How Much Does a Cat Cost? (Lifetime and Monthly)
Analysis into the lifetime cost of owning a cat carried out by Household Pets in 2023 has produced shocking results. Taking forecasted inflation into account, the breakdown of costs shows that cat owners should budget their future spending.
Methodology
1) By researching the individual products and services necessary to care for a cat, such as items available online at Pets at Home, this overview provides an in-depth breakdown of the costs of owning a cat throughout its lifetime.
2) This report also analyses the cost of different breeds and sizes of cats to provide a more comprehensive breakdown.
3) Using an inflation forecast, Household Pets can estimate the cost of owning a cat in the future.
Pet owners can use this overview of costs to determine which cat breed and size is the best option for them before they buy.
Results
The cost of owning a cat can be broken down into lifetime totals as well as monthly costs.
This breakdown of costs has been further split by small, medium, and large cats, as they will consume different amounts of food, affecting the lifetime and monthly totals.
Lifetime Cost of Owning a Cat
| Cat Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (3kg | 15 years) | £16,802.82 | £35,776.77 | £75,795.35 |
| Small Crossbreed (3kg | 15 years) | £16,352.82 | £34,826.77 | £74,195.35 |
| Medium Pedigree (4kg | 15 years) | £18,932.28 | £42,431.38 | £80,267.49 |
| Medium Crossbreed (4kg | 15 years) | £18,482.28 | £41,481.38 | £78,667.49 |
| Large Pedigree (5kg | 15 years) | £20,660.96 | £48,358.69 | £85,697.93 |
| Large Crossbreed (5kg | 15 years) | £20,210.96 | £47,408.69 | £84,097.93 |
Monthly Cost of Owning a Cat
| Cat Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (3kg | 15 years) | £93.35 | £198.76 | £421.09 |
| Small Crossbreed (3kg | 15 years) | £90.85 | £193.48 | £412.20 |
| Medium Pedigree (4kg | 15 years) | £105.18 | £235.73 | £445.93 |
| Medium Crossbreed (4kg | 15 years) | £102.68 | £230.45 | £437.04 |
| Large Pedigree (5kg | 15 years) | £114.78 | £268.66 | £476.10 |
| Large Crossbreed (5kg | 15 years) | £112.28 | £263.38 | £467.21 |
Detailed Data - See All the Costs of Owning a Cat
When it comes to buying a cat, the costs can be split into initial costs and ongoing costs.
Initial costs include the purchase of a cat, vet costs, and buying items that are essential for proper care, like litter trays, scratch posts, bowls, etc.
Ongoing costs are purchases that will need to be made regularly throughout the cat’s lifetime.
The essential items for owning a cat are listed in the tables below, as well as the costs.
Initial Costs
The breed and size of the cat can affect the initial costs, as can the cat’s age and the quality of the chosen products; buying a more expensive cat bed will obviously increase the overall initial costs.
Cat owners can expect to pay between £980.14 and £8,090.83 in the first year of owning a cat.
Costs of the Kitten
| Type of Cat Breed | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pedigree Kitten | £450.00 | £950.00 | £1,600.00 |
| Crossbreed Kitten | £0.00 | £380.00 | £1,000.00 |
Pedigree kittens and cats are often more expensive than crossbreed kittens and cats, so the initial costs can differ depending on the breeding. Some crossbreed kittens have been listed as “free to good home” while the cheapest pedigree kitten is £950.
In the first year of owning a cat, people can expect to pay up to £8,090.83. This is one of the most expensive years in a cat’s lifetime, as it includes buying the kitten, vaccinations, microchipping, neutering or spaying, insurance, food, and essential items, such as a bowl, litter tray, carrier, etc.
Insurance and Vet Costs
| Service | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Pack (including health check, initial vaccinations, microchipping, flea and worming treatment) | £75.00 | £75.00 | £75.00 |
| Neutering/Spaying | £89.00 | £124.00 | £159.00 |
| Vaccination Booster | £52.00 | £52.00 | £52.00 |
| Insurance | £139.20 | £139.20 | £139.20 |
A year’s insurance for kittens is £139.20 on average. This is an essential cost, similar to the initial vet care kittens receive. Both of these aspects of initial costs could amount to £425.20.
Other One-Off Initial Costs
| Item | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collar | £1.50 | £10.00 | £21.00 |
| Lead | £7.00 | £9.00 | £12.50 |
| Harness | £7.00 | £9.00 | £12.00 |
| Bowl | £2.00 | £9.00 | £169.99 |
| Litter Tray | £3.50 | £25.00 | £142.00 |
| Bed | £6.00 | £28.00 | £138.50 |
| Carrier | £12.00 | £25.00 | £149.00 |
| Brush | £3.00 | £11.00 | £22.00 |
| Toy | £0.50 | £6.00 | £28.00 |
| Scratch Post | £8.00 | £51.00 | £288.50 |
| Cat Flap | £10.00 | £30.00 | £116.00 |
Ongoing Costs
Just like the initial costs, the ongoing costs will vary depending on the breed and size of the cat and the quality of items bought. Over the course of a cat’s life, Household Pets found that owners could spend between £16,352.82 and £85,697.93.
After paying the initial costs in the first year of owning a cat, owners can pay between £785.21 and £3,427.28 the following year in 2024.
Cost to Feed a Cat
One of the most expensive items to buy for a cat is food, specifically wet food. Depending on the weight of the cat, some cats might eat as much as 1,836 pouches of wet cat food. This could set pet owners back by up to £2,598.10 a year.
Monthly Dry Food Costs
| Cat Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (3kg | 15 years) | £6.59 | £10.21 | £16.59 |
| Small Crossbreed (3kg | 15 years) | £6.59 | £10.21 | £16.59 |
| Medium Pedigree (4kg | 15 years) | £9.89 | £15.31 | £16.59 |
| Medium Crossbreed (4kg | 15 years) | £9.89 | £15.31 | £16.59 |
| Large Pedigree (5kg | 15 years) | £13.18 | £15.31 | £16.59 |
| Large Crossbreed (5kg | 15 years) | £13.18 | £15.31 | £16.59 |
Monthly Wet Food Costs
| Cat Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (3kg | 15 years) | £30.43 | £97.73 | £161.49 |
| Small Crossbreed (3kg | 15 years) | £30.43 | £97.73 | £161.49 |
| Medium Pedigree (4kg | 15 years) | £38.96 | £129.59 | £186.34 |
| Medium Crossbreed (4kg | 15 years) | £38.96 | £129.59 | £186.34 |
| Large Pedigree (5kg | 15 years) | £45.27 | £162.52 | £216.51 |
| Large Crossbreed (5kg | 15 years) | £45.27 | £162.52 | £216.51 |
Lifetime Dry Food Costs
| Cat Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (3kg | 15 years) | £1,186.27 | £1,837.01 | £2,985.38 |
| Small Crossbreed (3kg | 15 years) | £1,186.27 | £1,837.01 | £2,985.38 |
| Medium Pedigree (4kg | 15 years) | £1,779.40 | £2,755.51 | £2,985.38 |
| Medium Crossbreed (4kg | 15 years) | £1,779.40 | £2,755.51 | £2,985.38 |
| Large Pedigree (5kg | 15 years) | £2,372.53 | £2,755.51 | £2,985.38 |
| Large Crossbreed (5kg | 15 years) | £2,373.53 | £2,755.51 | £2,985.38 |
Lifetime Wet Food Costs
| Cat Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (3kg | 15 years) | £5,477.34 | £17,590.72 | £29,068.87 |
| Small Crossbreed (3kg | 15 years) | £5,477.34 | £17,590.72 | £29,068.87 |
| Medium Pedigree (4kg | 15 years) | £7,013.67 | £23,326.83 | £33,541.00 |
| Medium Crossbreed (4kg | 15 years) | £7,013.67 | £23,326.83 | £33,541.00 |
| Large Pedigree (5kg | 15 years) | £8,149.21 | £29,254.14 | £38,971.45 |
| Large Crossbreed (5kg | 15 years) | £8,149.21 | £29,254.14 | £38,971.45 |
Cost of Cat Litter
Cat litter is another ongoing cost that is often a necessary purchase, especially if the cat is kept indoors.
Monthly Cat Litter Costs
| Item | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat Litter | £11.86 | £30.38 | £106.41 |
Lifetime Cat Litter Costs
| Item | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat Litter | £2,134.82 | £5,468.92 | £19,153.66 |
Cost of Insurance
The insurance costs are likely to more than triple in a cat’s average lifetime, from kitten to 15-year-old cat. A kitten can be insured for £139.20, but this increases to £500.63 for a cat that is 15 years old.
Other Ongoing Costs
| Item | Minimum Annual Cost | Mid Annual Cost | Maximum Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treats | £64.74 | £119.34 | £675.74 |
| Shampoo | £4.00 | £10.00 | £19.50 |
| Flea, Tick, and Worm Treatment | £36.00 | £64.00 | £78.00 |
Final Words
Some costs are not included in this report, such as emergency vet fees and cattery fees.
Knowing the financial needs of owning a cat can help to prepare owners for this long-term commitment.
Requests for Full Data
The data across our cost of pet ownership study took us hundreds of hours to research, analyse, filter and present the findings of. It is the most expansive and in-depth study into UK pet ownership costs anywhere online.
We are willing to share the full raw data with interested parties, however this is by request only. Please email [email protected] to ask for a copy and we will get back to you.