How Much Does It Cost to Get a Cat Fixed? (Price Guide)
Typical cost
$100 – $500
Getting a cat spayed or neutered typically costs $100 – $500 on average, according to Banfield, and the price depends mostly on where you go.
Getting a cat fixed means a spay for a female or a neuter for a male, both done under anesthesia by a licensed veterinarian. The same surgery can cost very little at a nonprofit clinic and several hundred dollars at a private hospital. What separates the quotes is the type of facility, what the price includes, and the cat.
Prices below carry a check date of Oct 13, 2026. They are national figures from published guides, so your local quote may be lower or higher.
How Much Does It Cost to Spay or Neuter a Cat?
A spay costs more than a neuter at the same place. Female surgery is abdominal, and male surgery is shorter and less invasive. Cats.com reports these ranges for each type of facility:
Cost by facility type
| Item | Typical range | Relative price range |
|---|---|---|
| Female spay, private vet | $300 – $500 | |
| Male neuter, private vet | $200 – $400 | |
| Female spay, low-cost clinic | $50 – $150 | |
| Male neuter, low-cost clinic | $35 – $150 | |
| Spay at a shelter or rescue | $25 – $150 |
Sources: Cats.com: Cost to spay or neuter a cat; PetMD: Cost to spay a cat
The private-vet rows usually bundle a pre-surgery exam, bloodwork, an IV catheter and fluids, pain medication, and monitoring. Low-cost clinics do the same procedure with a leaner package, and Cats.com notes they may leave out some of those extras.
Neuter Cost by Provider Type
Spot breaks out neuter prices by the kind of provider. The spread is wide, from a voucher program at the low end to a private animal hospital at the high end.
Neuter cost by provider type
| Item | Typical range | Price | Relative price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voucher program | — | $10 | |
| Nonprofit veterinary clinic | — | $65 | |
| SPCA or Humane Society | — | $150 | |
| Private animal hospital | $419 – $498 | — |
Source: Spot: Cost to neuter a cat
A voucher program is a local or state subsidy that pays part or all of the fee at participating clinics. Eligibility rules vary, so check with your county or state animal-welfare agency, or search a national low-cost clinic database.
Why Estimates Vary
Each source defines the job differently. Some cover spay and neuter together, some only neuter, and some include private-vet add-ons.
Estimates by source
| Item | Typical range | Relative price range |
|---|---|---|
| Banfield | $100 – $500 | |
| Spot | $10 – $500 | |
| Lemonade | $250 – $2,000 | |
| PetMD | $100 – $500 |
Sources: Banfield: Spay and neuter information; Spot: Cost to neuter a cat; Lemonade: Cost to spay or neuter a cat; PetMD: Cost to neuter a cat
Lemonade's range is the widest. It quotes a veterinarian describing a "gold standard" package with a catheter, fluids, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, nurse monitoring, and pain medication, which sits above the average price. Banfield and PetMD give a narrower range that reflects typical clinic pricing.
What Affects the Price
- Type of facility. A nonprofit, shelter, or mobile clinic usually charges less than a full-service hospital.
- Spay or neuter. A female spay is a larger surgery and costs more.
- Pre-surgery testing. Bloodwork and an exam may be included, optional, or billed separately.
- IV catheter and fluids. Many private clinics include them. Low-cost clinics may not.
- Pain medication and e-collar. Some quotes include them. Others add a fee.
- Pregnancy or heat. If a cat is pregnant or in heat, the surgery can cost more at many clinics.
- Location. Prices follow local wages and rent. Expect higher quotes in large coastal metros.
- Health. Older cats, overweight cats, or cats with other conditions may need extra monitoring, and the price may reflect it.
Kitten vs Adult Cat
The guides here do not publish a separate kitten rate. An adult cat that is larger, older, pregnant, or in heat may cost more than a healthy young one at some clinics. The surgery can happen at a young age, and your vet can tell you what timing is right for your cat. Because the choice involves your cat's health, ask a licensed veterinarian instead of relying on a price guide.
If you adopt from a shelter or rescue, the surgery may already be done and included in the adoption fee. Cats.com notes that shelters usually spay or neuter before a cat goes home, so check before you book a separate appointment.
How to Pay Less
- Look for a nonprofit or mobile clinic. The ASPCA, Humane Society, SpayUSA, and local shelters list low-cost options.
- Ask about vouchers. Some counties and states subsidize the fee for qualifying owners.
- Call more than one clinic. Ask each for an itemized estimate.
- Check what is included. A cheaper quote that leaves out pain medication or a recheck can end up costing the same.
- Ask about community-cat programs. Cats.com notes that some programs fix feral and community cats for little or nothing.
Does Pet Insurance Cover Spay or Neuter?
Most policies do not cover it. Cats.com says most pet insurance does not cover preventive care such as spay or neuter surgery, though some insurers offer wellness add-ons that do. If you are comparing plans, read what the wellness add-on includes and what the waiting periods are.
Questions to Ask the Clinic
- What is the total price, and what does it include?
- Is bloodwork required or optional, and what does it cost?
- Does the price include pain medication and an e-collar?
- Is there an extra fee if my cat is in heat or pregnant?
- Do you include a recheck visit?
- Do you offer vaccines or a microchip at the same visit, and at what price?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get a cat fixed?
Banfield reports $100 – $500 on average. Spot reports $10 – $500, Lemonade reports $250 – $2,000, and PetMD reports $100 – $500 for a neuter.
How much does a female cat spay cost?
At a private vet, a spay runs $300 – $500. At a low-cost clinic, it runs $50 – $150. PetMD reports $25 – $150 at a shelter, rescue, or low-cost clinic.
How much does a male cat neuter cost?
At a private vet, a neuter runs $200 – $400. At a low-cost clinic, it runs $35 – $150.
How much does it cost to get a kitten fixed?
The guides used here do not list a separate kitten price. Clinics price by facility and procedure, so ask for a quote based on your kitten's size and age.
Is it cheaper to neuter a male cat than to spay a female?
Yes. A neuter is a shorter, less invasive surgery than a spay, so it costs less at the same clinic.