How Much Does a Cat Cost? Breaking Down Expenses

Do all those cute cat pictures online have you longing for a feline friend of your own? Before you set your heart on bringing home an adorable kitten, stop and consider the cost of owning a cat. Daily care and feeding, along with both 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.

How Much Does a Cat Cost?

Routine care and maintenance of your cat will likely cost you around $405 for the first year and about $340 per year after that.¹ Of course, how much that adds up to overall will depend on your kitty's lifespan, and that's not counting irregular expenses involved in boarding or pet sitting, travel or major medical expenses. Those can be costly, but of course, the love and companionship your cat provides in return are priceless.

Below, we provide an in-depth breakdown of the various costs of cat ownership. Beyond the cost of getting a cat — which may cost you nothing; it's not as though stray cats or free kittens are difficult to come by — you'll need to stock up on food and supplies that will make your home cat-friendly. But by far, the biggest expense you'll encounter once you've taken ownership of your new kitty will be first-year medical expenses. Here's what you can expect to spend in the first year.

Getting a Cat

As mentioned, free cats can be easy to come by. But if you don't have stray kitties following you home or friends and relatives begging you to take free kittens off their hands, there are certain advantages to paying for the cat you want, whether you adopt from a shelter or opt to invest in a purebred feline.

The adoption fee for a shelter cat can cost up to $200,¹ although shelters often run low-cost or even no-cost adoption events during which they steeply discount their fees or waive them completely. If you do end up paying a fee, keep in mind that this usually covers the cost of a spay/neuter as well as a veterinary checkup and vaccinations.

Got your heart set on a specific breed of cat? Purebred cats can cost anywhere from a few hundred to several thousands of dollars, depending on their popularity and availability. A fairly ubiquitous breed like the Siamese, for example, can be found for as little as $200, while the popular Maine Coon may cost as much as $3,500.² An exotic and rare breed like the Savannah can run into the tens of thousands.²

Purebred cats have distinctive looks and personalities and they tend to be more predictable in terms of temperament. But they can also be more prone to health issues, which is why it's important to research and look around for a reputable breeder. First, though, check with your local shelters and cat rescues, which often have healthy purebred kitties in need of good homes.

Cost of Cat Supplies

You'll need some supplies to get your kitty home safely and help them settle in. A cat leash and/or cat harness is optional, but may come in handy for trips to the vet and other kinds of travel, or for safely taking your cat outside. You will need a carrier for transport to the vet or any kind of travel, as cats can't safely travel in the car on a leash/harness.

Cat food and cat litter prices vary widely, depending on whether you buy premium or opt for bargain brands; litter boxes range from cheap plastic pans to pricey robotic self-cleaning contraptions.

Fortunately, cat toys tend to be inexpensive. Not only that, but cats are easily entertained by everyday household items like cardboard boxes (cardboard is usually safe), but never hair bands and cotton swabs — these are common items that cats can swallow and often require surgery to remove. Here is an idea of what you might spend on supplies during the first year of owning a cat.

• Cat leash and harness: $15³ to $20⁴
• Cat carrier: $20 to $75¹
• Cat bedding: $20 to $100¹
• Food and water dishes: $5 to $30¹
• Cat food: $120 to $500¹
• Cat litter: $70 to $150¹
• Litter box: $10 to $200¹
• Cat toys: $0 to $25⁴

Initial Health Costs for Your Cat

If you adopt a cat from a shelter, some of the initial costs of healthcare, including spaying or neutering, may already be covered. Otherwise, you'll need to pay for those services yourself. Either way, you may still need to provide wellness checkups, exams and booster shots, as well as heartworm and flea and tick prevention. Here's what you can expect to spend on basic healthcare in the first year of owning your cat.

• Vaccinations: $110 to $550¹
• Parasite prevention: $20 to $200¹
• Spaying/neutering: $200 to $350⁵
• Microchipping: $45⁶

Ongoing Maintenance and Healthcare

The annual cost of food and litter likely won't change much throughout your cat's life, but there are other costs involved in keeping a cat that you may need to consider.

Cat Grooming and Maintenance Costs

Cats are good at keeping themselves clean and don't often need baths, if ever. While the coats of short-haired cats are virtually maintenance-free, long-haired cats will need regular attention to keep their coats free of mats and tangles and stay on top of shedding. This may involve spending as little as $5⁷ for a basic detangling brush if you've got the time to brush your cat daily. Otherwise, from time to time you may need the help of a professional groomer to deal with severely matted fur, a service that could run as much as $50.⁴

If your cat prefers to file their nails on your furniture rather than their scratching post, a monthly nail trimming might be in order, a service most vets provide for $10 to $20.⁸ And you may need to call in a pro as well for help with ear cleaning if you've got a feisty feline, a service many groomers provide for $5 to $15.⁹

Your biggest annual maintenance expense is likely to be dental care. For cats, a professional dental cleaning performed by a veterinarian costs around $350 on average,¹⁰ though the cost can fluctuate based on whether your cat needs pain medication or a blood test to make sure they're healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. And if your vet ends up needing to extract teeth or perform other types of oral surgery, the price can skyrocket without warning.

Cat Health Costs

Apart from keeping them fed, the most expensive part of keeping a pet is usually veterinary costs. While routine vet checkups and medications can be costly enough, illnesses, accidental injuries and other health emergencies can carry such hefty price tags that they leave some pet owners faced with difficult and, at times, heartbreaking decisions. Pet insurance, at $9 to $58 a month¹¹ depending on the type of coverage you get, is a relatively small investment that can end up saving you both money and heartache.

As far as routine health care, here's what you can expect to spend each year.

• Regular vet checkups: $50 to $250¹²
• Heartworm test: $35 to $75¹²
• Parasite control: $140 to $185¹²
• Vaccinations: $10 to $45¹²

You should also plan for the unexpected. An emergency vet visit with your cat for things like accidental injuries, heat stroke, seizures or other life-threatening conditions starts at $800 to $1,500¹³ on average. If emergency pet surgery is needed, expect that cost to double or triple. Even planned surgeries for your cat, like torn ACL repair, cost between $500 and $2,500.¹⁴

As for illnesses, something as simple as an ear infection can cost up to $150¹² to diagnose and treat. A more serious illness like diabetes, heart disease or cancer can cost hundreds, or even thousands if advanced treatments or long-term medications are needed.

Cat travel costs

Chances are, if you do any traveling, it will be without your cat. Cats tend to do well being left alone for a weekend with plenty of kibble and water left out for them. However, if you'll be gone longer, you may need to hire a pet sitter or board your cat at a kennel, both of which typically cost between $15 and $50 per day.¹

But there may be times when bringing your cat along on a trip is necessary. Some cats even enjoy traveling as much as dogs do. If you'll be road tripping with your cat, you'll need a car crate with enough room for a small litter box, which you can find for around $50.⁴ For air travel, an airline approved cat carrier will also start around $20.¹⁵

Pet-friendly hotels and motels aren't hard to find, and most charge pet fees starting at $20 per night, although some luxury hotels charge as much as $100 per night for pets.¹⁶ And most domestic airlines charge $125 each way¹⁶ for letting your cat ride under your seat. The carrier will count as your carry-on, so you might also face extra baggage fees if you bring an additional bag.

If you're planning a trip, don't forget about a health certificate. Boarding your cat at a kennel, bringing them on a plane or to another country, and entry at some state parks, campsites and other venues will likely require a health certificate and proof of vaccinations — a service for which your vet will likely charge the cost of an office visit and a domestic health certificate.

Miscellaneous cat costs

Getting a cat can cost you in other ways, too. If you rent your home, expect to pay a one-time pet fee or deposit of $200 to $500.¹⁷ Some landlords may also tack an additional $25 to $100¹⁷ onto your monthly rent to help cover the cost of pet damage. Of course, if you're a homeowner, you'll have to pay to replace any damaged carpets, walls or furniture yourself.

To protect your furniture, you'll also want to invest in alternative pieces that your cat can scratch. A scratching post starts at around $15 to $20,¹⁸ and will need to be replaced periodically. A cat tree and condo, starting around $55,¹⁹ will provide your kitty with scratching, climbing and lounging surfaces to help keep them off your sofa. Expect to pay significantly more for a design that blends well into your home decor.

End-of-life care costs for cats

Although it's painful to think about, the fact is your cat won't live forever, and end-of-life care brings its own list 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 the quality of their remaining life. Your vet can help you put together a plan, and depending on where you live, you may be able to find a vet who makes house calls for hospice patients. The costs of this type of care can vary widely depending on the type and amount that's needed.

When the time comes to ease your pet's transition from this life, you may opt for in-home euthanasia, which can cost as much as $225²⁰ for a home visit from a qualified vet. Otherwise, the cost to euthanize a cat in a clinic generally starts at $25.²⁰

Once your cat has crossed the rainbow bridge, you may have the option of a backyard burial, depending on your state, if you own your property and live in an area where it's legal to bury pets. Otherwise, you'll need to pay between $100 and $150²⁰ to have them cremated. If you'd rather lay them to rest in a pet cemetery, a burial plot may cost up to $500.²¹

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. Apply today and 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 hub for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Expert Reviewer

Dr. Kathy Wentworth, V.M.D.

Dr. Kathy Wentworth, V.M.D., has been caring for companion animals in Southern California for 22 years after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine. She grew up in Colorado and completed her undergraduate studies in Animal Physiology and Neuroscience at UC San Diego. Dr. Kathy furthered her passion as a veteran by becoming board certified as a Diplomate in Canine and Feline Practice by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (2010-2020).

Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist with eight years of experience. Her work has appeared on Hill's Pet, Chewy and AKC.org and more.