At what age should a kitten be spayed or neutered?

A kitten should be spayed or neutered when it is 8 weeks old, according to the ASPCA. In shelters, cats are neutered before they are adopted. Pet cats should be spayed before they reach 6 months of age.

Spaying and neutering are surgical operations performed on cats and dogs to prevent breeding. A female cat can be spayed while in heat, but this is not recommended because it results in high blood loss. Prior to the surgery, the owner should take his or her cat to a vet for advice. One benefit of spaying is that it reduces the chances of a cat developing breast cancer.