What is the average cost to have a kitten spayed / neutered?

I am so frustrated with the vets and have told them they are probably the reason the Humane Society is so crowded.  And then they will only offer reduced rates Humane Society pets.

I adopted my first cat from the Humane Society and it was a Feral cat!  Why would they put it up for adoption - I still have scars on my stomach and it ended up running away after $300 in vet bills.  So I went to a friends farm who had kittens - from a family cat and I am on disability and as much as I love and need my kittens it is frustrating how St. Francis Animal Hospital - using a Saint to rob people - charge so much for a procedure that takes approximately 5 minutes [to neuter a male kitten].

They won't even discuss the cost with you but have you sign a form that states that you acknowledge you are to be held accountable for all charges and fees!  Well geez!  Holy St. Francis!  Does that include their lunches?

I realize they have to pay for overhead and staff - but lets look at the bigger picture.  IF they really care about the animal population and wellcare, spaying and neutering would be easier to come by - which you cant get until they have their shots and ......

Then you can focus on the Brutal Breeders that are the real Criminals and the Wacko's that mistreat animals and get their funding from bringing them down.

Allow us to have a house pet without penalizing us for the cost of your choice of devotion.

I can certainly understand your frustration.  I think we've all been there.  Cost varies, but remember you're also paying for experience and supplies, in addition to the anesthesia and any other medication given.  If you can, look for a low cost spay & neuter clinic in your area. 

Here's some information on locating low-cost spay and neuter places. 

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/16045/h...ng-and-low-cost-or-free-spay-neuter-resources

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/4792/low-cost-spay-and-neuter-programs

Also contact your local Humane Society and see if they have a referral program.

If you don't like their price, shop around. Try different vets. At my normal vet it would cost around $120, at the local low-cost clinic you'd be looking at $40-50.

Remember that you get what you pay for. 

Shopping around is pretty much all you can do. I got quoted $195, $212, and $285 for a spay procedure.

Do you mind if I ask where you are located? The Tree House spay/neuter clinic in Chicago charges $95 (as of August, 2015) for neutering male kittens. Price includes vaccines if needed. 

My vet (who is way more convenient location-wise - I can walk there) charged $400 to neuter a cat. I am a not-so-rich person living in a very affluent area, so they charge as such. My vet there seems to be willing to work with me with a lot of things, but as far as neutering, there was no way I could get two boys done at even half that price. $95 each was WAY more doable.

I live in rural Southeast Indiana and my Vet facility is rather large, having three offices. Two are located in Ohio and one is in Kentucky, so I do travel out of state (25 miles) because they are quality veterinarians, have reasonable prices, and they take walk-ins, as well as have emergency services 24/7. They also readily give free phone consults for basic questions not requiring medical attention. They have been in business since 1914 and it is family owned and operated (Father, son and grandson). I've been taking my pets there for years and, at one time, they also treated much of my livestock (they no longer treat large animals).

I just pulled up my Boys medical records and saw that I paid $79.00 to have each of them neutered (total: $158.00 for two males). I could have gotten it done a LOT less expensive elsewhere - Indiana has a program through the Humane Society for a $30 voucher toward any spay or neuter at the vet of your choice. But, I know what I am getting at my vet and that is 100% compassion, experience and care!

There is also another organization in Cincinnati, Ohio called UCAN (United Coalition for Animals Nonprofit spay and nueter clinic) that is offering spay and neutering for $20.00! Feral cats brought in in a trap receive FREE surgery! Their organization is strictly for people who are on a fixed income (social security, disability, etc.).

OAR (Ohio Alleycat Resource) does free spay and neuter on all trapped ferals. Cost for pets is $40.00. They do strictly spay and neuters and vaccines.

I am sure there is a humane society or other clinic in your area that provides discounted services. You just have to apply your time and effort to locate them. 

For you to say that Vets are the reason the Humane Society is so crowded is ludicrous! The reason they are so over-crowded is because of irresponsible pet owners who get a pet they can't afford or who are unwilling to pay the price of owning a pet! Owning a cat (or ANY pet) comes with responsibility and a large part of that responsibility is financial.

Do you know that one pair of cats can turn into 60,000 cats in just ONE YEAR if each female produces one litter of 8 kittens? THAT is why the shelters are over-crowded! Because people refuse to take the financial responsibility of having their cats spayed and neutered. And who do you think pays? Over and above the donations made by the public, there are millions of kittens who pay with their lives... because people are selfish and cheap!

Yes, kittens are cute - who wouldn't want to have one, right? A vast majority of people who buy, or otherwise obtain, a kitten do so  spontaneously without giving any forethought to the 'big picture' of What is this cute little kitten going to cost me in the long-run? 

What does all this mean? Well first of all, it shows that there is NO such thing as a free kitten! They need food, water, feeding dishes, litter and a litter box, vaccinations, deworming, flea control, wellness check-ups, spaying or neutering, medications, toys, treats, scratching posts, trees and/or window perches, grooming supplies, nail care, and carriers, possible boarding or baby-sitting. And, an emergency fund for unforeseen illness and accidents!  I've had my two cats for a year and a half. Vet bills alone have cost me close to $500.00 - all of which were routine/required visits, with the exception of the $90.00 visit when Keeker got an infected bite. That doesn't include an average of $600.00 a year for food and litter for two of them. And that doesn't include what I've spent on other necessities mentioned above! At this rate, over a twenty year span, my two cats will cost me a minimum of $20,000.00!  THAT will be the cost of my two FREE kittens! 

Secondly, it shows that we need to be very committed to our pet cats, both financially and with our time. If owners are not willing to meet their animal's financial needs then they are rarely able to meet their pet's social and basic care needs as well. Before we consider taking that 'free kitten,' we have to be prepared for the time and financial commitment that the animal requires. Above and beyond what I spend on necessities, I have set up a separate savings account (in my and my daughter's names) strictly for the cats. I add $5.00 a week to it... over a 20 year period (I am not going to go into details of interest etc.) that adds up to over $5,000.00. If (God forbid!) anything should happen to me, or if they should have some type of medical issue, there is money set aside for that and I know they will be taken care of and not put in a shelter. 

They need your time and love. If you are educated about the cat's needs and committed to the pet, then you can be part of the solution and not part of the problem. If you can't afford a pet - don't get one! 

It sounds to me like you want someone else to pay for your financial responsibilities. That's not how it works! Veterinarians provide a service for your cats. That service costs money. Do you have ANY idea what it actually costs to spay or neuter a cat? There is the fee for the doctor (Total expenses for a four-year DVM program average $147,656), fee for the assisting vet tech (A veterinary technology bachelor's or four-year degree typically costs $67,000-$86,000), the anesthesiologist fee (a four-year stay in a public medical school can cost about $127,132). Then there is the cost of overhead - building mortgage, electricity, phone lines, maintenance, trash pick-up, equipment, supplies, medications, over-night boarding, someone to monitor your pet in recovery, office personnel, and housekeeping. 

That "5 minute surgery" costs just as much as a 1 hour surgery! The risks and costs are the same. When you look at the REAL 'big picture', it's a wonder that it doesn't cost a hell of a LOT more than it does!

Regarding St. Francis - He is the patron saint of animals. I am sure neither he, nor your veterinarian, is out to 'rob' you. If you can't afford your cat, please, re-home him to someone who can! His life is dependent on someone who is willing and able to take the responsibility!

I just had my tortoise shell rescue spayed and it cost me $199 which included a blood test. The actual spaying procedure was $50 and the rest was for blood work. Needless to say the cat came through exceptionally well and I now know she has no other health issues. There are several vets in my area and the prices vary wildly. One vet I know charges $500!!! Others charge $35- $75 without the blood work. I live near Dallas, Texas.

This type of surgery really varies in price. You should definitely shop around! The aspca chages $50 ans an additional $65 for bloodwork if the cats over 5 yrs old. But in private practice it would cost more.

Really marvelous, well thought out post, Fyllis.

Fyllis said:

For you to say that Vets are the reason the Humane Society is so crowded is ludicrous! The reason they are so over-crowded is because of irresponsible pet owners who get a pet they can't afford or who are unwilling to pay the price of owning a pet! Owning a cat (or ANY pet) comes with responsibility and a large part of that responsibility is financial.

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Thank you for saying exactly what I was thinking.

I work for a humane society and you wouldn't believe the sad stories behind the animals that come in. Abandoned in empty houses, dumped because the animal was old and their owner didn't want to care for them anymore, sick and the owner didn't want to pay the vet bills, moving and didn't want to put in the time to find pet-friendly housing, tossed out onto the street, thrown into a dumpster, frozen to a sidewalk... It happens far too often.

Spay/neuter costs really do wildly vary - I was quoted $400 for a neuter once, but that also included pre-surgery bloodwork.

You just have to call around to different vets, or Google your area for a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.  There are a bunch of those types of clinics - they just do spay/neuter surgeries and vaccinations, they don't see sick animals.    I don't know the reasons why vet costs vary so much, but your best bet would be to Google for a low-cost clinic in your area, I'm sure there is one.

If you can afford it, it is  a good idea to get the bloodwork, because it can detect health issues that may affect the anesthesia - but I think surgery+bloodwork still shouldn't equal $400......just have to call around.

It's not that difficult to understand why prices for services among vets vary so widely. There are many factors that determine what one might charge as opposed to another. 

- Geographical location. Cost of living factors in. A galon of milk in a local grocery near me costs $1.49. In Hawaii it costs $8.99. The same applies to vets and other services across the board. 
- Age of the building and whether or not it is paid for. A 3,000 sq. ft new construction will have a pricey mortgage and over-head, where a small office in the vet's home is most likely paid for.
- Amount of staff on duty and their qualifications. An office with 3-4 vets, 6 techs, a lab tech, office personnel, and housekeeping will have a greater payroll than an office run by a father and son with no lab and the wife/mother running the office. Consider whether or not the facility has any specialists on staff: neurologists, dermatologists, cardiologists, pathologists, nutritionists and dentists. 
- Experience and services provided. A vet who has 20 years experience is going to earn more; therefore, charge more than a new, first year vet. Also, if they provide basic care, plus full surgeries, complete in-house labs, in-house pharmacy, boarding and grooming, and quarantines, they will charge more than an office that only provides basic care and minor surgeries. Do they just set broken bones? Or are they capable of total hip replacements?  This especially goes for 24/7 emergency/hospital care. 
- Type of equipment can have an effect on cost. New technology isn't cheap. Laser surgery, MRIs, Hydrotherapy pools, physical therapy machines, diagnostic machines, radiation and chemo equipment and the like all come at an additional cost. 

- Are they a non-profit organization that depends on public donations? Or are they a private practice? 

Any combination or variation of those things can have an direct impact on what a veterinary clinic charges.

 

When you choose a vet, you have to do your homework in advance. You don't choose a vet because they are 'just down the road' or they are 'cheap'. You have to interview them. Call and set up an appointment and ask if they charge for an initial consultation. Request a tour of the facility, observe the way the staff treats you when you walk in the door, take note of odors and visual cleanliness, how jam-packed the waiting room is. Talk with some of the clients and ask them how long they have been using the facility and why they chose it for their pets. Also, do they specialize in just cats? Or do they treat ALL animals, including exotics and large animals? Ask up-front what routine wellness visits, vaccinations, spayings and neuterings cost. What payments do they accept and if they have payment plans, accept insurance and what type. What are their hours and do they take walk-in appointments? Do they provide emergency care and to what degree? If not, who are they associated with? Do they declaw and what is their thoughts on declawing? Do they have a web site? (You can often find reviews beforehand). Do they have more than one office location? Can you request to be seen by the same vet at each visit? Is there a charge for copies of bills and services rendered? After all of that - how comfortable were you during the interview? Did you feel rushed or were they open and willing to spend time answering all your questions? (That gives a good indication of how they will communicate with you when you take your pet in for care!).

 

And once you choose a vet, you are NOT obligated to retain their business if you are not completely satisfied or comfortable! 

Maybe it's because I was a nurse for over 20 years, but this seems very logical and responsible to me. I interviewed each of my personal doctors before I became their 'official' patient. I wouldn't go to just 'any' vet, and I am willing to pay a bit more for a damned good vet I can trust for the well being of my cats! 

Fyllis said:

Maybe it's because I was a nurse for over 20 years, but this seems very logical and responsible to me. I interviewed each of my personal doctors before I became their 'official' patient. I wouldn't go to just 'any' vet, and I am willing to pay a bit more for a damned good vet I can trust for the well being of my cats! 

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Very true. I did a lot of research before picking my vet. They are probably one of the most expensive I've personally ever seen, but the care my babies have received is great. And I mean that from a holistic POV - it's not just the doctor, but the techs, office staff, etc, are all absolutely wonderful. 

Granted, I didn't take them there to be neutered because I didn't have $800 to spend on neutering two kittens. I opted to spend $190 for both and go out of my way to do so, but that was my choice, and that's ok. I use my vet for everything else. I like knowing that I can call first thing in the morning and get an appt that day if needed. I like knowing I can leave five minutes before my appt because they are right next door. I like having a vet that will listen to my concerns and questions, without any rushing. I had a ten-minute recheck appt turn into and hour and ten minutes once. I like having the peace of mind about all of this stuff as well.

Donutte said:

 
Granted, I didn't take them there to be neutered because I didn't have $800 to spend on neutering two kittens. I opted to spend $190 for both and go out of my way to do so, but that was my choice, and that's ok. I use my vet for everything else. I like knowing that I can call first thing in the morning and get an appt that day if needed. I like knowing I can leave five minutes before my appt because they are right next door. I like having a vet that will listen to my concerns and questions, without any rushing. I had a ten-minute recheck appt turn into and hour and ten minutes once. I like having the peace of mind about all of this stuff as well.

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I did something similar - I chose to use a spay/neuter clinic to get my cats fixed.   But I also have a good regular vet that I trust, and I also found an emergency clinic that I will use in case of an after-hours emergency situation.   I mean, it would be nice & ideal to have gotten the cats fixed at a super nice clinic & gotten all possible bloodwork done, but I just couldn't afford that price for 4 cats (hell, even for one cat, to be honest!)

I also agree that it's a great  idea to start contributing to a savings account that is strictly for pet healthcare emergencies.  I get paid weekly and put $20 a week into that savings account.  I think everyone should have a savings account like that for their pets and contribute whatever you're able to out of every paycheck.  I think it will prove a lot more useful than having "pet insurance" would - because even if I have pet insurance, I still have to be able to pay the vet all costs upfront, and if I can't pay all the vet costs upfront then it renders the insurance pretty useless......

jolie0216 said:

 
Spay/neuter costs really do wildly vary - I was quoted $400 for a neuter once, but that also included pre-surgery bloodwork.

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Some low cost spay / neuter clnics are for low income pet owners and proof of being low income may be required.

Check your state SPCA or humane society for any spay / neuter programs that may be offered. Where I am there is a state-wide spay / neuter certificate program so a pet owner can get a discounted price at nearly any vet clinic or hospital. There is an application to fill out to get a dicount certificate and there are elgibilty requirements to meet. My previous cat got nuetered through the program. That was a looong time ago so the cost was around $75. Back then, I was just going to a low cost clinic and I was given a certificate and the address of a vet hospital that will do the netuer.

jolie0216 said:

I also agree that it's a great  idea to start contributing to a savings account that is strictly for pet healthcare emergencies.  I get paid weekly and put $20 a week into that savings account.  I think everyone should have a savings account like that for their pets and contribute whatever you're able to out of every paycheck.  I think it will prove a lot more useful than having "pet insurance" would - because even if I have pet insurance, I still have to be able to pay the vet all costs upfront, and if I can't pay all the vet costs upfront then it renders the insurance pretty useless......

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I remember when I got my kittens back in July, I was talking with the office staff at my vet's office, asking if they had any particular insurances they thought was good. They don't really have any that they prefer, but what they did say to me was they personally thought it was more fruitful to put aside how ever much you'd pay for insurance and then use it when needed. And unlike insurance, you won't be limited as to when you can use it. Unfortunately, having had two sick cats this year (one of whom I lost a few weeks ago), and getting everything that needed to be done with the kittens (they weren't from a shelter so had to pay for the full monty)... saving anything hasn't really been an option. Hoping for next year!

LTS3 said:

 
Some low cost spay / neuter clnics are for low income pet owners and proof of being low income may be required.

Check your state SPCA or humane society for any spay / neuter programs that may be offered. Where I am there is a state-wide spay / neuter certificate program so a pet owner can get a discounted price at nearly any vet clinic or hospital. There is an application to fill out to get a dicount certificate and there are elgibilty requirements to meet. My previous cat got nuetered through the program. That was a looong time ago so the cost was around $75. Back then, I was just going to a low cost clinic and I was given a certificate and the address of a vet hospital that will do the netuer.

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The one I went to had a "regular" fee for pet owners, as well as a lower fee for those who were on a fixed income. They are affiliated with the Tree House (a HUGE no-kill cat shelter in Chicago) so I was more than happy to take my babies there if it helped this place. Even some friends of mine that are much better off than I am financially and could afford the vets in the area go there to have their cats neutered (that's how I found out about it). The only inconvenience is that you have to get them there in a 1.5 hour window of time in the morning, and then pick them up in a 1 hour window of time in the evening. I live up in the northern suburbs, and had to go into the city during the morning rush hour. That morning was particularly bad, and my normally-half hour drive was a nail-biting 1.5 hour commute, with one of the kittens freaking out next to me the whole time. I was actually 5 minutes past the time frame when I got there, but thankfully they still took them in (others were bringing cats in too even after that).

With all that said - I'd totally take cats there again if I had to get anyone fixed on my dime. 

My four kittens were spayed and neutered for $20 apiece at my local Humane Society. I took their mama cat to my private vet for spaying, and paid about $300. I'm in Florida.

I paid $250 for Katness to be spayed and at another vet $300 for Rose. Yes it's expensive but I feel well worth it.