On January 15, 2016, a small group of veterinary leaders came together with a shared concern — and a shared sense of responsibility.
The question on the table was simple, but consequential: When should kittens be spayed or neutered to best protect their health and prevent unintended litters?
That meeting resulted in a veterinary consensus statement recommending sterilization before five months of age. Guidance grounded in decades of clinical experience, population data, and public health realities. What followed became the foundation for what we now know as Feline Fix by Five.
Today, ten years later, that consensus statement is widely endorsed by leading veterinary organizations including the AVMA, ASV, AAHA, and others. It’s been widely embraced across animal welfare, from sheltering to community cat programs. And in many ways, the field has moved forward.
And yet — the work is not done.
Despite broad professional agreement, most cats seen in general practice are still not spayed or neutered before six months of age.
That gap matters.
When kittens leave a clinic intact — even with good intentions and follow-up plans — life happens. Appointments are missed. Schedules shift. Access becomes a barrier. And before long, kittens are having kittens.
We see the downstream effects every day:
- Increased shelter intake
- Strain on rescue and foster networks
- Preventable litters contributing to ongoing overpopulation
Early sterilization is not about urgency for urgency’s sake. It’s about aligning everyday practice with what we already know works — for individual cats, for clients, and for communities.
Feline Fix by Five: It’s the Norm, Not a Niche
Feline Fix by Five was never intended to be a campaign for shelters or rescues only. It is about shifting the norm — making pediatric sterilization the default, expected, and supported standard of care for kittens across the board.
Over the past decade, we’ve seen encouraging progress:
- Growing veterinary endorsement
- Increased awareness among shelters and rescues
- More practices successfully implementing early spay/neuter
But norm change takes time — and it takes participation from everyone in the ecosystem.
What You Can Do
For Individuals & Cat Guardians
- Ask your veterinarian about spaying or neutering before five months
- Share credible, veterinary-led information with friends and family
- Advocate for early appointments when adopting or fostering kittens
Small conversations add up — especially when they reinforce trusted, professional guidance.
For Animal Welfare & Community Organizations
- Educate adopters and foster caregivers about why timing matters
- Align adoption policies and messaging with Fix by Five recommendations
- Amplify consistent, science-based language across your materials
When organizations speak with one voice, it helps normalize expectations for both the public and veterinary partners.
For Veterinarians & Veterinary Teams
- Review the Feline Fix by Five consensus statement and endorsements
- Examine where pediatric sterilization may already fit within your current protocols
- Publicly affirm your support — and help clients understand the “why” behind timing
Many practices are already doing this successfully. Others are closer than they think.