How Much Does It Cost to Take Care of a Cat?

The first year of having a cat is generally the most expensive, with costs ranging from $1,200–$4,000. It sure varies depending on your location, cats’ age, breed, condition, and many other factors. But you need a budget of at least $400 upfront for essentials in the very first month of getting a cat. 

Later on, the monthly costs can be as low as $60. The fact that you are searching for the cost to take care of a cat and reading this blog shows your aim to give your cat a quality life.

Let’s help you achieve that.

Cat Care Budget Overview

Here, I have categorized costs of everything your cat might need, from the adoption fee to cat toys, for a healthy and happy life. Needless to say, your cat won’t need everything at once. Many things on this list are optional as well. But knowing all these cat expenses beforehand will help you plan a pet care budget for them accordingly. 

Expense Category	Item/Service	Budget for
One-time Expenses	Adoption Fee or Purchase from a breeder	$50–150 or $500–1,500
	Spay/ Neuter	$350–$550
	Core Vaccination	$100–200
	Pet License	$5–35
	Microchipping	$45–70
Initial Essentials & Setup	Collar	$5–30
	ID Tag	$6–15
	Food and Water Bowls	$10–50
	Liter Box	$16–300
	Cat Bed	$10–200
	Cat Carrier	$15–200
	Grooming Supplies	$20–100
	Cat Toys	$5–80
	Scratching Post	$20–70
	Cat Tree	$20–150
Monthly Ongoing Expenses	Cat Food	$30–70/month
	Liter	$20–40/month
	Cat Treats	$30–50/month
Yearly or Bi-annual Expenses	Routine Vet Checkup	$60–300
	Vaccination/Preventive Care	$200–700
	Dental Cleaning	$200–800
As Needed	Professional Grooming	$30–100/session
	Pet Sitting	$15–50/day

👉Read the complete guide to how to take care of a Cat

Cat Care Budget Breakdown

There is a wide range of prices for every cat care necessity. Now that you have already seen the overview, understanding the key cat ownership costs will give you scope to cut down the cost of cat care.

Cost of Getting a Cat: Adoption vs. Buying

Adopting from a shelter usually requires an adoption fee of $50–150. However, there are many places that lower the fee, provide discounts, or offer free adoption at special events to encourage adoption at different times of the year. It largely depends on the age and condition of the cats. Moreover, many shelters also vaccinate, neuter, or spay before putting up for adoption. This decreases the initial healthcare costs.

In comparison, buying any specific cat or purebred kitten from the breeder can cost around $500–1,500 or more, depending on the breed. They usually don’t vaccinate or neuter the cat. 

Also, getting a stray cat home won’t necessarily cut down the cost of cat care. The real cost of taking care of a cat from the streets might even be more than shelter cats. You need to take the cat to a shelter to scan for microchips and spend money on vet visits to ensure good health. After doing all that, they might run away or turn out to be someone’s cat from the opposite building. 

Cat Healthcare Costs

Initially, shelter may cover partial or complete healthcare costs. If you buy from breeders, you might need to spend $350–$550 to spay or neuter the cat. The core vaccination will cost around $100–200. Moreover, kittens will also need you to have a budget for vaccination boosters for the first four months. It will then resume to being yearly shots. 

Regardless of how healthy your cat is, it’s always recommended for all cats to have a veterinary checkup at least once a year. They might also need an annual vaccine shot or preventative treatment or both, ranging from $200–$700. 

Apart from that, cats also need annual teeth cleaning to prevent bacteria and plaque. 

Depending on the breed, the cat might need routine eye or ear cleaning. Some cat breeds are more prone to specific illnesses, making their healthcare more important compared to other cat breeds. Moreover, an emergency can occur anytime, requiring you to spend $800–1,500 or more for emergency veterinary care.

Cat Food and Treats Expenses

The biggest part of the ongoing monthly cat cost is food. Essential cat food for one month typically costs $30–70 for a healthy cat. However, this will vary based on your cat’s age, size, nutritional requirements, breed, etc. Moreover, cats with any special condition or prescribed diet might require a bigger budget. Here, wet food is better for some health conditions and picky eaters. However, they are more expensive than dry food and can’t be left out for more than a few hours. 

There is a wide variation of cat food in the market. You might need to occasionally switch up or rotate the cat food to keep your cat interested. Many cats get bored eating the same food for a long time. So, don’t forget to keep this in your daily cat care routine. But of course, the switch or rotation needs to be done gradually over 1–2 weeks to avoid gastrointestinal upset. 

As for treats, they are great for training cats and reinforcing positive behaviors. For instance, training an older cat to use the litter box, or just for extra nutrition. You might need $30–50/month for that. But no matter how much your cat needs training or likes the treats, it shouldn’t be more than 5–10% of your cat’s total calories intake of the day. This is important to maintain your cat’s good health. 

Litter Box and Litter Expenses

Depending on the size and features, you can get a litter box for as low as $16. But for better odor management and advanced features like self-cleaning, you will need around $150 or more. A quality litter box can go a long way. As for the litter itself, expect to spend around $20–40 every month. You can cut down litter costs here by buying them in bulk. 

👉Learn more about how to litter train a stray cat to use the litter box.

Setup Costs & Other Additional Expenses

A cat license, a cat collar, and tags are necessary for safety, no matter how much of an indoor cat breed you are planning to adopt. 

Your cat can make do without a cat bed, tower, scratching post, or toys. They can snuggle in your bed or jump up onto the counters more. But providing these small things, like training them to use a scratching post, will keep them well rested and ensure their happiness. These will also limit the damage around the house. You can groom your cat at home with grooming supplies, costing from $20–$100. 

FAQ

Wrapping It Up

Getting a cat is a commitment to give years of love and care. Unfortunately, the cat supplies costs may keep changing because of the inflammation. However, the cost to take care of a cat is nothing compared to the companionship they provide. But knowing the cost range is necessary to prepare for the expenses beforehand. With the right planning, the companionship of a cat far outweighs the cost of cat care.