How Much Does a Cat Cost? Breaking Down Lifetime Expenses

A cat can bring a lot of love and warmth to your life, but like any pet, they are also a huge commitment. Before you set your heart on bringing home an adorable kitten, stop and consider both the benefits and costs of owning a cat.

Daily care and feeding, along with routine and unexpected medical expenses, can really add up. And considering many cats live 15 to 20 years or more, you could be looking at a major financial investment.¹

Benefits of Cat Ownership

Owning a cat is about much more than money. A survey by the American Psychiatric Association found that cat owners experience major mental and emotional health benefits, which they attribute to their feline companions. These include:²

• A calming presence
• Companionship
• Reduced stress and anxiety
• True friendship and sense of purpose
• Unconditional love and support

These feel-good benefits are perhaps the reason more and more cat owners, especially those among the millennial and Gen Z sets, are thinking of their cats as family — and not only that, but also placing the same value on them as children.³ Whatever the cause, it appears that to most cat owners, the positive impact a cat has on their well-being far outweighs the financial costs of their care. Cats do, however, cost money to keep.

Lifetime Costs of Owning a Cat

According to Synchrony’s 2025 Pet Lifetime of Care study, you could end up paying between $20,073 and $47,106 over the course of a cat’s 15-year lifespan — far more than the roughly $5,735 in expenses most cat owners initially estimate.³ Food, routine maintenance and healthcare make up the bulk of the costs, and additional expenses may sneak up on you if you’re not prepared.  Roughly two-thirds of cat parents surveyed say they prepare financially for their pets’ care, yet when money gets tight, many are most likely to cut back on vet visits and reduce spending on food, nutrition, toys, litter and other supplies.

If you’re considering adding a cat to your life, it’s important to know the major expenses involved so you can plan and budget accordingly. 

Initial Costs of Cat Ownership

Cats come with start-up costs, even when you acquire them for free. Here’s what you can expect to spend both to get a cat and to get them off to a good start.

Acquiring a cat — $0 to $1,000+

How much you’ll spend to get a cat depends largely on whether you’ll purchase a purebred cat, adopt one from a shelter, open your home to a stray or answer a “free kittens” ad. One benefit of obtaining a cat from a pet shelter or cat rescue is that the adoption fee will cover the cost of some medical expenses, such as microchipping, vaccinations and spaying or neutering.⁴

However you come by your new kitty, here’s how much it may cost:⁴

• Adopting a shelter cat: $15 to $250
• Buying a purebred cat: $300 to $1,000+
• Taking in a stray or free kitten: $0

Essential cat supplies — $330 to $1,100

Your new cat or kitten will need a number of supplies to get them off to a good start. How much you end up spending may depend on how many of these items you purchase, as well as which kind or brand and where you shop.

Here is a list of items you’ll need, along with their average costs:⁴

• Collar with ID tag: $15 to $40
• Food and water bowls: $10
• Litter box: $10 to $200
• Litter scoop: $10
• Pet bed: $20 to $60
• Scratching post or pad: $30 to $80
• Toys and treats: $30

While they’re not essential, you may also want to purchase the following items:⁴

• Cat brush: $8
• Cat tree/condo: $50 to $200
• Nail clippers: $7

Initial veterinary costs — $50 to $250

Unless you adopt a cat from a shelter that takes care of things like vaccinations and spaying or neutering, you’ll need to spend a good amount on initial veterinary care. Plus, if you get a kitten, they’ll need to see the vet a few times during their first year.⁴

Here’s what you can expect to pay for various visits:⁴

• Deworming: $45 to $90
• Flea and tick prevention: $20 to $80
• Vaccinations: $50 to $150
• Vet visit: $53 to $124⁵

You may also opt to have additional one-time procedures, like spaying or neutering and microchipping, as soon as your kitty is old enough, incurring additional costs.⁴

• Microchipping: $30 to $80
• Spaying or neutering: $40 to $300

Ongoing Costs of Cat Care

Your kitty will need ongoing care and maintenance throughout their life. What you spend on the care and feeding of your cat will likely fluctuate from month to month and may depend largely on exactly what you buy, which brands you choose and where you shop. 

Annual vet visits and dental checkups will add to your overall yearly cat bill.⁶ Keep in mind that vet visits will become more frequent if your kitty becomes ill or as they age, and if they require medication, supplements or other types of treatment.⁴

Monthly cat expenses — $75 to $100+

Here’s a general snapshot of what you can expect to spend each month:⁴

• Enrichment toys: $20 to $50
• Food and treats: $30 to $90
• Grooming: $0 to $50
• Litter: $15 to $75
• Litter box maintenance: $15

Routine veterinary care — $39 to $839+

Regular visits to the vet may help keep your cat healthy:

• Routine vet checkups. $53 to $124⁵
• Dental checkups, extractions and cleanings. $39 to $839⁵

Travel-Related Cat Expenses 

Whether you travel with or without your cat, expect some additional expenses:

• Boarding your cat while you’re gone: $23 to $122 per night⁵
• Pet carrier: $20 to $75⁴

Also, while they may vary from one provider to the next, pet-friendly motels and hotels, as well as airlines, typically charge fees to bring your pet along on your trip. You may want to shop around and call ahead to check fees and verify that they do indeed accommodate cats.

Home- and Lifestyle-Related Cat Costs 

Life with a cat can incur additional costs. Here are a few miscellaneous expenses you might encounter:⁴

• Pet deposits. If you rent, you may be required to pay a pet deposit, which may or may not be refundable. Pet deposits vary but can cost as much as $500.
• Pet rent. Renters may also have an additional fee added onto their monthly rent, up to $50 per month.

Life with cats may be unpredictable. While it’s difficult to quantify an exact amount or range of costs, you may also want to think about costs involved in cat-proofing your home or making modifications to make your kitty more comfortable, such as installing a window seat or a “catio” — that is, a cat patio.

You may also need to replace certain items, such as furniture, carpets or window treatments that incur cat damage, as some cats can be destructive.⁴ And you’ll likely need to replace your kitty’s essentials as they wear out or get used up or damaged over time.

Cat Health Emergencies and Pet Insurance 

Speaking of unpredictable, you should also plan for the unexpected when it comes to your kitty’s health. Illnesses, accidental injuries and other health emergencies can carry hefty price tags that leave some pet owners faced with making difficult and, at times, heartbreaking decisions. 

Actual prices will vary depending on where you live and where you seek treatment, but the national average cost* of pet emergency room visits, diagnosis or treatment for various illnesses and injuries commonly incurred by cats is as follows:⁵

Pet insurance is a relatively small investment that may potentially end up saving you money when health emergencies occur. Additional pet health and wellness plans may also save you money on routine checkups and procedures. Here is what you can expect to pay in monthly premiums to insure your cat:⁵

• Accident and illness coverage: $25 to $63
• Accident-only coverage: $7 to $17
• Health and wellness coverage: $12 to $29

End-of-Life Cat Care Costs 

It’s difficult to think about, but your kitty won’t live forever. As they age, it’s important to plan for end-of-life care, which brings its own set of expenses.

A cat nearing the end of their life, whether from advanced age or terminal illness, may need palliative care to help manage pain and improve their quality of life. And when it’s time to say goodbye, you’ll need to think about helping your kitty pass on peacefully and caring for their remains.

Your vet can help you put together a plan that fits your circumstances and your budget. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find a vet who makes house calls for hospice patients, as well as for euthanasia. The national average cost* for end-of-life care for your cat ranges from $58 to $883:⁵

• Cat cremation: $118 to $255
• Euthanasia at a clinic: $58 to $144
• Euthanasia at home: $244 to $620
• Palliative and hospice care: $300 to $650⁷
• Pet cemetery burial: $393 to $883

Cat Owners’ Biggest Worries

According to the Synchrony study, 40% of cat owners consider their felines part of the family, 21% think of their cats as their children and 18% say their cat is their best friend. Despite this deep emotional bond, roughly a quarter of cat parents still feel stressed by the financial strain of unexpected expenses.³

Unexpected veterinary care and health issues rank among the biggest concerns for cat parents, alongside rising costs for food and nutrition. To break it down, here are the top seven expenses that cause cat parents to worry:³

• Emergency care
• Food costs
• Grooming expenses
• Insurance costs
• Medication or medical treatment expenses
• Unexpected health issues
• Vet bills

How Do Cat Owners Pay for Care?

For necessary expenses and emergencies that they haven’t prepared for, the majority of cat parents surveyed resort to using a credit card, while others turn to somewhat more inventive options:³

• 25% use a specialty credit card focused on health and wellness care for both people and pets
• 11% of cat parents — a higher percentage than those of dogs or other types of pets — will raise funds via crowdfunding
• 10% will use money earmarked for their rent, house payment or car payment

Caring for Cats for Life

One key takeaway from the Pet Lifetime of Care study? It appears cat parents tend to both underestimate how much they’ll spend on their cats and overestimate their preparedness for emergencies and financial difficulties. Having a more realistic idea of the expenses involved in cat ownership may help you be better prepared so that instead of worrying, you’ll be able to truly enjoy life with your furbaby and best friend.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Cats

The CareCredit credit card is an easy way to pay for your cat’s annual checkups, food and products at veterinary practices in the CareCredit network.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a veterinarian near you that accepts CareCredit to help keep your pet healthy and happy for a lifetime of love. CareCredit is there for you and your pet every step of the way; continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to pet care, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist who has been writing pet content since 2013. Her work has appeared on Forbes.com, Hill’s Pet, Chewy, AKC.org and more.