How old do cats need to be before you can get them neutered / spayed?

It all depends on your particular vet. Some say that kittens must be at least 6 months old before they can be sterilized, although other vets will sterilize as young as 2 months (8 weeks). Veterinary studies done on "juvenile" spaying and neutering (younger than the previously accepted practice of always waiting until 6 months) indicate that there are no medical reasons that a spay or neuter cannot be done at a younger age, but that a specific gas anesthesia must be used. A young growing kitten would tend to heal faster and comes out of anesthesia quicker than an older cat. If you own a male and female kitten, please remember that some cats will become sexually mature before 6 months of age. Keep an eye on the interactions of your own cats to prevent kittens from having kittens!