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CostHelper > Pets & Pet Care  > Owning a Cat

Owning a Cat Cost

How Much Does Owning a Cat Cost?
 
 average costMedium: $200-$700 a year, plus grooming 
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After a cat is adopted or purchased, there are initial and annual expenses to owning a cat.

Typical costs:

  • The cost of owning a cat typically runs from $200 to $700 per year for basic food, cat litter, routine veterinary care, vaccinations and boarding -- but not including grooming.
  • Grooming costs can range from $10 per year for the cost of grooming tools to $300 per year and up for a long-haired cat that requires professional grooming every two months. Examples of breeds with low grooming needs are mixed breed cats known as domestic shorthairs, Sphynx, Burmese and Siamese cats. Examples of breeds with high grooming needs include mixed breed cats known as domestic longhairs, Persians, Angoras and Himalayans.
  • PetEducation.com[1] offers a chart on the total cost of owning a cat.
Related articles: Buying a Cat, Pet Insurance, Cat Vaccination

What should be included:
  • Initial costs include the adoption fee or the purchase price, spaying or neutering, initial vaccinations and a general health assessment that might include a feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus test and a fecal check. It also includes the purchase of accessories such as a cat carrier, a litter box, a collar, tags and food bowls. This could cost $150 or more for a cat adopted from a shelter, all the way up to $2,000 or more for a cat purchased from a breeder.
Additional costs:
  • The average cat owner spends $26 per year on toys and $18 on grooming tools, according to a pet owner survey by The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.
  • If a cat is injured or gets seriously ill, extra veterinary care can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Other unexpected costs include replacing items a cat has scratched or soiled and cleaning the carpet or furniture more frequently.
  • For renters, some landlords charge a pet deposit of $100 or more -- and it is sometimes difficult to get back.
Discounts:
  • To safeguard against a veterinary catastrophe, pet health insurance can be a wise choice. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers pet insurance quotes online, as does PetInsurance.com[2] .
Shopping for owning a cat:
  • Doing research before deciding where to get a cat and what kind to get can help a prospective cat owner make a sound choice. Keep in mind that grooming needs have a major impact on the annual expense of owning a cat. PetPeoplesPlace.com[3] offers a list of cat breeds sorted by grooming requirements. And PetUniversity.com[4] has an article on how to choose the right cat for your household.
  • Deciding where to get a cat also is important. Most experts agree that shelters and reputable breeders can be good places to get a cat, while pet stores and backyard breeders should be avoided because of he higher chance of health and behavior issues.
  • VeterinaryPartner.com[5] offers a primer on monthly exams to spot changes in a cat. And CatChannel.com[6] offers a guide to spotting dental problems.
  • Keeping a cat trim also is important for overall good health. CatChannel.com[7] has a guide to good feeding practices.
  • CatChannel.com[8] also has a guide to preventing cancer in cats.
  • The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers a guide to saving on veterinary costs.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments
Correct cost of feeding a Single Healty Cat one year.
Amount: $260.00 per year
Posted by: Siamese2 in Spokane, WA.Posted: January 23rd, 2018 01:01AM
Breed: SiameseStore: Wal-Mart
At a cost of $0.48 per can of Friskies wet can food at 1 can per day feeding and a cost of $7.00 per bag of dry cat food which a bowl is left out 24/7. is about $260. This does not include the cost of water for the animal because the amount of water is ridiculous to add to a cost of feeding.
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persian cat
Amount: $600.00 per year
Posted by: dotty parnell in San Diego, CA.Posted: January 14th, 2017 09:01PM
Breed: persianStore: amazon
food and litter 25.00 grooming 25.00 per month
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Two cats
Amount: $2,400.00 per year
Posted by: a user in Tokyo, Other.Posted: May 30th, 2015 12:05PM
Breed: Japanese BobtailStore: stray
Our two almost senior cats eat mostly high quality canned food. They share 3 cans/day. One month of food is 120 CAD. Vet: 600/year. Litter: 20/month. They've lived in Tokyo, Los Angeles, and Vancouver and these costs have not changed at all.
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new kitten
Amount: $0.00 per year
Posted by: Megan M in Rochester, NY.Posted: August 5th, 2011 06:08AM
Breed: domestic shorthairStore: stray from NYC
my vet adopted a litter of kittens from new york because they were going to be euthanized. I had wanted a kitten for a long time and my mommy finally said yes. She already had feline leukemia testing and was free to adopt. She has to go back for distemper and spaying.
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4 cats!
Amount: $600.00 per year
Posted by: blackcatzrock in corpus christi, TX.Posted: August 19th, 2010 10:08AM
Breed: mixedStore:
I have 4 cats whish we saved from the street, so initial cost was nothing, but we spent much more in the long run than we would have adopting from a shelter. We wouldn't have had it any other. We have three black cats and one multi colored.
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External Resources:
  1.  www.peteducation.com:80/article.cfm?c=1+1838&aid=1542
  2.  www.petinsurance.com/
  3.  www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/breed_profiles/cats/sort_by_grooming.htm
  4.  www.petuniversity.com/cats/becoming-a-cat-parent/selecting-a-breed.htm
  5.  www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=146&S=2
  6.  www.catchannel.com/care/dental/article_5583.aspx
  7.  www.catchannel.com/care/feeding_fat_cats.aspx
  8.  www.catchannel.com/vetlibrary/article0006.aspx
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