Spaying and neutering guide for cats

Neutering your cat does more than prevent unexpected litters of kittens – it helps keep your feline companion healthy. Here you’ll see more about its benefits, the difference between spaying and neutering, and how to save money on your vets’ bills.

Written by

Anna McEntee

Home, pet and travel insurance expert

Last Updated

5 JANUARY 2023

8 min read

What is cat neutering?

Neutering is a routine operation to remove a cat’s reproductive organs so they can’t breed. The surgical procedure is performed under general anaesthetic.

In male cats (tomcats), it involves the removal of the testicles – otherwise known as castration – and if all goes according to plan, the surgery takes about 10 minutes.

In female cats (queens), the operation, also known as spaying, is more complicated. The vet removes the ovaries and uterus, which takes about 30 minutes to an hour.

In both cases, you’ll probably be able to drop off and pick up your cat on the same day, although you may also need to go in for a pre-anaesthetic check beforehand.

Why should I get my cat neutered?

Even a kitten as young as four months of age can fall pregnant if she’s fertile and a cat can give birth to an average of four to six kittens, two or three times a year. The breeding season usually runs from March until August/September.

That’s a lot of hungry mouths to feed. Neutering removes the risk of unwanted cats, as well as the financial burden and emotional worry for pet owners.

If you’ve got cats at home that are related, they should also be neutered. Un-neutered cats will mate with each other, even if they're siblings or parent and offspring.

However, there are still some situations when neutering isn’t advisable. Your vet will be able to talk you through the pros and cons.

What are the benefits of neutering a cat?

Neutering can have behavioural and health benefits for your cat – and be a big plus for you too.

Aside from unwanted pregnancies, spaying a female cat also helps prevent:

Womb, ovarian and mammary cancers
Pyometra, a life-threatening womb infection.
Very loud attempts to attract a mate, which can sound like she’s in pain or very distressed
The equally vocal and persistent attentions of uncastrated tomcats
The stress, restlessness, and hormonal mood changes that come when a cat is in heat – increased aggression, for example
Straying away from home in her search for a mate
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), the feline version of HIV, which can be spread through bites inflicted during mating.

For male cats, castration helps prevent:

Testicular cancer and prostate cancer
Roaming, and therefore the risk of being hit by a car or getting lost
Fights with other males
FIV or feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) from bites received during fights
Unpleasant tomcat behaviour, such as aggression, urine spraying and wailing
Strong and unpleasant-smelling urine.

Are there any risks associated with getting my cat neutered?

As with all operations, there’s an element of risk, but the neutering procedure is a very common and straightforward one.

If a female cat is in season at the time of the operation, the risk factor increases slightly as the blood vessels around her womb are likely to be larger and more prone to bleeding.

For male cats, the operation can become more complicated if they’re cryptorchid (which means one or both testicles have failed to drop). If this is the case, it’s even more important that your tom is neutered as retained testicles can become twisted or cancerous.

When should I get my cat neutered?

Cats can be neutered at any age, but most vets agree with the British Veterinary Association (BVA) which recommends that you book the op from 16 weeks, before your kitten is sexually mature and able to fall pregnant.

This allows time for your cat to have its primary vaccinations first and female cats are also less likely to be in heat, which may make the operation slightly riskier and take longer. Being in heat means the cat is fertile and ready to mate.

In the case of rescue or feral cats, the BVA recommends that the operation is carried out when your cat is between eight and 12 weeks old.

How much does neutering a cat cost?

The average cost for neutering a cat depends on where you live and the vet you go to. However, as a rough guide, spaying a female cat ranges from £50 to £100. The average cost for castrating a male cat is around £40 to £80. Your vet should give you a quote before the operation and it can be worth phoning a few different practices to compare prices.

There are also means-tested funding and services available if money’s tight.

Cats Protection offers a neutering scheme in Wales and the West Midlands to enable eligible owners to get their cats neutered and microchipped for just £5.
Blue Cross offers free and reduced-cost vet care at its Victoria animal hospital in London.
The London Cat Care and Control Consortium offers free cat neutering under the C4 Scheme – a joint initiative by major animal charities in the Greater London area. If you live within the M25, you may be eligible.
Financial assistance is also available through the RSPCA. Contact the nearest brand or hospital to find out if they can help you.

Where can I get my cat neutered?

Neutering is a regular and routine operation at most vets’ surgeries. To make it even easier to make an appointment, the charity Cats Protection has set up a Kitten Neutering Vet Database to help cat owners find their nearest practice.

Does pet insurance cover neutering?

Pet insurance won’t cover the cost of routine neutering. However, it could help to protect you against the cost of vet fees and treatments if your cat is injured or becomes ill.

You can get pet insurance whether your cat has been neutered or not. Compare pet insurance for your cat and see if you can save.

Get a quote

Does neutering my cat reduce the cost of pet insurance?

Yes, neutering your cat could get you cheaper pet insurance, because it reduces the risk of your cat developing certain health conditions, and removes the risk entirely for others.

Frequently asked questions

How can I prepare my cat for neutering?

Your cat will probably be admitted in the morning and shouldn’t be fed in the six to eight hours leading up to the operation. For this reason, it’s wise to keep them indoors the night before too. Water is fine until two or three hours before.

How do I care for my cat after neutering?

Your cat may seem quiet and sleepy as the anaesthetic wears off over the first 48 hours. You may also be given painkillers for your cat to take to make sure they are comfortable while they recover. Some cats may be a little anxious having been in a strange place, but hopefully they should settle easily once they are safe home.

To help the recovery process along:

Keep your cat indoors in a room with a litter box nearby
Feed it light meals
Keep the environment calm and relaxed
Make sure other pets and young children keep their distance
Make sure your cat wears a cone- or doughnut-shaped buster collar to prevent it interfering with the wound or chewing at the stitches
You may also want to remove any furniture that it can jump on when it starts feeling better – charity PDSA advises that rest for seven to 14 days will prevent any complications, and females need more recuperation time than males.

Your vet will advise you on the best post-op care for your cat and they should also be your first port-of-call if you think there’s anything wrong.

Look out for any of the following symptoms that may suggest your cat isn’t healing as well as it should:

Lethargy or a lack of appetite for more than 48 hours
Vomiting or diarrhoea
The wound starting to smell bad or look red or swollen
Missing stitches or an open wound

For female cats, it’s likely there’ll be a couple of check-ups after the operation to make sure she’s on the road to recovery. Stitches may also need to be removed if they’re not the dissolvable kind.

For male cats, only one follow-up appointment will probably be needed, but if they’re making good progress, even this can be optional. Most castrations don’t require stitches as the wounds are so small.

Will my cat be in any pain?

The incisions made during surgery are very small and pain relief is likely to be given before and after the operation to ease any discomfort. A general anaesthetic will ensure no pain is felt at all during the op itself.

You may also be given anti-inflammatory medicine and painkillers to give to your cat at home – a supply for the next 24 hours for male cats and enough for about three days for females.

If your pet still appears to be in pain, contact your vet for advice.

Will my cat get fat if I have it neutered?

Neutering in itself doesn’t cause your cat to put on weight, but the way it metabolises food will change due to the impact of the operation on its hormones. It won’t need to eat as much and, if you feed it the same amount as before, it may put on weight.

This can easily be controlled with a healthy diet and by ensuring your cat has plenty of opportunity to spend time outdoors or playing indoors.

My cat isn’t neutered. Can it still go outside?

To avoid the risk of unwanted kittens, your cat shouldn’t go outside until it’s been neutered (as well as microchipped and vaccinated).

Can I get my cat neutered and microchipped at the same time?

Yes, animal welfare organisations recommend it. Cats fitted with a microchip are easier to find if they get lost.

If your cat has a chip fitted at the same time as it’s being neutered and under general anaesthetic, it won’t feel the needle. Some vets even offer microchipping and neutering as a package.