After all, you want a healthy Maine Coon kitten with the best chance of living a long, happy life. Waiting until then to get your cat sterilized will expose you to all the risks described above. Urine marking starts at puberty, as cats begin to sexually mature. All of her medical documents were available (no issues) and the paperwork was there with the breeder information blacked out. Group 3 (the control group of 9 kittens) were not neutered until maturity and after the completion of the first phase of the study at 12 months. Neutering at the right age keeps your Maine Coon from going in heat, which would happen several times a year. Maine Coons are said to be one of the largest domestic cats. The male you choose should also be more than 18 months old. If you want to know what the best toys for Maine Coons are, read this article. Many owners suggest it makes males more loving. They are not aggressive, but tend to dominate play due to their size. The operation is more straightforward when kittens are 8 to 12 weeks old and recovery is quicker. This happens when cats release small amounts of urine in their surroundings. To prevent your little one from going into heat, ideally she should be spayed prior to or right around 5 months of age. His name is Coda. The Best Litter Box For Maine Coons? Group 2 (11 kittens) were neutered or spayed at 7 months. Neutering will curb their desire to copulate and so they won’t get into the habit of roaming outside the house. See video of paw shakes in slow motion. Though Maine Coon neutering is commonly performed when kittens are aged four to six months, this is no longer the best age. The vet said it was a problem with his pancreas and could clear it up but further tests showed bleeding around the heart so he had to be put down. It is best to have a Maine Coon neutered or spayed before it reaches puberty, which is typically between 4 and 6 months of age. You cannot neuter a cat before it reaches at least four months of age, because it will be too small to undergo anesthesia. Neutering is a surgical procedure that removes the testes of male cats or the uterus and ovaries of female cats. Folks who are researching breeds and making a choice to get a Maine Coon should be aware in advance that this is part of the agreement they will enter into. Why do cats shake their paws? It is very rare to be able to buy a registered Maine Coon that is intact unless you are a breeder. Intact cats can be quite feisty and may fight. Your Maine Coon's Health. Intact males and females can pick on their neutered housemates. A kitten at 14 weeks of age should be easy to handle and trusting to it's owner. by David F. Kramer. As a slow growing breed, if your female become pregnant earlier, her growth might be stunted. My question is how much more weight and height will he be at 4 years old? Kittens should really be wormed at around 2 weeks of age, and again at around 5 weeks of age, and finally just before they leave the seller/breeder at 8 to 12 weeks of age. We consider 14 to 16 weeks the proper age for a Maine Coon kitten to be ready for it's new home. Kittens neutered before they reach 12 weeks are less likely to suffer surgical complications than those over 12 weeks. They do take up to 4 years to reach full maturity, after all, which is unlike other cats. They can also get into fights with other animals or mate with an unhealthy partner. Needless to say, ignore this advice if you are planning to breed your cat. Maine Coons are a slow-growing breed. Many of these conditions are now rare because of good breeding standards. Neutering before puberty reduces the likelihood of spraying, aggression and the tendency to roam in search of a mate. A healthy Maine Coon without inherited genetic conditions can survive on average between 10 and 13 years. The natural instinct of the female cat is to use all physical reserves to care for their young. Intact male Maine Coons spray to mark their territory far more than neutered cats. Unneutered males sometimes never settle, especially as indoor cats. As a slow growing breed, if your female become pregnant earlier, her growth might be stunted. For kittens, they should be allowed to eat until they are full. Neutered cats tend to suffer from less urinary tract disease. The reason why some breeders do not allow their kittens to leave until 12 weeks of age is not due to socialization. link to Why do cats shake their paws? Domesticated cats still do that and so will tend to yowl and wail during this time. If kittens are neutered before they are adopted, backyard breeding is prevented and so are the genetic diseases this practice can lead to. I an intact male gets out he may roam and get lost as he searches for a mate. His current weight is 14 lbs and if I measured him correctly he is just about 34" long. A kitten at 14 weeks of age should be easy to handle and trusting to it's owner. Doing so would minimize unwanted behaviors including urine spraying, aggression, and roaming. Two Cats Are Better Than One. There are three good reasons to neuter Maine Coon kittens between 8 and 12 weeks of age: less surgical complications, faster recovery, and prevention of backyard breeding. The reasons for this are varied. Though the question still remains: At what age should you spay or neuter a dog? They’re not considered fully grown until around 3-4 years old. These tests will determine whether or not they are healthy enough to tolerate the surgery. Waiting too long to get your Maine Coon neutered may leave you with a very difficult pet. All breeding cats are screened and have to be clear of genetically transmitted conditions in order for their kittens to be registered with official bodies. She was sold with an agreement to spay (she was spayed) from show quality parents but with a household pet clause. Neutering your Maine Coon before they are able to reproduce eliminates that problem for you. I've read somewhere you need to get your cat/kitten neutered or else they'll become very aggressive and territorial and need to be spayed and have all there shots. You’ll find practical advice and care tips along with the answers to popular questions about cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, hamsters, and other pets. This simply isn’t the case. Your cats are not Maine coons at all, they are long haired domestics. Our two boy kittens are also neutered. Longer is also fine but if your cat goes through a heat you need to be extremely careful that she doesn't get pregnant. Maine Coons need to be neutered between 4 and 6 months of age before they typically hit puberty. 16-24 Weeks of Age Around this age range your Maine Coon kitten will be approaching adolescence and should be spayed or neutered. For females, it’s typically to communicate where they are in their reproductive cycle. Socialising. Will this hurt normal physical development? Maine Coon Female. Spaying or neutering your pet is one of the cornerstones of pet ownership in the United States. Some people believe that neutered Maine Coons get fatter more quickly than intact cats. For most cats, both of the testicles will drop before they are born from their abdominal cavity, go through the inguinal canal and end in the scrotal sac. Group 1 (11 kittens) were neutered or spayed at 7 weeks of age. A cat’s first heat usually occurs during puberty, which is between six and ten months for a kitten.. Of course, if you’re comfortable with it and if you can afford it, keeping your cat at the vet for post-operative care is ideal. For males, spraying is a way to mark their territory. Unneutered cats tend to develop a strong urine smell. Why Should You Have Your Maine Coon Neutered? Obesity in Maine Coons can be avoided by giving the right food in proper amounts. Group 1 (11 kittens) were neutered or spayed at 7 weeks of age. All of our articles draw on the extensive pet knowledge base we've built up throughout our lives as pet lovers. Our first three Maine Coons arrived with us unneutered. I live with my girlfriend Barbara and two cats. This site is owned and operated by M & J Pettitt, who is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It is impossible to know how long an individual Maine Coon will live so all you can do is give it the best home, diet and health care possible. If you’re not in the business of breeding, neutering your Maine Coons is part of your responsibility as a pet owner. Outside, there are many dangers to your Maine Coon. We reserve the right to spay /neuter any kitten prior to adoption. If they are neutered they have less contact with other cats and reduce the chances of contracting and spreading illnesses. You may be able to keep your Maine Coon locked up at home. This was before it was understood that early neutering was best. In fact, both males and females can be neutered. If there are prescribed medications, how do you administer them? Phases of Maine Coon Kitten Development. Early neutering prevents any accidental pregnancies, especially those that occur if a cat strays from home. While this might be true, it is only because neutered cats aren’t as active as intact cats. Don’t believe those rumors that state a neutered Maine Coon male will have a smaller head! Young kittens bounce back to normal much faster after the neutering procedure and show less stress than kittens over 4 months of age, Buyers who aren’t breeders can’t become backyard breeders of Maine Coons if kittens are already neutered. Try your best to soothe them and keep them relaxed until they’re taken for their turn. It’s about minimizing unwanted behavior, encouraging an even temper, and keeping your cat healthy. Even doing the surgery later on may not help. The Maine Coon's coat needs daily attention. I am pretty sure that you have heard at least one of these myths. The patterns include Mackeral, Spotted, Blotched, or Marble. The youngest a kitty should be before she's spayed is 8 weeks old. She should be brushed to make certain that her fur does not tangle, and she should be combed to smooth her coat. Intact male cats can transmit diseases. In some cats, one or even both of the testicles fail to drop into the scrotal sac and could stay insid… Non-spayed female cats can start going into heat, or estrus, as early as four months of age. This One! They do not play as rough. Cat spraying is also referred to as urine marking. Maine Coon cats do not reach maturity until four to five years of age. You should receive a healthy, twice vaccinated, neutered kitten who’s parents are free of genetic conditions. Find out more about this breed and if the Maine Coon is right for you and your family. The natural instinct of the female cat is to use all physical reserves to care for their young. ASPCA statistics place the U.S. pet cat population at anywhere between 74 and 96 million – and there may be as many as 70 million strays fending for themselves. Generally 4-6 months is fine. This typically happens when they’re feeling territorial over space, food, or their mates. Maine Coon Personality – 15 Things You Must Know, Why They Are So Expensive – Here Is The Real Reason, How To Train A Maine Coon To Walk On A Leash In 3 Steps, The Risks of Neutering Your Maine Coon Too Late, Neutering is unnecessary for homebound Maine Coons, Neutering is useless for Maine Coons in single-cat homes, Neutering makes Maine Coons prone to obesity, Neutering affects a Maine Coons’ identity, How to Prepare for Neutering Your Maine Coon, How to Care for Your Newly Neutered Maine Coon, Neutering, Castrating, Spaying: The Correct Term. Some of our kitty owners put collars on their neutered housemates can recover she should be about the.. Them at all in doubt have any concerns and 9 months before getting them.. Offered an unneutered Maine Coon cat is under general anesthesia, incisions are made on the date of.. Do is wait will curb their desire to copulate and so will tend to develop strong! Change the shape of any part of its body, head and face included that... 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