Cat Spay Cost 2026: Prices and Low-Cost Options by State

Spaying a female cat costs $150–$400 at a private vet. Cats are smaller than dogs, requiring less anesthesia and shorter surgery time, which keeps costs lower. Low-cost clinics — Humane Society, ASPCA-affiliated, and vet schools — charge $40–$120 for the same ovariohysterectomy under licensed supervision.

Cost at a Glance

Cat

$150–$400

Private vet, national avg

Low-cost clinic

$40–$120

SPCA / Humane Society

CA / NY

$200–$540

25–35% above avg

What Affects the Cost

Vet procedure costs vary by pet size, location, and clinic type — specialty practices charge 40–80% more than general practitioners for the same procedure. Urban California and New York run 30–50% above national averages. Teaching hospitals and humane societies perform the same procedures at 30–50% below private vet prices. Select your state above for a location-adjusted estimate.

▸ Cat spays cost less than dog spays because cats require less anesthesia and have shorter surgery times.
▸ If the cat is in heat at surgery time, expect a 20–35% surcharge — heat increases blood supply to reproductive organs.
▸ Spaying before the first heat cycle (around 5–6 months) eliminates mammary cancer risk. Mammary tumors are malignant in 90% of cats.
▸ Low-cost clinics perform the same procedure under licensed supervision for $40–$120. TNR (trap-neuter-return) programs may do it free for feral cats.
▸ Outdoor cats should be spayed by 4–5 months to prevent unplanned litters — cats can come into heat as early as 4 months.

Cost by State

National average adjusted by state cost-of-living index. Urban areas run ~30% higher than suburban; rural ~25% lower.

State	Cat	vs. Avg
Alabama	$123–$328	-18%
Alaska	$188–$500	+25%
Arizona	$143–$380	-5%
Arkansas	$120–$320	-20%
California	$203–$540	+35%
Colorado	$165–$440	+10%
Connecticut	$188–$500	+25%
Delaware	$158–$420	+5%
Florida	$150–$400	0%
Georgia	$135–$360	-10%
Hawaii	$210–$560	+40%
Idaho	$135–$360	-10%
Illinois	$158–$420	+5%
Indiana	$132–$352	-12%
Iowa	$128–$340	-15%
Kansas	$128–$340	-15%
Kentucky	$128–$340	-15%
Louisiana	$128–$340	-15%
Maine	$150–$400	0%
Maryland	$173–$460	+15%
Massachusetts	$195–$520	+30%
Michigan	$135–$360	-10%
Minnesota	$150–$400	0%
Mississippi	$117–$312	-22%
Missouri	$128–$340	-15%
Montana	$138–$368	-8%
Nebraska	$132–$352	-12%
Nevada	$158–$420	+5%
New Hampshire	$165–$440	+10%
New Jersey	$188–$500	+25%
New Mexico	$132–$352	-12%
New York	$195–$520	+30%
North Carolina	$138–$368	-8%
North Dakota	$132–$352	-12%
Ohio	$135–$360	-10%
Oklahoma	$123–$328	-18%
Oregon	$165–$440	+10%
Pennsylvania	$150–$400	0%
Rhode Island	$165–$440	+10%
South Carolina	$132–$352	-12%
South Dakota	$128–$340	-15%
Tennessee	$132–$352	-12%
Texas	$138–$368	-8%
Utah	$143–$380	-5%
Vermont	$158–$420	+5%
Virginia	$158–$420	+5%
Washington	$173–$460	+15%
West Virginia	$120–$320	-20%
Wisconsin	$138–$368	-8%
Wyoming	$135–$360	-10%

Data: AVMA fee surveys, BLS cost-of-living data. Ranges reflect typical private practice prices — low-cost clinics and university teaching hospitals charge significantly less.

Common Questions

How much does it cost to spay a cat? ▼

Spaying a female cat costs $150–$400 at a private vet. Low-cost clinics charge $40–$120 for the same procedure. If the cat is in heat at surgery time, expect a 20–35% surcharge. California and New York vets charge $250–$550. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork ($80–$150) may be recommended for cats over 5.

When should I spay my cat? ▼

The recommended age for spaying cats is 4–6 months, before the first heat cycle. Cats can come into heat as early as 4 months and can have 3+ litters per year. Early spaying before the first heat eliminates mammary cancer risk entirely. There's no evidence that waiting until adulthood benefits cats the way it may benefit large-breed dogs.

Is spaying a cat the same as an ovariohysterectomy? ▼

A traditional cat spay removes both the ovaries and the uterus (ovariohysterectomy, OVH). Some vets now perform ovariectomy only — removing just the ovaries — which is the standard in Europe. Both prevent reproduction and heat cycles. OVH has the advantage of eliminating pyometra risk (life-threatening uterine infection). Ask your vet which technique they use.

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