The timing question has a more complicated answer than most vets used to give
For decades, the standard advice in India and globally was simple: sterilise your dog or cat at six months, before the first heat cycle. That recommendation was built on population control logic, not individual health outcomes. The science has since caught up, and it tells a messier story.A large-scale study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science in 2020, drawing on data from 35 dog breeds, found that the optimal age for neutering varied significantly by breed and sex. For Golden Retrievers, neutering before 12 months was associated with higher rates of joint disorders and certain cancers. For smaller breeds, early neutering carried far fewer risks. The one-size-at-six-months rule does not hold across the board.For cats, the calculus is different. The Indian street cat population and the pressure on shelters means early sterilisation, even at four months, a practice called paediatric or early-age spaying, is widely supported by veterinary bodies including the American Association of Feline Practitioners. Cats reach sexual maturity between four and six months. A female cat can have three litters a year. The biological urgency is real.
