Neutering a Maine Coon: before or after 3 months?

Kaamos
Kaamos Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago, I put a deposit down on a gorgeous little Maine Coon from a breeder, and I have a few questions about getting him neutered...

The breeder seemed really professional. As soon as I arrived, after showing me the cats and kittens, he asked if I was interested and then showed me all the parents' paperwork: pedigree, health screening results (the father is a PKDef carrier but the mother is clear, so after a bit of research to confirm what he said, the kitten is clear), his breeder registration, the training he and his wife have done, etc. Anyway, he seemed quite legit; even though it isn't a massive cattery, you can tell it's very much a family-run thing and they do it for the love of it, without necessarily trying to enter shows or breed "prestige" Maine Coons.

However, since paying the deposit and having a think about it, I’ve had a few concerns and wanted to know if this is normal practice depending on the breeder...

Basically, his kittens leave him at three months old. That’s all normal, but even though the contract will state that the kitten must be neutered as a pet, he doesn't do it himself before 3 months because he feels it's much too early for the kittens.

Is it common for a breeder not to neuter their kittens before 3 months and to leave it to the new owner to sort out? 😧

It’s awful, sometimes I wonder if I’ve made the right choice getting this cat from here, but I know what I’m like—it would have been the same anywhere else (I’m so indecisive and I always overthink things, even though I’ve totally fallen for the little lad!!). Is that normal? Did any of you feel the same when adopting your first cat?

One last question... the dad was really handsome. I mean, he wasn't an "extraordinary" example of a Maine Coon, but he was good-looking. The mum, on the other hand, was a bit "meh"... Do kittens always look a lot like their parents, or can they be completely different? At what age can you really tell what the kitten's coat is going to be like? Anyway, mine was just too cute! 🙂

Thanks for your replies!

Translated from French
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2 answers
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    • Kaamos
    Kaamos Icon representing the flag French
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    Right, I’ve just called my other cat's vet and he's advised me to wait until 5 months... It’s a relief to know the breeder wasn't just telling me that to get out of doing the neutering themselves, but because they’re actually putting the animal first. 🙂 Mind you, it's crazy how many breeders let kittens go at 3 months already neutered! 🤪
    Translated from French
    Blue_Cat
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    Hi there, 'Even though he hasn't got a massive cattery' – that’s actually a good thing! The best breeders usually have small, family-run setups, which is brilliant for properly socialising kittens with people. You should definitely steer clear of those huge breeding outfits that do loads of different breeds. Having them neutered at 4 months is perfectly doable; mine were done at that age. 3 months is cutting it a bit fine, to be fair. If the kitten is a boy, he’ll end up bigger than a girl. As for the colours, he could take after either the mum or the dad – it’s just the genetic lottery. The coat colour will already be visible, so the breeder should know exactly what to call it. If you've set your heart on this kitten, he's healthy and hasn't got any behavioural issues, and if the breeder answers EVERY QUESTION without any fuss, then everything is fine. No need to panic. Any chance of a photo, please?
    Translated from French

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