Kitten Neutering Database

Who we are
We are a number of charities working together under the umbrella of CatKind to make four month neutering the ‘norm’ for pet cats through collaboration on research and coordination of activities.
We were formed in 2013 and won the Third Sector Award for collaboration in 2016.
The resources on this site provide support for vets who are already neutering at four months and those who want to make the change to neutering at four months routinely. This is also the home of the Kitten Neutering Database, where the public can find their local vets who neuter kittens at four months.
What we do
- Work to ensure all veterinary practices promote and practise neutering at four months (the age at which cats can get pregnant)
- Encourage all rescue organisations to adopt policies to neuter prior to rehoming
- Refocus neutering education campaigns to ensure they reposition neutering as the act of a caring, loving cat owner
- Ensure the one litter myth is dispelled
- Encourage collaboration between animal welfare and rescue organisations, the veterinary profession and housing associations through community outreach programmes to target those audiences less likely to neuter
- Recognise where pro-bono support is provided by veterinary professionals to further animal welfare
Neutering is the only effective way to reduce the number of accidental litters and unwanted cats being born in the UK.
There is a great need for subsidised neutering help. CatKind members alone neutered more than 200,000 cats in 2019.
The financial impact of COVID-19 on many cat owners is likely to increase this need and potentially increase the number of accidental litters born.


Research in focus: why we should neuter at four months
Cats can become pregnant as early as four months old1
Kittens born accidentally often end up in charity care or living a vulnerable life on the streets
By neutering cats from four months of age (rather than the traditional six months of age), the veterinary profession can have a significant impact on the number of unplanned litters and therefore reduce the number of potentially homeless cats. CatKind recommends that veterinary professionals discuss neutering with owners at the time of the primary vaccination course and proactively book kittens in to be neutered from four months of age.
of female cats had kittens
before being neutered3
of owned cats litters
are accidental2
of vets currently neuter cats
at four months of age*5
(*or would if practice policy permitted)
Many cat owners are
unaware of the reproductive
capacity of cats2
Veterinary professionals
identified lack of neutering as
one of the top issues to
be addressed relating to the
wellbeing of cats4
Many owners believe in the
myth that a cat should have a
litter of kittens before being
neutered2
References
- Joyce A, Yates D (2011) Help stop teenage pregnancy! Early-age neutering in cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.jfms.2010.11.005
- Welsh, CP, Gruffydd-Jones, TJ, Roberts, MA, Murray, JK (2014) Poor owner knowledge of feline reproduction contributes to the high proportion of accidental litters born to UK pet cats. The Veterinary Record, 174(5). https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.101909
- Cats and Their Stats (2020). Available at: https://www.cats.org.uk/assets/cats-report/Cats_Report_2020.pdf
- PDSA PAW Report (2018). Available at: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/get-involved/our-campaigns/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report/past-reports
- McDonald, J, Clements J (2020) Contrasting practices and opinions of UK-based veterinary surgeons around neutering cats at four months old. The Veterinary Record, 187(8). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7606499/

Position statements
BSAVA
‘’The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) is a
member of the Cat Group and supports the policy of pre-pubertal
neutering (ie at four months of age or older rather than at
the traditional six months of age or older).’’
BVA
“In line with the BSAVA, the British Veterinary Association (BVA)
recommends that pet cats are neutered from 16 weeks […] The
policy statement of the Cat Group is supported by the BVA.”
Evidence and articles
The timing of neutering at four months of age was published as the Cat Group Policy statement in 2006 and is supported by the BSAVA. The policy statement lists lots of scientific references.
Thank you to the Veterinary Times for allowing us to share their published article below.

Anaesthetic protocols
Some principles for kitten neutering which include tips for feeding, stress management and anaesthetic dosages based on bodyweight and body surface area and a link to an App which will calculate dosages for you.

Kitten neutering videos
The benefits of neutering pet kittens at four months of age
In this video, Martha and Eleanor from the Oxford Cat Clinic discuss the benefits of neutering at four months of age.

A Guide to Pre-pubertal Neutering for the Veterinary Profession
This short video will take you through the neutering of male and female kittens from pre-medication to recovery. This video has been produced as a training aid so contains close up detailed images of surgery which some viewers may find too graphic.


Kitten Neutering Databases
The Kitten Neutering Database is a public search resource enabling them to find a vet who will neuter their four month old kitten. At Cats
Protection we will often refer people to the database when we speak to them on our helpline. The requirement to join the register is that your
practice will neuter at four months or earlier and this can also help your business to acquire bonded clients.



Team training resources
Here you will find a number of materials to run training sessions
with your team and materials that promote four month
neutering.
We also hope to recruit kitten neutering champions. Could those
of you who are already neutering at four months or younger
consider becoming champions of the cause? This could just take
the form of agreeing to be a mentor over the phone or inviting
other vets to your practice to see some kitten neutering in
action. Please see the role description and sign-up information.
Your practice details will then be held on the Kitten Neutering
Champions database.
FAQs
How is KiND different from the Early Neutering Register?
The public will still be able to find your practice in the same way as the previous Early Neutering Register.
The KiND resource is an information source for vet practices and surgeons about kitten neutering. The database displayed on the KiND site will also show details of practices and veterinary surgeons that will be happy to provide you with advice about kitten neutering.
How do I join the database and how is my Data Used?
Simply fill in the form below or send by Post to Cats Protection.
Your Data will be used in the following ways:-
Your Practice Details will be stored on the database and displayed on the map below allowing member of the public to find you easily.
Statistical data from the database will be shared with CPCG members. This is not vet practice data but the following:
Number of vets neutering at four and five months of age – number only
Geographical stats in terms of spread of coverage of KiND practices across the UK – number only
Number of vet practices registered on KiND – number only
How do I register as a Kitten Neutering Champion?
Simply tick the box on the form. Your practice will then flag as a champion practice on the KiND site, so other practices can find you easily. Remember that although the KiND site is a veterinary resource, the public can still access it, so only display contact details which are already in the public domain.
If my practice is already on the Early Neutering Register, do I need to do anything to transfer to KiND?
No, this will happen automatically.
I have other questions, not listed above. Where can I go for more information?
If you have other questions, not answered by the KiND content, please email kind@cats.org.uk