Going into 2025, we are no longer offering the centralised National Subsidised Neutering Scheme as it was previously. Instead, we will support neutering through locally-issued vouchers. Find out more below.

In 2023 we launched a centralised National Subsidised Neutering Scheme to streamline and simplify the way we offered financial support to neuter owned and feral cats.

In 2024, we reviewed this centralised scheme and took on board feedback from all stakeholders, with vet practices as a key stakeholder. This resulted in a pause in sending out further vouchers on this scheme.

The decision was prompted by several challenges, including:

• an increased administrative burden that led to delay in vet payments
• limitations within our systems
• the further impact these issues have had on budgets, tracking and management

We want to thank vets for any involvement in previous voucher schemes. We simply can’t achieve our vision of a balanced cat population without the cooperation and support of the veterinary profession.

What next?

We remain committed to investing in neutering and are continuing to provide support for neutering owned and feral cats at the same level as we have in previous years. We are actively considering how to increase our impact for the future and will continue to design how this will look.

What financial assistance is available from Cats Protection for neutering?

Below is our guide to what is available, including:

• vouchers issued by Cats Protection and the type of vouchers available
• payment for neutering-related complications
• the welfare package
• how to ensure that you receive prompt payment

Vouchers issued by Cats Protection

Vouchers may be available from local Cats Protection teams for eligible members of the public to help with the cost of neutering their cat. If you would like to work with one of our local teams, please contact them directly.

• Please ensure that you have been presented with a valid voucher before neutering the cat as we’re unable to make payment without the voucher
• Please ensure all sections of the voucher have been completed as only fully completed vouchers will be paid
• The voucher must be signed by the owner for GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) purposes

What type of vouchers are available?

There are two types of vouchers available at this time, with examples shown below. We intend to review these to simplify this further.

Please note the following information:

Date:

• Vouchers are only for use in the valid year indicated on the voucher
• The cat must be presented for neutering before the voucher expiry date specified by the issuing team and noted on the voucher

Value:

• The value of the voucher is determined by the Cats Protection team issuing the voucher and will be clearly stated on the voucher. Owners are required to pay any remaining balance above the voucher value directly to the vet at the time of the operation

Payment:

• Please be reminded that all vouchers issued by Cats Protection must be submitted for payment within 40 working days from the date of the neuter
• Please fill in the date of the neuter, your practice reference number and invoice number
• Please return a copy of the voucher together with an invoice for the value you are claiming and addressed to Cats Protection by email to neutering.finance@cats.org.uk You will receive a reply email as receipt
• Please keep a copy of the voucher for your records
• We process payments twice a month, remittances will always be sent noting the payment made. If you have not received your remittance, please check your junk folder before contacting us. If you are part of a larger group of vet practices, please contact your head office 

In addition to the Cats Protection vouchers outlined above, C4 vouchers are available in the areas covered by that scheme. Please be aware that although we are a leading contributor to the C4 Neutering Scheme, it is a separate scheme to Cats Protection.

For more information visit: c4cats.info

Understanding the eligibility criteria 

Our financial support towards neutering is intended to help those most in need, using the following as guidance only. Owners may be asked to provide proof of their eligibility to you at their neutering appointment, this will be indicated on the voucher.

The eligibility criteria state you should:

• be in receipt of any of the following means-tested benefits: universal credit, income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit, pension credit, income-based employment and support allowance (ESA), income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA), working tax credits and child tax credits
• have a household annual income of less than £25,000 before tax

Benefits not eligible: personal independence allowance/payment, child benefit, disability living allowance, attendance allowance, carer’s allowance.

The decision whether or not to provide a voucher is at the discretion of the Cats Protection issuing team.

Welfare package: microchipping, buster collars and pain relief (Metacam)

A ‘welfare package’ should be provided alongside owned-cat neutering. The welfare package includes:

• buster collar
• microchip
• take-home pain relief (Metacam)

We ask vets to order these items through a Cats Protection wholesale account (Covetrus or VSSCo) if possible.   

Neutering-related complications

Where a neutering-related complication occurs, the cat owner should be asked in the first instance if they can pay or contribute towards any additional costs towards the total cost of the procedure.

Where an owner is not able to afford the full additional costs, Cats Protection may be able to contribute a reasonable amount towards the increased consequential cost of this operation. The voucher must be submitted for payment accompanied by a full clinical history and itemised invoice for the cat concerned.

Please contact the Cats Protection issuing team (details on the voucher) to discuss if any further funding is available. This is at their discretion and is not guaranteed.