Should I spay or neuter my kitten?

Find out everything you need to know about neutering your cat, from what the procedure involves to the benefits of the operation and how much it costs.

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Arranging for your cat or kitten to be neutered is part of being a responsible owner. But how much it costs to neuter a cat depends on a lot of factors — from your location to whether your cat is male or female. Here’s what you need to know.

What is cat neutering?

Neutering is a type of surgery that prevents animals from reproducing. Female cats are spayed – an operation to remove the ovaries and/or the uterus. Male cats are castrated – a quick and routine procedure to remove both testicles.

Both these procedures are carried out under general anaesthetic. Most cats make a full recovery within a few days.

While there are risks with any surgical procedure, neutering is considered very safe. Modern techniques are very advanced, and your cat’s heart rate and breathing will be closely monitored by a veterinary nurse throughout.

Is there a difference between neutering male and female cats?

Neutering refers to the procedures carried out on both male and female cats: castration and spaying. For both procedures, you’ll usually drop your cat off at the vets in the morning and collect them later the same day.

Because neutering involves general anaesthetic, your vet will give you pre-operation instructions. Typically, your cat won’t be allowed to eat or go outside for a few hours before the operation.

Castration is a quicker, minimally invasive surgery, taking around five to ten minutes. The incisions are usually so small that your cat won’t need stitches.

The procedure for spaying a female cat is more complex, taking around half an hour. It usually involves an ‘ovario-hysterectomy’, where your cat’s ovaries and uterus are removed. Sometimes, only the ovaries are removed. The incision will usually be on your cat’s side or stomach, and will be closed with stitches or surgical glue, which dissolve within a few weeks.

Benefits of neutering a cat

For female cats, spaying:

• Stops female cats coming into heat
• Eliminates the possibility of pregnancy and associated health risks
• Reduces the number of unwanted kittens needing homes
• Eliminates the chance of a female cat getting uterine infections (when the uterus is removed)
• Greatly reduces or eliminates the chance of a female cat getting mammary, uterine and ovarian cancers

For male cats, castration:

• Reduces aggressive behaviour
• Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer
• Reduces the number of unwanted kittens needing homes
• Makes him less likely to mark his territory by urine spraying
• Means he’s less likely to roam (and get hit by a car) or have injuries from fighting with other cats
• Reduces his chances of catching life-threatening diseases like FIV and FeLV from mating or fighting with other cats

Signs your cat needs to be neutered

You should neuter your female cat if she:

• Is spraying urine
• Is restless and tries to escape
• Meows or yowls loudly when in season
• Wanders far from home when in season
• Has frequent heat cycles, for example every 2-3 weeks
• Shows signs of reproductive diseases or uterine infection

Male cats are almost always neutered unless they are being kept for breeding due to the foul and pungent smell of their urine. Neutering is also useful if he:

• Strays far from home
• Marks his territory by spraying
• Is fighting with other cats in the neighbourhood
• Starts mounting other cats or objects around the home
• Meows or caterwauls loudly, particularly around female cats in season

How much does it cost to neuter a cat?

The cost of neutering a cat varies depending on a range of factors, including:

• Location
• Your cat’s gender
• The type of procedure
• Your chosen vet practice’s prices

As a rough guide, cat neutering costs are usually between £100-200 for a male cat, and £150-250 for a female cat. If you’ve adopted a cat or kitten from a rescue centre, they’ll either already be neutered, or the cost will be included in the adoption fee.

Neutering isn’t covered by cat insurance policies, so it’s something you’ll need to budget for separately. But remember that the costs are small compared to the potential vet bills or medical issues, injuries or unwanted pregnancies that may occur if your cat isn’t neutered.

If you’re struggling with the cost of neutering your cat, several charities have schemes to help people on low incomes get their cats neutered affordably.

What age should cats be neutered?

You can have your adult cat neutered at any age, although it may take them longer to recover than a kitten. The best age to neuter a kitten is around four to five months old, after their first full course of vaccinations.

It’s a myth that female cats should have one litter of kittens before being spayed. There’s no benefits to this and all it leads to is extra kittens needing homes.

How can I help my cat recover after neutering?

When you collect your cat from the vets, they’ll probably still be a little drowsy from the anaesthetic. Make sure they have somewhere quiet and warm to sleep when they get home. They’ll probably be a little uncomfortable for a few days, but your vet may give painkillers to help ease this.

Some cats ignore their surgical wound, but others may scratch, chew or lick the scar or stitches, putting them at risk of infection or re-opening the incision. If your cat won’t leave their wound alone, they may need to wear an e-collar, bodysuit or lick-proof dressing.

After neutering, keep your cat indoors until their wound is healed and you’ve had the all-clear from your vet – usually a few days for male kittens and a fortnight for females. If you notice any blood, pus, redness, swelling around the surgery site or other signs of pain contact your vet straightaway.

If you have cat insurance with Petplan, you’ll also have access to our Pet Expert Chat feature. This connects you with vet professionals, 24/7. Simply log in to your My Petplan account and head to the My Support area to access.

Will neutering change my cat?

Neutering won’t change your cat’s personality, but they’re less likely to display territorial behaviour. After recovery, your cat will still be able to do everything they did before. The only change you might need to make is adjusting the quantity of food they get each day, as neutered cats tend to need fewer calories. Your vet will be able to advise how much less food your cat needs, based on their body condition.