birth than while being spayed.

 

[Norachan]

You need to get all the cats, male and female fixed as soon as possible. At five months old they are sexually mature, they will start having kittens soon and you'll be completely overwhelmed.

The dangers of having unfixed cats are far greater than the dangers of having surgery. Cats are prone to all kinds of life-threatening conditions if left intact.

Why You Should Spay And Neuter Your Cats

Spaying And Neutering - What To Ask Before The Surgery

How To Save Your Cat From These 16 Life-threatening Pregnancy Risks

Post-birth Complications In Cats

Do you need help finding a low cost clinic?

 

[Maria Bayote]

As what was said here, spay/neuter all your cats as early as possible to avoid unwanted kittens, especially that you have 2 females and 3 males. Imagine if they both get pregnant at the same time.

Male cats recover almost quickly. My Barley and Pepsi started walking around immediately after they came home from the procedure, as if nothing happened.

 

[Jem]

As with any surgery, there are risks. But the benefits FAR outweigh the risks. The kittens are maturing and when it comes to the females, getting pregnant is not the only concern. And the fact that you have both male and female in your household, that risk is still there if they stay intact. Being an indoor cat does not mean squat as even if they are, when they are sexually mature you can guarantee that at least one of them will manage to get out or mate with their housemates.
Male cats who aren't neutered, can become aggressive and territorial towards you, the other males and the females, especially if "available" females are around. They will spray and mark which can cause significant property damage. And some of these behaviors can continue if you don't neuter them while still young.
Females, when they go into heat, is something that you simply don't want to deal with, and is VERY uncomfortable for the female if she does not mate, and the cycle continues UNTIL she mates. There are also life threatening infections that can arise with non-spayed females, the risk of cancer goes way up, and females also spray and mark territory and can become aggressive.
There are so many things to consider and details I'm not writing in this post, as it would just be too long.
If you have a mix of 5 intact males and females, your in for a whole mess of possibilities that it's simply not worth, putting off, or not getting them spayed/neutered.
I would start saving and make a plan to have them all fixed as soon as possible. At five months they are very close to being sexually mature, and might be already.
You could start with getting all the males done right now, as you probably still have a bit of time before the females go into their fist heat cycle, but they could go as early as January. And males tend to bounce back quite quickly, so with the holidays just around the corner they would be well healed up by then. This is of course if you're not going out of town, you still want to be around to check on them.

When it comes to the most common risks (infection, opened stitches...), if you follow your vets directions, make sure they don't lick the site (put a cone on), most spays and neuters heal up just fine. I said this already but the risks of getting them fix NOW goes way down while they are still young and healthy vs. having to do it when they are older because your dealing with the health and behavior complications of not having it done sooner.

 

[Selena800]

You need to get all the cats, male and female fixed as soon as possible. At five months old they are sexually mature, they will start having kittens soon and you'll be completely overwhelmed.

The dangers of having unfixed cats are far greater than the dangers of having surgery. Cats are prone to all kinds of life-threatening conditions if left intact.

Why You Should Spay And Neuter Your Cats

Spaying And Neutering - What To Ask Before The Surgery

How To Save Your Cat From These 16 Life-threatening Pregnancy Risks

Post-birth Complications In Cats

Do you need help finding a low cost clinic?

So should i get males fix or female

 

[Selena800]

As with any surgery, there are risks. But the benefits FAR outweigh the risks. The kittens are maturing and when it comes to the females, getting pregnant is not the only concern. And the fact that you have both male and female in your household, that risk is still there if they stay intact. Being an indoor cat does not mean squat as even if they are, when they are sexually mature you can guarantee that at least one of them will manage to get out or mate with their housemates.
Male cats who aren't neutered, can become aggressive and territorial towards you, the other males and the females, especially if "available" females are around. They will spray and mark which can cause significant property damage. And some of these behaviors can continue if you don't neuter them while still young.
Females, when they go into heat, is something that you simply don't want to deal with, and is VERY uncomfortable for the female if she does not mate, and the cycle continues UNTIL she mates. There are also life threatening infections that can arise with non-spayed females, the risk of cancer goes way up, and females also spray and mark territory and can become aggressive.
There are so many things to consider and details I'm not writing in this post, as it would just be too long.
If you have a mix of 5 intact males and females, your in for a whole mess of possibilities that it's simply not worth, putting off, or not getting them spayed/neutered.
I would start saving and make a plan to have them all fixed as soon as possible. At five months they are very close to being sexually mature, and might be already.
You could start with getting all the males done right now, as you probably still have a bit of time before the females go into their fist heat cycle, but they could go as early as January. And males tend to bounce back quite quickly, so with the holidays just around the corner they would be well healed up by then. This is of course if you're not going out of town, you still want to be around to check on them.

When it comes to the most common risks (infection, opened stitches...), if you follow your vets directions, make sure they don't lick the site (put a cone on), most spays and neuters heal up just fine. I said this already but the risks of getting them fix NOW goes way down while they are still young and healthy vs. having to do it when they are older because your dealing with the health and behavior complications of not having it done sooner.

Then they will remove stitches or no?
Can I just get my female fixed not male?
I really don’t care if they pee everywhere if they don’t get problems im ok with it ... i want to get my females fixed

 

[SiameseMummy]

You should get both females and males fixed.

Females to avoid pregnancy and reduce risk of various cancers and pyometra.

Males to reduce risk of testicular cancer and to keep them safe. If you have two intact makes living together they will fight viciously. My Mum just had her 7 month old boys spayed last week because they started fighting with each other and ones ended up with stitches in his neck where his brother bit him!

 

[Jem]

So should i get males fix or female

You should get them ALL fixed.

 

[Jem]

I really don’t care if they pee everywhere if they don’t get problems im ok with it ...

peeing everywhere in itself is a health hazard for you and your cats, urine is very difficult to get rid of completely. If they start peeing due to behavioral/territorial issues you'll not be able to keep up with it. let alone the risk of aggression between the cats. Also, intact cats are more prone to stress which can cause a multitude of health problems (BOTH male AND female).

 

[Willowy]

You should get all of them fixed.

Now, if doing all 5 isn't an option right now and you're wondering who to do first, the females should go first. The female reproductive tract is prone to problems and they can escape and get pregnant even if your boys are neutered. They'll probably go into heat in January so get it done soon!

You can probably wait another 3 or 4 months before you start seeing problems in the males (althoughnwith 3 of them the issues might be compounded so try to get them done as soon as possible). So that gives you a bit of time to save up. But you definitely want to get them done before they're 10 months old. Unneutered tomcats will fight viciously, sometimes to the death. And you might think you'd be OK with them peeing everywhere, but if you had to live with the very strong odor of 3 tomcats, I think you might reconsider that!

So tl;dr: have them all spayed/neutered, but females first.

 

[Talien]

Then they will remove stitches or no?
Can I just get my female fixed not male?
I really don’t care if they pee everywhere if they don’t get problems im ok with it ... i want to get my females fixed

You should really get them all fixed. From what you said about not caring if they pee in the house I'm going to guess this is your first time with male Cats, or possibly first time with Cats at all? Cats marking in your house will make the entire place reek of urine and create all kinds of issues with bacteria unless you can perform a miracle and clean it up with an enzymatic cleaner right away each time it happens. It will be in the air and can make not only your Cats ill but you as well, it can be a very real health hazard especially if you have 3 Cats all doing it.

Is the issue that you can't afford to have them all fixed, or that you just don't want to?

 

[miagi's_mommy]

I would get them all fixed so you don’t end up with behavioral or medical problems in the future.

 

[Norachan]

Yes, definitely get them all fixed. I know this can be very expensive, I had to spay and neuter around 10 young cats one summer, but it really will make life so much easier if you get them all fixed.

Get the two girls done as soon as you can, this week if possible. They could already be pregnant at 5 months old.

You could wait until next month to get the boys done, but in my experience male kittens can start spraying your house and fighting with each other as young as 7 months old. The longer you wait the more chance you have of ending up with a very smelly house and fight injuries on the boys.

One of my male kittens bit his brother so hard he needed stitches and antibiotics. The extra vet care and cleaning bills for unfixed cats add up to more than the cost of neutering.

Which state/city are you in? We could help you find a cheap clinic.

 

[Norachan]

I really don’t care if they pee everywhere if they don’t get problems im ok with it ...

Have you ever smelled tom cat pee? OMG it can remove paint, it really is that strong.

 

[jen]

Eeek why are you ok with them peeing everywhere?? On your bed?? Your couches?? Because they will lol.

 

[jen]

Assuming they are siblings, do you realize you could potentially have 2 pregnant 5 month olds who could potentially have 4-6ish (inbred?) kittens each... That is a LOT of cats. Hasn't your vet recommended getting them fixed when they go in for all their kitten shots?

 

[LTS3]

I assume you own your home? Cat pee hard to get rid of. Just something to be aware of it you ever try to sell your home.

Most landlords would evict a tenant if the pet causes damages to the property and / or the cat pee smell becomes a nuisance to other residents.

 

[Selena800]

Im so scared and confused what to do

 

[war&wisdom]

Do not listen to this woman. She is well-known in the veterinary community as a fraud who promotes homeopathatic remedies instead of actual medical care, and she makes a lot of money by doing so. I'm serious, do not take advice from someone like this.