The whole visit: the exam, anesthesia, the surgery and pain medication. A spay costs more than a neuter.
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A neuter is the shorter, simpler surgery. A spay is abdominal surgery with stitches and a recheck, and it costs more.
Have these prices with you when you call a vet or check the bill afterwards.
Where it is done changes the price more than anything else.
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Free · your details stay private · no obligationMostly no — spay and neuter surgery is elective, so standard accident & illness plans exclude it. Wellness add-ons often contribute a set allowance toward it. Pyometra in unspayed cats is typically covered as an illness — but only if your cat was enrolled before any signs appeared.
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The largest charges on this bill.
See the full billBased on 20 real invoices, cat spay/neuter typically costs between $275 and $800. At a full-service vet: spaying (females) $200–$400, neutering (males) $100–$250. At low-cost clinics: spaying $50–$100, neutering $30–$80. Cats are generally cheaper to spay/neuter than dogs because they're smaller.
Neutering a male cat is about 40–50% cheaper than spaying a female. At a full-service vet: neuter $100–$250, spay $200–$400. At a low-cost clinic: neuter $30–$80, spay $50–$100. The difference is because spaying is an abdominal surgery (more complex) while neutering is an external procedure (simpler, faster).
Low-cost spay/neuter clinics (ASPCA, Humane Society, SNAP programs): $30–$100 for cats. Municipal voucher programs: often $50–$100 off the cost. Shelters: many include spay/neuter in the $50–$150 adoption fee — making adoption the most cost-effective option. Low-cost clinics offer the same procedure quality at 50–75% less than full-service vets.
Pre-surgical exam ($30–$60). Anesthesia ($75–$200 — less than dogs because cats are smaller). Surgery ($50–$200 for the procedure). Pain medication ($20–$40). E-collar ($10–$20 — if needed). Pre-anesthetic blood work ($50–$100 — ask whether it is required). Recheck visit for spays ($0–$50 — often included). Neuters typically don't need sutures or a recheck.
Cats are cheaper across the board. Cat neuter: $100–$250 vs dog neuter: $200–$500. Cat spay: $200–$400 vs dog spay: $300–$700. The difference: cats are smaller (less anesthesia, shorter surgery, less medication). Low-cost clinics for cats are especially affordable — $30–$100 total.
Standard pet insurance does not cover spay/neuter — it's classified as elective. Wellness add-on plans ($10–$20/month) may reimburse $50–$150. The best savings: low-cost clinics at $30–$100 or shelter adoption that includes the procedure. For the cost of the procedure alone, low-cost programs are more cost-effective than insurance wellness add-ons.
Prices come from 20 real vet bills that owners shared with us for this. “Most bills” means the middle half: a quarter were lower and a quarter were higher. How we work this out