How Much Does It Cost to Neuter a Cat or Dog in the UK? (2026 Guide)

If you've started ringing round local vet practices about getting your cat or dog neutered, you've probably noticed the quotes don't match. One practice says £120, the next says £280, and neither one really explains why. That gap is normal — and once you understand what's actually driving it, comparing quotes gets a lot easier.

What neutering actually means

Neutering is the umbrella term for two different operations. In females it's a spay — removing the ovaries and usually the uterus, so she can't get pregnant or come into season. In males it's a castration — removing both testicles. Both are done under general anaesthetic, and both are among the most common procedures any UK vet performs in a typical week.

How much does it cost?

Based on prices UK practices have published under the CMA's transparency rules, typical costs look like this: Female cat (spay): £100–£350 Male cat (castration): £70–£200 Female dog (spay): £200–£600 Male dog (castration): £150–£450

Dog prices cover a much wider range than cat prices, and the reason is mostly size. A 4kg terrier and a 40kg Rottweiler both need spaying, but the anaesthetic dose, the surgical time and the aftercare are nowhere near the same for each — and the price reflects that. Cats vary far less in size, so cat neutering prices stay more consistent between practices.

You can see real, practice-by-practice prices for female cat neutering, male cat neutering, female dog spaying and male dog castration on VetPricelist, filtered by your own postcode.

Why the price varies so much

A handful of factors explain most of the gap between the cheapest and most expensive quotes you'll get.

Location. Practices in London and the South East routinely charge 20–40% more than practices in the North or in rural areas, simply because rent, staff wages and business rates are higher.

Independent vs corporate ownership. Groups such as CVS and IVC Evidensia often price to a standard fee list across all their sites, while independent practices set their own prices — sometimes lower, sometimes higher, depending on the practice.

What's actually included. Some practices bundle pre-operative blood tests, IV fluids and post-op pain relief into the headline price. Others quote a lower "surgery only" figure and add these on separately — so the cheaper-looking quote isn't always the cheaper option once everything's added up.

Complications that change the surgery. In male dogs and cats, a retained testicle (cryptorchidism) turns a routine procedure into abdominal surgery, which costs considerably more. Always ask whether your quote assumes a straightforward case.

Surgical technique, for dogs specifically. A traditional open spay and a laparoscopic ("keyhole") spay are priced differently — keyhole surgery typically costs 20–50% more but tends to mean a faster, less painful recovery.

When's the right time?

For cats, most vets neuter from around 4–6 months — before the first season in females, and before roaming and spraying become established habits in males. Many high-volume neutering schemes will operate on kittens from as young as 8 weeks.

For dogs it's less clear-cut. Small breeds can usually be neutered from 6 months. Medium and large breeds often do better waiting until after their first season (12–18 months for females) to let their joints and growth plates finish developing, and giant breeds may be advised to wait longer still. There's genuine, ongoing debate in veterinary medicine about the ideal timing for large-breed dogs — it's worth asking your own vet what they'd recommend for your dog's specific breed and size, rather than assuming one age fits every dog.

It's not just about preventing litters

Neutering has real health benefits beyond population control. Spaying before a certain age significantly cuts the risk of mammary tumours in both cats and dogs, and removes the risk of pyometra entirely — a womb infection that can be fatal and often needs emergency surgery if it develops in an unspayed female. In males, castration removes the risk of testicular cancer and reduces roaming, fighting and marking, which in tomcats is also linked to a lower risk of catching FIV from other cats.

How to actually compare quotes

Don't just take the lowest number and book it. Ask each practice what's included — blood tests, pain relief, a post-op check-up — so you're comparing like for like. Ask whether the price assumes a straightforward procedure or whether it could change on the day, for example if a testicle turns out to be retained. And if a quote looks unusually low, it's worth asking what anaesthetic monitoring is used — that's the one place you don't want a "budget" version.

VetPricelist collects prices that UK vet practices are legally required to publish under the CMA's Veterinary Market Investigation Order, so you can see genuine, current costs near you before you start ringing round. Search by your postcode to compare practices in your area.