QUESTION
Hello! I have two six-month-old British short hair cats, and although they are wonderful, one of them has recently started marking his territory. The woman who sold them to us made us promise not to have them neutered until they are one year old, but a vet I consulted said that six months (the age they are now) is the best time to take care of this problem. I don't want to do anything that stunts their growth or harm them, but on the other hand, I don't want this peeing to become habit. Can you please advise on what we should do?
Mina
ANSWER
Dear Mina
Your cats are best left to nine months of age for full development but the vast majority of people will neuter from six months. I neuter customers' cats from six months but left my own to nine months and always advise clients to do the same. When one starts to spray it can become habitual and the best ways of controlling is the use a Feliway diffuser which can be purchased over the counter from most vets. The action of this is to release pheromones into the air that encourage facial marking in preference to urine marking and also decrease stress levels in the house for the cat. I would try using this on its own for 3-4 weeks and then neuter the cat as well if not controlling. Tell the breeder that you are having problems and get them to agree that you are castrating after trying the other options.
Injection of hormones to control the spraying like Tardak or Delvosterone is self-defeating and you are better to just castrate.
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