Cat Spay Cost: $150–$400 (2026 Prices + Low-Cost Options)
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
- ▸ 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? ▼
When should I spay my cat? ▼
Is spaying a cat the same as an ovariohysterectomy? ▼
Related Procedures
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Last updated: January 2025
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