Consequences of Neutering a Male Maine Coon Early??

[Baz84]

Heya,

I have a Maine Coon MALE cat – currently he’s exactly 11 months old and 14 days. He weighs between 15.7-15.9 pounds – he’s not very muscular. My vet said Maine Coons aren’t a muscular breed – but online says otherwise. He is NOT overweight – barely has a pouch on his tummy. HOWEVER – he will eat everything until it’s done!!!! If I left kibble out he’d be overweight overnight. I feed him grain free canned food 98% of the time. I got him from Poland when he was 4 months old.

My question/concern is – he was neutered when his “eggs” (yes the word used! hahaha) were found??? So he was neutered at 3 months and 9 days – which I realize is probably very very young! I read online that cats should not be spayed/neutered before 6 months.
So it made me question – what are the consequences of fixing a male cat earlier? Looks like their Urethra would be smaller. So that puts them at a higher risk of kidney stones correct? What other health concerns? How about less serious stuff such as size (since that’s important but not vital to a Maine Coon).

Thanks!!

 

[Maurey]

Cats, in general, can be neutered as soon as they’re over 1kg. This is early in an MCs development, though. Most reputable breeders neuter their MC kittens at around 3 to 3 1/2 months before they’re sold, which is a perfectly good age. The idea that you should wait till after 6 months to neuter a cat is quite outdated. The current wisdom is to neuter BEFORE 5 months to prevent onset of sexual maturity.

He’s not muscular and eating a lot because he’s a baby who’s still growing — MCO take a very long time to mature. Level of muscle also depends on lines — some MC will be a lot more slender than others so he may just not grow to be as muscular as you’re expecting.

 

[Willowy]

Studies show no negative consequences to early spay/neuter in cats. I know some MC breeders claim you should wait longer because of their size, but this seems to be personal preference. Early-neutered cats are somewhat leggier than late-neuters but this doesn't seem to cause any trouble. It does, however, cause problems in large-breed dogs.
Early Spay Neuter – The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc

 

[Meowmee]

All my dvm will only neuter at 5- 6 month mark, for years, they said it is safer. For Quinn, a siamese, his breeder said at 4-5 lbs or 6 months. He was neutered at about 6 months and is fine. No issues with muscle, he is super muscular. Merlin who I suspect may have some mc in him was oudoors and not neutered until 2 years or so. He is fine too, he is a large, big boned ginger tabby tux. He does eat like crazy, non stop and had become overweight outside, I got him to lose some but he screams all day long to eat. He is the most food obsessed ever of my furries. I think it is partly psychological from living outside maybe although my other outdoor rescues were not like this.

 

[Maurey]

This came up in an MCO group I’m in today. General consensus is that neutering in general may raise risk of fractures and other such issues, but doesn’t matter *when* the neutering takes place according to recent research. The risk factors for feline physial dysplasia is considered genetic
English translations are after the Swedish.
https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/10525/7/lindén_s_170816.pdf

 

[Baz84]

@ Maurey
Thank you for the link - I will read this article!

Studies show no negative consequences to early spay/neuter in cats. I know some MC breeders claim you should wait longer because of their size, but this seems to be personal preference. Early-neutered cats are somewhat leggier than late-neuters but this doesn't seem to cause any trouble. It does, however, cause problems in large-breed dogs.
Early Spay Neuter – The Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc

Waiting longer would do what for their size? I assume allow them to grow bigger? My Maine Coon is at 15.9 pounds at 11.5 months - that's not super small... hmm makes me somewhat sad. However, I am happy that leggier (assuming he is leggier) has no adverse effects/increase risk of hip dysplasia.