I just wanted to tell you all of my experience in Australia with spaying.
 
A year and a half ago, I walked into a pet store quite close to my home
called "Bizarre Pets".  I was looking for some fish but was captivated by
a squirmy white bundle of fur being carried around by a boy (it was the
school holidays, and the store was full of kids).  It was Tabitha (or so
the boy had named her).  I fell in love...
 
But, I spent an hour in the pet store, reading all the stuff about ferrets,
thinking about whether I could give her a good home or not, and eventually
bought her.  She was $60 (Aus) which is about $40 (US).  Before the pet
store owner would let me buy her, she made sure I knew that she would need
surgery at about 6 months of age, and referred me to the
ferret-knowledgeable vet down the road.
 
After much reading of books and joining this list, I got Endora (sable)
as well.  But I knew BOTH would need to be spayed, and that was always
a consideration.
 
Every time I took them to the vet for their shots, I'd ask the vet if it
was time for their operation - she said "No.  Leave it until they're about
6-7 months old."
 
Acting on her advice, I spayed them before they came into their first
season, at 7 months old.  It cost me $400 including shots, but it was
worth it, and they came home the same day.
 
I just wanted to say that the advice I was given was not to spay them till
then, and that they'd be healthier in the future if I didn't.
 
Now, here's my opinion.  I think that it is better to spay later (but
before their first season).  I was carefully counselled by both the pet
store owner and my vet to wait.  I now have a 2lb (1kg) and 3lb (1.5kg)
ferret, Tabitha and Endora, who I love dearly.
 
I just thought I'd write.
 
Cheers,
 
Georgina, in Australia, with Tabitha (the flying ferret) and Endora
(I'd rather snuggle, if it's all the same to you!)
[Posted in FML issue 3109]