Before welcoming a new cat into your home, it pays to be prepared for what's ahead - and this includes budgeting. It's not just a case of bringing your cat home, and it's smooth sailing. There will always be costs associated with owning your cat. Cats require ongoing care.
Unless you've adopted one for free, there's always an initial cost or adoption fee, but what about the extra ongoing costs? What should you expect to pay? From equipment to food to insurance, we're here to help you. Here's our rundown of the expenses involved in cat ownership…
How Much Are Cats?
The average price range for buying a kitten is around £400 - £4,000+
Although there can be a lot of variation between breeds, this tends to be the ballpark cost of buying pedigree kittens registered with either the GCCF or the TICA. But don't forget that crossbreeds and moggies are just as adorable - and tend to come with a significantly lower price tag.
Before making any buying decisions, it's definitely worth taking a look at our guide on buying a kitten.
Cost of Rehoming a Cat
Rehoming a rescue or adopting a cat can be another way to keep the initial purchase cost down, as well as a great way to give a cat a second chance.
Adopt from the likes of Blue Cross or Cats Protection, and you'll get the reassurance of knowing your new cat is already wormed, neutered, microchipped, and up to date on vaccinations when you take them home.
Cat Equipment Costs
Here are all the items you'll need to buy, whether you're aiming to kitten proof your home or shortly after your cat arrives...
- Cat bedding: £50
- Collar and ID disc: £15 (altogether)
- Cat litter: £50 Per Year
- Cat scratching post: £15 - £20
- Feeding bowls: £15
- Cat carrier: £30
- Toys: £100 (if you can stop yourself)
- Cat food: £250 (average cost per year)
- Cat grooming kit: £50
- Grooming costs: £150 (average cost per year)
- Cat flap: £30-£50 plus installation costs
Cat Bedding
This covers the cost of a good quality, durable, machine washable bed, along with suitable padded blankets and cushions. You’ll only really need to replace these if the bed starts to sag, gets torn, becomes damaged or generally starts looking a little worse for wear.
Collar and ID Disc
This is the typical cost for a good leather breakaway collar. It can be adjusted as your cat grows and will only need to be replaced if it gets frayed or damaged. You can get a basic ID disc engraved with your contact details for £5 or less.
Cat Litter
Robust plastic litter trays can be bought for as little as £2 (and they can last pretty much forever!). Ideally, the litter tray should be filled with about 2-3 inches of litter. Skip out the litter every day, and you'll probably need to replace all the litter at least once a week.
Cat Scratching Post:
Cats love to scratch to keep their claws strong. A scratching post makes a much better alternative to your furniture and can definitely save you money on new upholstery!
Feeding Bowls
You’ll need separate bowls for water and food. Choose stainless steel or aluminium bowls and you shouldn’t need to replace them. They’re also very easy to keep clean.
Cat Carrier
Pretty much essential for vet visits. So long as you get a carrier that's big enough for your young cat to grow into, a good carrier can last a lifetime. They come in all shapes and sizes to suit all breed types, and all sorts of designs and colours to suit your taste!
Toys
Obviously, the sky's the limit when it comes to toy budgets. But £100 should get you a climbing tree and a decent stash of chew toys, puzzles and teasers. They'll need to be replaced if and when they get torn, frayed or sharp around the edges to avoid any accidents or injuries.
Remember, you can always add more games and toys to your offering as your cat grows and you get to know them better.
Cat Food
This can vary depending on age, breed type and any health issues. If you're unsure what to feed your kitten, when to switch them from kitten to adult food, or just what to give them altogether, your vet will be happy to advise you on the best type of feed and portion sizes for your cat.
Cat Grooming Kit
Your cat will need grooming. Its nails will need clipping, and its teeth will require cleaning. Set yourself up with a basic grooming kit to cover all of these essentials.
Grooming Costs
Long-haired breeds such as the Persian, Ragdoll and British Longhair tend to require more grooming than most breeds. If you opt for professional grooming and trimming, teeth cleaning and nail clipping, these costs can increase significantly.
Cat Flap
You might also want to factor in the cost of installing a cat flap - ones that read your cat's microchip to keep out unwanted cats cost a bit more.
Routine Cat Medical Fees
Of course, cat ownership isn't all about fun toys, food and scratching posts. There are some care costs to think about too. Here are the typical costs for essential routine vet treatments…
- Vaccinations: £70
- Microchipping: £30
- Worming: £50
- Flea and tick treatment: £60
- Neutering: Around £50 - £100
Vaccinations: £70
This includes initial vaccinations and subsequent boosters. Subsequent annual booster vaccinations will be around £45. You can find out more about the importance of this and what’s involved in our guide to guide to cat vaccinations..
Microchipping
Chipping is a very wise move; even more so for outside cats, where there's a much greater risk of straying or accidental injury. Read our guide on why pet microchipping makes perfect sense for all responsible pet owners.
Worming
Adult cats need worming at least every 3 months. If you’ve got an outdoor cat that loves hunting, you’ll need to worm it more often. This cost includes a single treatment, and vet consultation.
Flea and Tick Treatment
Monthly flea or tick treatments throughout the year are really important. This cost includes a single treatment, and vet consultation.
Neutering annd Spaying
Neutering costs vary considerably depending on the sex of your cat and your individual veterinary practice. Spaying a female cat is a more complex surgical procedure, so it usually costs more than neutering a male cat.
How Much is Cat Insurance?
All of the costs we’ve covered so far are predictable: you can pretty much guarantee that they are going to crop up - so you can budget accordingly. But what can sometimes blindside an unwary cat owner are the unpredictable expenses: especially if your cat has to be patched up after a fight or if they develop a health problem! This is why so many owners think about insurance for cats.
The cost of cat insurance can vary, there are many factors that go in to how much your premiums will be. It will depend on the breed, age, where they live, for example. But pet insurance for your cat can help if something were to happen.
From respiratory problems, kidney and bladder diseases, right through to broken bones, the list of potential cat health issues is certainly a long one.
The good news is that many of these conditions are treatable. So obviously, your mission is to get your cat treated and back on their feet with the minimum of fuss - and preferably without a huge vet bill.
The right cat insurance can make it easier to access the veterinary care your cat needs, right when they need it - and reduces the chances of being hit with a big treatment bill.
Everypaw Cat Insurance
Everypaw's Cat Insurance comes with 24/7 unlimited access to vets and vet nurses that can help with your pet's health, care, nutrition and behaviour. So you can rest assured your kitty will be well looked after.
Prices were correct at the original point of publishing.
