What’s the cost of owning a cat in 2024?

Key points

• After the first year, cats cost an average of $1,149 per year to care for. 
•  Adopting a cat is often less expensive than purchasing from a breeder.
•  Pet insurance can help limit out-of-pocket expenses for covered issues.

Cost of owning a cat

Bringing a furry feline into your life offers myriad benefits, including companionship, lower stress and anxiety and the opportunity to build healthy habits. As with most things in life, however, these benefits come with a price tag. 

First-year costs of owning a cat average $455, while ongoing costs average $1,149 per year, according to the ASPCA.¹ This includes costs for things like litter, medical care, food, toys and pet insurance. 

Adopting a cat

Adoption prices for felines typically range from $30 to $200 depending on factors such as location, breed, time at the shelter and age.² Kittens typically cost more than adult cats, for instance.

Some shelters may reach capacity and offer free or discount weekends, providing an opportunity to cut out some of the standard up-front costs. Cats adopted from rescue agencies typically have up-to-date vaccinations and have already been spayed or neutered.

Buying a cat

If you decide to work with a breeder to purchase a cat you can expect to pay between $300 to $1,000, depending on location and breed. Some rarer breeds may cost even more: Persians average between $1,500 and $5,500, while high-end Bengal kittens can cost as much as $25,000.³

First-year costs

First-year costs can vary based on whether you plan to get a kitten or adult cat, as adults have typically already been spayed or neutered. 

Initial expenses

While initial costs for cats are less than for dogs — $455 for cats, as compared to $1,030 for dogs — they can still add up.¹ 

How much you spend also depends on the types of products you purchase. While a standard litter box can cost as little as $10, self-cleaning electric boxes cost around $600.

Initial medical expenses

Initial medical expenses for your cat can vary based on the vaccines it gets and whether or not you neuter or spay your cat.⁴ 

• Feline Distemper (FVRCP) vaccine: $32.
• Feline Leukemia virus vaccine: $34.
• Neuter package (under 6 months): $217.
• Professional dental cleaning: $391.
• Rabies vaccine: $27.
• Spay package (under 6 months): $311.

Annual expenses for your cat

Annual expenses for your cat can include things like vet visits, food, litter, toys and grooming. Pet insurance may be your highest annual expense, costing around $456 a year, or $38 a month for an accident and illness plan with unlimited annual coverage, according to our analysis of pet insurance costs. 

Veterinary care

Veterinary care expenses can include treatments for disease and ailments, including common cat issues such as dental periodontitis, bladder or urinary tract infections and kidney disease. While all of these can add up, cat owners do not have to deal with issues common in dogs, such as hip dysplasia, hernias or ear hematomas.

Here’s how much different complex procedures can cost for cats. 

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Unexpected expenses

If your cat gets sick or injured, it can lead to unexpected, emergency expenses. Hospitalization for your cat can cost up to $1,500 for a one- to two-day stay, and emergency surgery can be as much as $3,000.

Worried about unexpected expenses for your cat? Pet insurance can help

Monthly cost of owning a cat

According to the ASPCA, monthly cat costs average $53 and include routine veterinary care, food and treats, litter and safe toys to help with physical activity and mental stimulation. Before investing in a new kitty, take time to consider the fixed monthly costs you're likely to incur. 

Optional monthly expenses may include things like scratching posts, hammocks, a water fountain or additional toys.

Average cost of a vet visit for a cat

Taking your cat to the veterinarian for regular checkups and vaccinations can help stave off emergency visits and unforeseen costs, as can routine services. For instance, most vets recommend dental cleaning services once every year or two to address issues such as gingivitis and periodontitis before extraction becomes necessary.

Here’s how much regular vet visits and medical expenses can cost.⁴ 

• Average vet office visit: $67.
• Vaccine: $27 to $34.
• Dental cleaning: $391.

Cost of neutering a cat

Also known as castration, neutering is a surgical procedure performed on male cats to remove both testicles and sterilize them. 

Neutering your cat is important for several reasons. In addition to helping with population control, neutering can also address behavioral changes that come with reaching puberty, such as spraying and marking with urine, roaming behavior and fighting with other cats. 

Vets recommend neutering your cat between the ages of three to six months. Here’s how much neutering a cat can cost based on age.⁴

• Neuter package (over six months): $270. 
• Neuter package (under six months): $217.

Cost of spaying a cat

This procedure is done with female cats to remove the ovaries and uterus, thus sterilizing them. As with neutering, spaying provides several benefits. Aside from population control, removing the ovaries and uterus also eliminates the possibility of cancer in these organs as well as undesirable behavioral shifts due to hormones.

As with male cats, veterinarians recommend spaying your kitten between three and six months of age. Here’s how much spaying your cat can cost based on its age.⁴

• Spay package (over six months): $366.
• Spay package (under six months): $311.

New pet parents may wonder: Does pet insurance cover spaying and neutering? 

Cost of owning a cat by breed

If you decide to purchase a specific type of cat from a breeder, you can expect higher up-front costs. The most expensive cat, the Ashera, can cost up to $125,000. Here’s how much a couple other popular, but expensive, cat breeds can cost.³ 

• Bengals: Around $3,000, but up to $25,000.
• Peterbalds: Around $5,000.
• Persians: Around $6,000.

End of life costs for a cat

Cats typically enjoy longer lifespans than dogs, averaging between 13 and 17 years. One cat, named Creme Puff, lived an incredible 38 years. While indoor cats frequently live longer than those able to roam outdoors, the sad reality is that one day you will need to say goodbye to your beloved cat.

End-of-life costs for your cat can vary if you use a humane society, vet or shelter. Here’s how much you may pay for the end of your cat’s life.⁵

• Euthanasia: $90.
• Communal cremation: $125.
• Private cremation: $210. 

Budgeting for a cat

Before giving your heart to a furry feline, take steps to budget for them so you can provide the best life possible. In addition to setting aside money to cover upfront expenses, add a monthly expense line to your budget to cover items such as litter, food and routine medical expenses.

You may also want to consider pet insurance. Here’s what different pet insurance policies cover: 

• Accident and illness. The most popular form of pet insurance, this plan covers medical expenses related to injuries and illnesses that your cat may suffer from.
• Accident-only. A cheaper pet insurance option, this type of plan only covers injury-related expenses.
• Wellness add-on. You can add a wellness plan to your accident and illness pet insurance policy to cover expenses related to routine and preventative care, like vaccinations and microchipping. 

Your monthly pet insurance premium will vary based on the type of coverage you select, the age and health of your pet, deductible amount, maximum annual coverage and reimbursement level. For cats, an unlimited accident and illness plan costs an average of $47 per month.

Shopping for pet insurance? The best pet insurance companies of 2024

Article sources

1. ASPCA
2. SPCA
3. Richmond Valley Veterinary Practice
4. Banfield Pet Hospital
5. Animal Humane Society