Early Spay/Neuter vs. Waiting: The Growth Plate Debate#

In the dog world, specifically with Great Danes and Mastiffs, breeders advise waiting until 18-24 months to neuter. They do this to protect the joints and ensure full growth.

Many Maine Coon owners assume the same rule applies. They wait. And wait. And then their 10-month-old male starts spraying urine on the sofa.

Here is the counter-intuitive science from Robinson’s Genetics: Neutering early does not stunt growth. It actually makes the cat TALLER.

The Mechanism: Epiphyseal Closure#

Bones grow from the ends, at the “Growth Plates” (epiphyses). What tells the bones to stop growing? Sex Hormones (Testosterone and Estrogen).

Intact Cat: Puberty hits at 8-12 months. Hormones flood the system. The growth plates close. The cat stops growing up and starts filling out (muscle).
Altered Cat: The sex hormones are removed. The “Stop” signal is delayed. The long bones (legs) continue to grow for a few extra months.

The Result: Early neutered Maine Coons are typically taller and longer than their intact siblings, though they may lack the massive “stud jowls” or muscle bulk of a breeding male.

The “Early Spay” (Pediatric) Controversy#

Many breeders (especially in the US and Australia) now practice Early Spay/Neuter (ESN) at 10-12 weeks, before the kitten goes home.

Pros: The kitten recovers from anesthesia in minutes (literally). There is zero chance of accidental pregnancy.
Cons: Vet perception. Some older vets worry about anesthesia risk, but modern protocols make it very safe.

Does it cause blockages? A common myth is that early neutering causes a narrow urethra in males, leading to urinary blockages. The Science: Long-term studies (Winograd et al.) compared cats neutered at 7 weeks vs. 7 months. There was no difference in urethral diameter or blockage rates.

The “Stud Tail” and “Jowls”#

If you wait to neuter a male:

Pros: He might develop a wider head (jowls).
Cons: He will develop “Stud Tail” (greasy gland on the tail base), his urine will smell like skunk spray, and he may start aggressive territorial behaviors that don’t go away after neutering.

Conclusion#

For a pet owner, the benefits of altering at 4-6 months (before puberty) vastly outweigh the “dog logic” of waiting. You get a taller cat, a cleaner house, and you avoid the cancers associated with reproductive organs.

References#

Vella, C. et al. (1999). Robinson’s Genetics for Cat Breeders and Veterinarians. “Developmental Anomalies: Epiphyseal Growth,” p. 196.
Root Kustritz, M.V. Early Spay-Neuter: Clinical Considerations.
Stubbs, W.P. et al. (1996). “Effects of prepubertal gonadectomy on physical and behavioral development in cats.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Winn Feline Foundation. Early Age Neutering Studies.