• Cat neutering contraindications.House Cat image by phizics from Fotolia.com
  
  The term "contraindication" is defined by Merriam Webster's dictionary as a symptom or condition that makes a surgical procedure, such as neutering, inadvisable. Neutering your cat prevents him from siring kittens, thus preventing the birth of unwanted litters. However, there are a few reasons why neutering your cat may be inadvisable. Speak to a licensed veterinarian about your concerns to decide whether or not neutering your cat is a good idea.
  
  

Age

• Kittens under six weeks of age should not be neutered.Kittens image by Ewa Chojak from Fotolia.com
  
  Cats who are extremely young are at a higher risk of complications and death resulting from neuter surgery. Kittens under the age of 6 weeks are at the highest risk for complications. While their bodies are fully developed, organs are still small. While every effort is made toward accuracy during surgery, the size of a young cat's organs makes it difficult to properly perform the surgery. According to "Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians," neuter surgery should be delayed until your kitten is over 6 weeks of age.
  
  

Weight

• Kittens under 2 pounds should not be neutered.three kittens on stairs image by Cherry-Merry from Fotolia.com
  
  Weight also factors into this. Even after hitting the 6-week-old mark, kittens under 2 pounds in weight have not yet developed the proper body mass to be able to withstand the dangers of surgery, states the "Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats." Unless extreme circumstances dictate otherwise, it is better to wait to neuter these cats. Body mass allows the cat to metabolize the anesthesia used during surgery. Fasting before a neuter surgery is a routine procedure, but kittens under 2 pounds cannot fast due to the higher risk of their blood sugar dropping to dangerously low levels, according to "Major Veterinary Surgery: A Handbook for Veterinary Nurses." If there is food or water in the cat's stomach at the time of surgery, he may vomit and choke.
  
  

Obesity

• Obesity may be a contraindication for your cat.serious tomcat image by DLeonis from Fotolia.com
  
  When a cat is neutered, testosterone production is slowed. Testosterone is responsible for a male cat's desire to hunt, mate, and seek out territory as his own. While these urges do not entirely disappear, they are reduced. A cat's metabolism slows after neuter surgery. Unless his diet is adjusted and more opportunities for play are presented, obesity occurs, according to "Major Veterinary Surgery: A Handbook for Veterinary Nurses." Cats who are already dangerously obese may not be considered ideal candidates for neuter surgery.
  
  

Anesthesia Allergies

• Some cats are allergic to anesthesia.Black Cat image by Chris Kincaid from Fotolia.com
  
  Like humans, some cats develop allergies to anesthesia. Neuter surgery is considered major surgery and requires the use of a general anesthesia. General anesthesia renders the cat completely unconscious for the duration of the surgery. If a cat is allergic to anesthesia or has a severe adverse reaction, it is inadvisable to neuter him, states "The Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians." Adverse reactions to anesthesia range from mild nausea to severe respiratory issues, hypothermia, vomiting, seizure, coma and death.
  
  

Immune System Diseases

• Cats with immune system disorders may not be eligible for neuter surgery.cat 2 image by Dragan Saponjic from Fotolia.com
  
  Neuter surgery for cats with immune-system-compromising diseases may be contraindicated. Surgery involves opening the body, which carries a risk for infection. Surgical suites are aseptic environments, meaning that every effort is made to keep viruses, bacteria and fungi from being present in the room. Even so, it is possible for these pathogens to affect the wound after the cat is removed from the surgical suite.
  
  While a healthy cat is able to fight off these pathogens, a cat with an immune disorder may not be so lucky. Immune-compromising disorders such as parvovirus, feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and congenital autoimmune diseases are just some examples of conditions that may contraindicate neuter surgery, as stated in "The Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians."