UK vet costs
How much does it cost to neuter a pet in the UK?
Last updated 3 May 2026
Quick answer
In the UK in 2026, neutering a male cat (castration) typically costs £60–£110, spaying a female cat £100–£170, neutering a male dog £150–£300, and spaying a female dog £200–£500 depending on size and weight. The CMA Vet Services price-transparency order requires every UK vet practice to publish all four prices on its website.
What's typical in 2026
UK neutering and spaying prices in 2026 typically fall in these ranges:
- Male cat (castration): £60–£110.
- Female cat (spay): £100–£170.
- Male dog (castration): £150–£300.
- Female dog (spay): £200–£500, typically priced by weight band.
Female-dog spay pricing varies most because the procedure complexity and anaesthetic dose scale with body weight. Many practices publish a tiered price list by weight band (e.g. up to 10kg, 10–25kg, 25–40kg, 40kg+).
What the price typically includes
A standard neutering or spay quote typically includes the pre-surgical consultation and clinical assessment, the anaesthetic, the surgery itself, an Elizabethan collar or post-operative bodysuit, post-operative pain relief medication, and a post-op check appointment. It does not typically include pre-anaesthetic blood tests (sometimes recommended for older animals or breeds at higher anaesthetic risk), intravenous fluids, or complications.
The CMA’s 2025 price-transparency order requires practices to disclose what is and isn’t included in the published price — particularly any expectation that pre-anaesthetic tests will be charged separately.
Laparoscopic vs open spay
For female-dog spays specifically, some UK practices offer a laparoscopic (keyhole) alternative to traditional open surgery. Laparoscopic spays typically carry a £100–£300 premium over open spays and may not be available at every practice. The benefits (smaller incisions, faster recovery) and the cost differential are factors a vet will discuss during the pre-surgical consultation.
Lower-cost alternatives
PDSA, Blue Cross, RSPCA. Charity practices offer subsidised neutering for owners on qualifying benefits. Eligibility is means-tested and capacity is limited.
Cats Protection, Dogs Trust. Both run subsidised neutering vouchers / schemes for pet owners on lower incomes, partnering with participating UK vet practices to offer reduced-cost procedures. Cats Protection’s scheme is widely available; Dogs Trust’s eligibility varies by region.
Local authority schemes. Some UK local authorities offer subsidised cat-neutering vouchers as part of stray-prevention programmes. Check with your council.
What the CMA's transparency remedies change
Under the CMA’s 2025 Vet Services price-transparency order, every regulated UK vet practice must publish prices for cat castration, cat spay, dog neuter and dog spay on its website. For weight-banded pricing the disclosure must show all bands. VAT inclusion must be stated explicitly.
Vet Cost Index aggregates these disclosures and lets you compare neutering prices across practices in your area. The full investigation timeline is at /about/cma-vet-investigation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to neuter a male cat in the UK?
Castrating a male cat in the UK typically costs £60–£110 in 2026, including the surgery, anaesthetic, and post-operative care. Charity practices (PDSA, RSPCA, Cats Protection) offer subsidised castration for owners on qualifying benefits.
How much does it cost to spay a female cat?
Spaying a female cat in the UK typically costs £100–£170 in 2026. The procedure is more complex than castration and involves general anaesthesia and ovariohysterectomy. Pricing varies by practice, location, and ownership group.
How much does it cost to neuter a dog?
Castrating a male dog in the UK typically costs £150–£300 in 2026, depending on size and the practice. Spaying a female dog typically costs £200–£500, with larger breeds at the upper end because anaesthetic and surgical time scale with body weight.
Why is dog neutering more expensive than cat neutering?
Dog neutering and spaying are typically more expensive than cat equivalents because the anaesthetic dose and surgical time scale with body weight, and because dogs commonly require longer post-operative monitoring. Female-dog spay is the most expensive routine neutering procedure.
Are there subsidised neutering schemes in the UK?
Yes. Cats Protection and Dogs Trust both run subsidised neutering voucher schemes for owners on lower incomes, partnering with participating UK vet practices. PDSA, Blue Cross and RSPCA provide subsidised veterinary care including neutering for owners on qualifying state benefits. Some local authorities also offer cat-neutering vouchers.
Vet Cost Index
A transparent UK vet-pricing index built around the CMA Vet Services price-transparency remedies. The comparison index opens as practices publish their disclosures from 2026 onwards.