
Neutering your small pet: FAQ
As many small pets are social species, some small pets can benefit from being neutered.
Before deciding whether to neuter your small pet, it's important to speak with your vet about whether it's the right decision. Here's all the answers to your questions when thinking about neutering your small pet.
What is neutering?
Neutering is a surgery that prevents your small pet from being able to breed. As many small pets are social animals and live in pairs or groups, neutering is important to prevent unwanted litters.
In males, neutering is called castration. In females, it is called spaying. With many small pets, we recommend castrating your male, rather than spaying your female.
- Castration – if your small pet is being castrated, your vet will remove both testicles, which takes away the main source of the male hormone, testosterone
- Spaying – if your small pet is being spayed, your vet will remove her ovaries and uterus, to prevent her from becoming pregnant. This is often a more invasive procedure. Your vet will be able to recommend whether spaying is suitable for your pet.
Tip
It's a good idea to find a vet that is knowledgeable about your species of small pet. Many small pets are classed as exotic pets, so do your research and speak with different vet practices to find a vet that is right for you.
Which small pets can be neutered?
Small pets that can benefit from being neutered include:
Note
Hamsters are naturally solitary and do not often need to be neutered. Roborovski hamsters are sometimes kept in pairs, but this should be same sex sibling pairs, making neutering unnecessary.
What are the benefits of neutering my small pet?
For some small pets, neutering can be an important part of their wellbeing. It can allow them to live happily in pairs or groups, without the risk of unwanted litters. It can also be beneficial to the health of some small pets.
Neutering your rabbit is an important part of their health and wellbeing. Rabbits are highly social and must live in pairs or groups, and the most successful pairing is often between a male and a female. Female rabbits can become pregnant within hours of giving birth, making neutering necessary to prevent unwanted litters.
Neutering also has many other benefits for your rabbit, including:
- helping to create a healthy bond between your rabbits – unneutered rabbits are more likely to fight, making neutering beneficial to their bond. Read more about rabbit companionship.
- reducing the risk of cancer in females – female rabbits are at a high risk of developing womb cancer or infections. Neutering removes this risk altogether.
- reducing aggressive behaviour – neutering both males and females can help make your rabbits less territorial towards you and their bonded friend
- helping to litter train your rabbits – neutered rabbits are easier to litter train
Castrating your male rabbit
Neutering male rabbits is a straightforward procedure and most males make a speedy recovery. If you are thinking about castrating your male rabbit, your vet will be able to advise when is best to do this.
It's important to remember that male rabbits can still reproduce up to six weeks after their castration, so you'll need to keep them away from unspayed female rabbits during this time.
Spaying your female rabbit
Spaying your female rabbit is a larger procedure with a longer recovery time, as it involves removing her ovaries and uterus.
Unlike male rabbits, females are unable to reproduce immediately after surgery, but your vet may still advise keeping them apart from their cage mate while they recover. Read our advice on caring for your rabbit after their surgery.
Most vets will be able to neuter your rabbit, but the RWAF also have a map to help you find a vet near you.
As guinea pigs are a social species and need at least one friend of their own, neutering can have many benefits for their wellbeing.
When neutering your guinea pig, we recommend castrating your male if you are planning to let them live with females, as this is a more straight forward procedure and most males make a speedy recovery. Neutering your male guinea pig is beneficial to:
- prevent unwanted litters – many guinea pigs get along well in male and female pairs, making neutering necessary to prevent unwanted litters. Male guinea pigs can become fertile from the age of three weeks old, so it's important that they are neutered before introducing them to a female friend.
- allow them to bond with a female companion in the future – it is not necessary to neuter your male guinea pig if they are living in a same sex pair, but doing so will allow you to introduce them to a female companion at a later date, if your male sadly loses their cage mate. Read more about introducing guinea pigs.
Spaying your female guinea pig is a much more complicated operation and is often only recommended if they are struggling from health conditions such as severe ovarian cysts.
If you are thinking about neutering your guinea pigs, speak to your vet about what options are best for you.
As mice need the company of their own kind, neutering can be beneficial for their wellbeing. Many mice get along well in mixed groups, so neutering is important to prevent unwanted litters.
We recommend neutering your male mice, so they can be introduced to females. Neutering female mice is rare.
It can also be beneficial to speak to your vet about neutering a group of males living together, as this can help to prevent fall outs.
Like many small pets, rats need company of their own kind. If you are planning to keep a group of male and female rats together, it’s important to get your male rat neutered to prevent unwanted litters.
It is not usually necessary to neuter male rats if they are living in a same sex group, but if they are finding living with males difficult, then neutering means they can be mixed with female rats without the risk of breeding.
Female rats can also be spayed, but this is much more unusual, as it is a more complicated procedure.
Your vet will be able to advise whether neutering is the best option for your rat.
Neutering is beneficial to your gerbil if you are planning to keep a male and female gerbils together. It's best to neuter your male gerbil to prevent any unwanted litters.
It is not usually necessary to neuter males for them to live successfully in same sex groups. But if they finding living with males difficult, then neutering means they can be mixed with female gerbils without the risk of breeding.
Speak to your vet if you are considering neutering your gerbils.
In order to keep your ferret happy and healthy, it’s important to care for their reproductive health. Neutering your ferret can have benefits, such as preventing unwanted litters between male and female pairs, helping to reduce aggressive behaviours and preventing some health conditions.
While both male and female ferrets can be neutered, surgical neutering in ferrets can sometimes lead to a condition called adrenal gland disease. Fortunately, there are alternatives to surgery. It’s important to speak with your vet to consider what options are most suitable for your ferret.
Spaying your female ferret
Female ferrets (jills) come into season in the spring. They will stay in season unless mated or they are brought out of season using drugs given by your vet, or they are spayed. It is vital that they are brought out of season, as those allowed to stay in season can develop anaemia and sadly die.
Due to this, spaying your female ferret can be beneficial, but it can lead to dangerous hormonal imbalances, so drugs such as hormone implants are often preferred.
It’s important to speak to your vet about the best option for your female ferret to keep her safe and healthy.
Neutering can allow your male and female chinchillas to live in pairs without the risk of unwanted litters. If you are planning to keep a male and female pair together, it’s important to neuter your male chinchilla.
Female chinchillas are not usually routinely spayed, unless there is a medical reason for doing so.
Your vet will be able to advise whether it is suitable to neuter your chinchilla.
Neutering is beneficial to your degus if you are planning to keep a male and female pair. This will prevent unwanted litters.
It is not usually necessary to neuter your male degu for them to live successfully in same sex groups. But if they find living with males difficult, then neutering can allow them to be mixed with a female degu without the risk of breeding.
Females can be neutered, but this is much less common.
Speak to you vet about the best options for neutering your degu.
How much will it cost to neuter my small pet?
The cost of neutering your small pet will vary depending on their species and your vet practice. To get an accurate price, it’s best to contact your vet practice for advice.
Are there risks to neutering my small pet?
Anaesthetic involves a risk for any animal or person, but the risk is often small and surgery will only be recommended when it's in your pet's best interests.
Talking to your vet about the ways they keep your small pet safe under anaesthetic can also help to put your mind at rest.
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Reviewed
• 13 February 2025
Next review
• 11 February 2028