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At the bottom of the page are some resources for you to check regarding spaying and neutering your pets, strays, or feral
cats, at low-cost.
Bear in mind that some Spay/Neuter or TNR clinics are run by volunteers, and the fees that are requested barely cover
the costs of surgical supplies, vaccines, medications, and other necessities to keep the program running. Donations, even
if you can only spare a few dollars extra, will ensure that these low-cost programs continue to operate.
Volunteers are always needed, as are supplies such as old towels, sheets, blankets, pet food, litter, toys, etc.
Each program offers different services for their fees, and you should request the fee for EVERY service that you need,
or may be interested in. Such as:
Fee for Surgery (some program have different fees for spaying a female, or neutering a male (dog, or cat).
Is there a fee for dissolvable sutures? (Always recommended for feral cats). Is there a fee to remove sutures?
Are there Fees for Vaccinations? (Rabies, Distemper, Feline Leukemia, FIV (not recommended), parvo, or other canine vaccinations)?
Are there Fees for Testing? (FELV - Feline Leukemia, and/or FIV, for cats, and Heartworm (for dogs)?
Will they ear-tip feral cats?
Are there additional fees for flea treatment, worming, ear mites? Will they clip nails?
Do they Microchip, and what are the fees?
Will they spay a pregnant female?
Do they provide "early" spay/neuter services? Many programs will spay or neuter kittens if they are at least
8 weeks old, or weigh 2 lbs. or more?
Some spay/neuter programs may require a veterinary exam before scheduling the surgery. Ask if that is a separate fee and
if that is required for feral cats that will be trapped.
Many programs do not hold the animals overnight after surgery. If you need overnight care, ask if they will board the
animal and what their fee would be, per night.
When signing the Agreement to Perform Surgery, most of the forms have a clause that ask if you will give permission to
the veterinarian to perform other medical services (that he/she may deem necessary for the health of the animal). Either do
not give this permission, or ask if you can be contacted and informed of any additional costs that may raise your fee. It
only makes sense that if you are looking for low cost programs because you are either sterilizing multiple cats, or because
you are in a low-income bracket, that you do not want to pick up your cat and learn that you have an unexpected, exorbitant
bill to pay.
FERAL CATS - some questions to ask:
If I am bringing in a cat in a trap, can I have the cat placed in my pet carrier after surgery so that I can place the
cat (within it's carrier) in a prepared post-op recovery cage? This is especially important for female feral cats who should
remain confined for 3 - 5 days. Male cats can remain in the trap overnight after surgery and released the next day, if necessary
(though holding the male for at least one day is preferred).
What if I can't trap the feral cat?
How long should you withhold food and water before scheduled surgery?
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