How Much Does a Cat Cost? What You Need To Know

Bringing a cat into the house is a joy, but it’s important to consider the costs associated with pet care — nearly $1,000 per year or more. The cost of cat ownership is up nearly 10% across the board, and these costs are expected to keep rising.¹ So before you bring a cat home, make sure you’ve budgeted for all the essentials so you can keep them well-fed, healthy, and happy.

Let’s break down the costs associated with adoption, medical expenses, and the essentials, and how a MetLife Pet Insurance policy could help you cover some of these costs. 

The Cost of Getting a Cat

The cost of getting a cat can vary significantly. It depends on whether you decide to adopt or buy your new cat from a breeder.

Cost of adopting a cat from a shelter

The cost of adopting a cat from a shelter or rescue can cost up to $125 — but in some cases, you might be able to adopt a furry friend for free.¹ Generally, adoption fees depend on if they’re a senior cat or a kitten. However, some places offer promotions throughout the year to encourage adoptions, so keep your eyes peeled for discounts and other offers.

Many shelters also vaccinate and spay or neuter cats before putting them up for adoption,² so you may not have to worry about those kitten costs upfront.

Cost of buying a cat from a breeder

If you’re looking for a specific cat breed or a purebred kitten, then you may be considering buying a cat from a breeder. Purebred cats usually range from $500 – $1,500 on average, but some breeds can cost more.²

Many breeders won’t spay, neuter, or vaccinate their kittens before you take them home. So make sure you talk to the breeder regarding those procedures and budget accordingly.

Breaking Down the Costs of Owning a Cat

The first year of owning a cat is usually the most expensive because there are a lot of initial costs to consider. Between the price of adopting or buying the cat, medical expenses, cat supplies, and random fees, you’ll definitely want to make a budget.

• Cost per year: The average yearly cost to care for a cat is between $830 and $3,095 if you’re bringing a kitten home, and $760 – $3,495 for an adult cat.¹ However, these costs can vary depending on your cat’s breed, age, size, and specific health needs.
• Cost per month: If you stick to a monthly budget, knowing the average cost of owning a cat per month might be more beneficial for you. For a medium-size breed, you can expect to spend between $70 and $260 each month, an 11% increase from 2024.¹

Let’s dive into some of the other upfront costs you’ll face after bringing your cat home.

Food and treats

Feeding your cat tends to be the highest ongoing expense. On average, you can expect to spend between $240 and $1,980 a year on cat food and treats.¹

However, the specific amount you spend will depend on your cat’s dietary needs, their size, and what type of food you choose. Wet food is typically more expensive than dry food,² but it can be more appealing to some pickier cats.

If you’re looking to save money on cat supplies, don’t cut your food budget. It’s important to buy reputable cat food brands that provide proper nutrition to help keep your cat happy and healthy.²

Litter box and cat litter

You’ll need to get a litter box for your cat and can typically find one for about $20, but higher-end options exist for more money. The litter itself costs about $180 – $485 a year.¹ You could buy it in bulk to save money.

Other kitty essentials

Cats need more than just food and litter though, and those small expenses add up. They need entertainment, scratching deterrents, a collar, and other accessories. Here’s a list to get you started and what you could spend during the first year on these items:^1,2

• Cat bed: $10 – $310
• Cat toys: $10 – $80
• Scratching post: $10 and up
• Cat tree: $10 and up
• Cat carrier: $20 – $170
• Food and water bowls: $4 – $65
• Collar: $5 – $30
• ID tag: $10
• Grooming supplies: $5 – $55
• Microchipping: $10 – $35
• License: $4 – $35

Health care

Initial health care may be partially or wholly covered by the shelter you go through. Other types of health care involve annual costs for keeping your cat healthy and safe, as well as unexpected medical care expenses.

• Initial medical costs: When you first bring a cat home, you’ll want to make sure they get spayed or neutered, which can cost between $310 and $560. You’ll also need to cover core vaccinations, which are around $200.¹ Prices vary depending on several factors, such as the age of the cat and where you’re adopting them from, so do a little research to make sure you’re budgeting accordingly.
• Routine appointments: Routine appointments include vet visits for vaccinations and annual checkups, which average around $65 – $89 year.¹
• Preventative medications: Protecting your new cat against heartworm, fleas, and ticks is important because it can prevent other health issues from occurring due to those parasites. Preventative programs usually cost about $140 or more.³
• Dental care: Cats need an annual teeth cleaning to prevent bacteria and plaque from building up. Cat teeth cleanings cost on average around $300.⁴ This may seem high, but cats are prone to cavities, diseases, and periodontitis, which is why cat dental care is so important.
• Unexpected costs: Life is unpredictable, and your cat’s health is no exception. Emergency veterinary care can be costly. Depending on what’s wrong, the price of diagnostics and treatment can be thousands of dollars. But a MetLife Pet cat insurance policy could reimburse you up to 90% of emergency vet bills.⁵ If you like to be prepared, pet insurance may be worth it.

Pet Insurance Can Help Cover the Costs of Owning a Cat

From the moment you bring your cat home, there will be ongoing expenses to think about. MetLife Pet Insurance can help cat owners cover the costs of diagnosis, treatment, and hospitalization. Plus, our Preventive Care add-on plan can cover things like parasite prevention, spaying or neutering costs, and vaccines.

Get started today with a free quote to see your custom policy price that fits your budget. That way, you don’t have to pick between your pet’s care and your finances.