Perform search
Report an issue
I want to...
      Recent
                    Emergency information
                    Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
                    Read latest updates on our response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
                    Read more

                    Desexing your cat or dog

                    A cat.
                    We recommend that cats and dogs be desexed if they are not intended for breeding. Desexing can help make animals less aggressive and easier to control.

                    Lots of healthy animals in Australia are euthanised each year due to over-population. In many cases, animals are bred by accident.

                    Desexing makes it cheaper to register your cat or dog. You can save more than a third of the registration cost. Benefits of desexing include:

                    • helping to reduce over-population
                    • pets being less prone to wander or fight
                    • reducing territorial behaviour such as spraying indoors
                    • pets being less likely to suffer from anti-social behaviours
                    • helping to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

                    Desexing voucher scheme

                    The desexing voucher scheme provides pet owners with a 33 per cent reduction in the cost of desexing their cats and dogs.

                    City of Melbourne residents who hold any of the following cards are eligible to participate in the scheme:

                    • Pensioner Health Benefits card
                    • Pharmaceutical Benefits Concession card
                    • Health Benefits card
                    • Health Care card.

                    Desexing vouchers are available to pick up at: Melbourne Town Hall, 190-200 Swanston Street, Melbourne.

                    Proof of the concession or benefit card is required. If your pet is over three months of age, evidence of pet registration is also required.

                    Using the desexing voucher

                    Present the desexing voucher to your vet. You will be required to pay the vet two-thirds of the cost of the procedure. We will then pay your vet the remaining one-third of the cost.

                    Desexing fees – dogs

                    ​Age of dog ​Discounted desexing fee ​Owner pays ​Council pays
                    ​Female mature (over 7 months)​$225​$150​$75
                    ​Female immature (under 7 months)​$180​$120​$60
                    ​Male ​$168​$112​$56

                    Desexing fees – cats

                    ​Age of cat ​Discounted desexing fee ​Owner pays ​Council pays
                    ​Female mature (over 7 months)​$168​$112​$56
                    ​Female immature (under 7 months)​$144​$96​$56
                    ​Male ​$96​$64​$32

                    Voucher scheme conditions

                    The following conditions applies:

                    • a maximum of two vouchers will be issued per household
                    • pets must be vaccinated and have a current vaccination certificate
                    • if your pet is a female older than seven months an extra charge applies.

                    More information

                    Victorian Government:
                      Was this page helpful?

                      If you have a general enquiry or require a response, please contact us.