How much does it cost to neuter a cat?

Cats can bring a feisty playfulness to a home, new kittens doubly so. Felines make great friends for the entire family, from toddlers just as playful as they are to seniors looking for a napping partner.

Dogs may have a reputation for being warm and friendly, but cats can provide just as much love. Cats take care of their humans in their own way. As their human, you’ll want to take care of them as well. When you bring a new furry friend into your home, one of the first things you should do is get them spayed or neutered.

Spaying and neutering cats refer to the process of removing their ability to reproduce. If your new cat is a male, you’ll have him neutered.

If you’re wondering, “Where is low-cost cat neuter near me?” you’re more than likely to find either a private clinic or non-profit close by. However, getting a cat neutered can be costly, depending on where you choose to go. This is one issue that pet insurance can help cover.

So, how much does it cost to neuter a cat? If you’re thinking of getting a new kitten, you should shop around for pet insurance prices. If you want to see what rates might look like for you, enter your ZIP code into our free tool today.

How much does it cost to neuter a cat?

Surgeries and other healthcare services work the same for humans and animals. The price of a procedure is determined by your insurance and where the procedure is done.

At private spay and neuter clinics, the price for neutering a cat is usually around $200, while spaying females is $400. The female procedure costs more because the surgery is more complicated, and the healing time is longer. For male cats, neutering completely removes each testicle. (For more information, read our “How much does it cost to spay a cat?“).

You can also check your local pet store. For example, how much does it cost to neuter a cat at Petsmart? Prices vary, but the Petsmart website says it’s usually $60.

Alternatively, you can go to a non-profit clinic. Non-profits perform spay and neuter surgeries much cheaper, especially for wild cats. Some states have free programs where the clinic will catch community cats, spay or neuter them, then return them to their home areas, all for free.

Some people can get a little concerned about the difference between non-profit and private clinics. However, non-profits employ veterinarians with the same licenses as private clinics. If you prefer a private clinic, you should consider purchasing a pet insurance policy for your cat.

Should you get your cat neutered?

There are multiple benefits to getting your cat spayed or neutered. For male cats, neutering can prevent behaviors you won’t want in your house, like urine spraying.

For females, neutering can stop unwanted behaviors when a cat enters heat. You’ll also help prevent serious feline health problems in female cats.

For males, there are a lot of benefits to neutering. Males will be far less aggressive with other house cats and even people. If you have multiple cats, neutering your males can be integral to the peace of your house.

After puberty, males go on the hunt for a mate. They can turn into little escape artists, putting them at risk of injury if they leave your house. Neutering reduces that urge, especially if you do it while they’re young.

Neutering your cat also eliminates his risk of testicular cancer and reduces his chances of prostate cancer.

The most obvious benefit of neutering is that your cat won’t sire more kittens. America has over a hundred million outdoor cats, and they can have a devastating impact on their environments. Neutering helps lessen that problem.

When should you get your cat neutered?

Ideally, you should have your cat neutered in the first few months of his life. However, even adult cats will benefit from the surgery.

If you’re bringing a new kitten into your home, you should plan to get him neutered around when he turns five months old. Most cats hit puberty around then, but getting them neutered before will prevent bad behavior.

If you’re adopting an older cat and don’t know his status, you can have a vet check him out. Vets can also address any concerns you have about what time is best for neuter surgery.

What happens during neuter surgery?

Getting your cat neutered is a relatively simple procedure, even though it sounds complicated.

Your cat won’t feel any pain because the vet will completely anesthetize him. Then, a surgeon makes an incision over each testicle and removes each. The process is so simple for the cat that he won’t even need stitches – the incisions will heal by themselves.

Neuter surgery is extremely fast – it only takes about two minutes. Because the surgery is less invasive than spaying, your cat probably won’t need to stay overnight. He’ll probably be ready to return home within a few hours, though every cat is different.

When you’re back at home, your cat will probably return to normal behavior quickly. However, make sure he has plenty of water and food. You should also prepare your lap for extra snuggles.

Does insurance help pay for neutering a cat?

You probably assume that pet insurance would include spaying and neutering, especially since there are so many benefits for males and females. Unfortunately, most pet insurance companies consider neutering an elective procedure, so standard plans don’t cover it.

Most insurance plans have a wellness add-on you can purchase. It usually includes coverage for neutering, amongst a host of other benefits. For excellent wellness add-on options, consider the following companies.

Embrace Neutering Insurance

Embrace takes a unique approach to its wellness add-on with its program, Wellness Rewards. Wellness Rewards offers reimbursement for a variety of healthcare services for your cat.

Those services include neuter surgery, prescription medicine, exam fees, grooming services, and dental cleanings.

You get to choose how much Wellness Rewards reimburses you – either $250, $450, or $650 per annual period.

Embrace doesn’t have a set price for its Wellness Rewards program. Instead, it works more like traditional health insurance. An agent will develop a plan with you based on your animal and how much reimbursement you want.

Spot Neutering Insurance

Spot offers two wellness add-on options for pet insurance: Gold and Platinum. The Gold option costs a flat fee of $9.95 a month, while Platinum costs $24.95.

If you want your cat’s neuter surgery to be covered, you’ll need the Platinum plan. Not only does Platinum cover neutering, but it also offers diagnostic testing and preventative care services.

ASPCA Neutering Insurance

ASPCA’s Basic Wellness plan costs $9.95 a month and gives you and your cat access to extra vet services. However, if you want your cat’s neuter surgery covered under insurance, the Prime Wellness plan is your best choice.

Like Spot, ASPCA’s Prime Wellness costs $24.95 a month. You have a $150 budget per year for neutering coverage or dental cleaning. If you choose a non-profit clinic or a local pet store, you can get your cat neutered and still have money left over for a tooth cleaning.

Pets Best Neutering Insurance

Like most other companies in this list, Pets Best has two wellness add-on options. Of the two options, the BestWellness plan covers neuter surgery. This plan is a little more expensive at $26 a month, but Pets Bests gives you $535 worth of healthcare services per year.

Hartville Neutering Insurance

Hartville has a basic and prime plan, similar to what the ASPCA offers. As with most other companies, the more expensive prime plan is the one that covers neuter surgery. For $24.95 a month, you also get access to prescription medicine, wellness exams, and other health services.

Find the Right Pet Insurance for You

Bringing a new cat home can feel like gaining a low-maintenance baby. Your cat will bring you happiness while you’ll do whatever you can to take care of him.

If he hasn’t had it, you should make plans to get him neutered. You can lower the price of neuter surgery and take care of your new pet by getting pet insurance.

If you’ve been wondering, “How much does it cost to neuter a cat?” you should shop around for insurance rates to see which company can help you the most. Enter your ZIP code into our free tool today when you’re ready to see what quotes might look like for you.