Is it too late to neuter?

[mx4878]

How dangerous is it to neuter a 4 year old male cat? Would his survival rates be low?

 

[Maurey]

No such thing as too late to neuter. Unless he has severe health conditions, it’s no higher risk than any other minor operation.

 

[vince]

I don't think my two males were quite as old as your cat, but I think both were at least three when they were neutered (they were shelter cats). No problems at all.

I have heard of cats being neutered even older.

 

[fionasmom]

Given that I work only with strays and ferals and have done a lot of TNR, I have neutered and spayed cats who were definitely adult. If the cat was in good health, and often it was only that they appeared to be healthy as no medical assessment is done most of the time with TNR, I went ahead and fixed them. I don't consider 4 to be old at all.

 

[Willowy]

4 years old is prime of life! There shouldn't be any increased risk unless he has an underlying condition.

 

[neely]

I agree with all the above members, 4 yrs. old is definitely not too old to neuter a male cat. Many cats who are strays and brought to a shelter at that age or older are safely neutered before being adopted to new homes.