Adding a new cat to your family can be exciting, but it’s an expense you’ll need to budget carefully for. Like all pets, cats need care beyond a home to stay in and fresh food to eat.
Adopting a cat or kitten from a local shelter can be more affordable than purchasing your feline friend from a breeder. Plus, you could have the chance to rescue an animal who might face a terrible fate if left in a shelter. Of the 1.5 million shelter animals euthanized each year, more than half are cats, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
On a positive note, the rate of animals euthanized has been on the decline, partially due to the number of Americans who choose to rescue animals from shelters.
Before you adopt a cat, however, here are some costs to consider.
The adoption fee
Most adoption centers or local shelters will charge an adoption fee once you find the perfect cat to bring home. The fee will vary depending on the center, along with the animal’s age, breed and size, and ranges from $47 to $255, according to the Animal Humane Society.
Fees generally decrease with the age of the cat. For example, PAWS Chicago charges a $125 adoption fee for a kitten (younger than 1 year old), $100 for a cat that is 1 to 2 years old, $75 for a cat between 2 and 4 years old, and $25 for a cat 5 years old or older.
The good news is that the adoption fee is generally not simply an administration or processing fee. The funds can also go toward care for your new cat, including a general physical examination, flea and tick treatment, a heartworm test and sometimes even food and medications to start off with for the first few weeks.
When adopting a cat, be sure to clarify what your adoption fee covers with the shelter or center you chose.
[See: The True Costs of Owning a Pet — and How to Spend Less.]
(AP Photo/Holly Ramer)
AP Photo/Holly Ramer
Spaying or neutering. If your cat is not spayed or neutered, and if the adoption fee doesn’t cover those procedures, it could be an expense you’ll need to cover. Spaying your female cat or neutering your male cat is a personal decision as it will sterilize the animal and halt reproduction.
It’s a safe surgical procedure that can cost up to $200 depending on the cat’s age, size and general health.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Immunizations and medical needs. Immunizations are another expense to consider when adopting a cat. Your adoption fee should cover initial immunizations, but you’ll be responsible for paying for annual immunizations moving forward.
Routine medical care, which includes a yearly physical exam and vaccinations, is strongly recommended for your feline friend. On average, you can expect to pay between $65 and $150 for annual vaccines, routine testing and examinations for your cat.
If you adopt a cat who likes to roam outdoors often, he or she will have additional medical needs for tests and preventative care such as heartworm, flea and tick medicine.
(Getty Images)
Getty Images
Initial costs for gear. You want your newly adopted cat to feel comfortable in its new home and function well, which is why you’ll want to purchase necessary gear and supplies as you leave the adoption center.
Items such as a litter box, scoop, litter, water dish, food bowl, carrier, bedding, scratching post and toys are all basic staples to add to your list.
(Getty Images)
Getty Images
Food. Be sure to add cat food to your household budget because you’ll be buying a lot of it. There’s a wide array of wet and dry cat food to choose from.
Your cat may even favor one type of food or brand over another kind. Be mindful that your cat could have certain allergies or special dietary needs based on a medical condition.
You’ll want to talk to the adoption center or the veterinarian who performs a physical exam to make sure you know what type of food to purchase for your cat.
(Getty Images)
Getty Images
Pet health insurance. Pet health insurance is not a must-have, but it’s definitely something to consider, especially if you adopted a kitten. Pet care policies are typically cheapest for young pets. The older your pet, the more likely it could be denied for coverage due to preexisting conditions. Some pets are even denied coverage if they are a breed that is typically associated with certain hereditary conditions.
Pet health insurance can provide flexible coverage for dogs, cats, kittens and puppies. The policy helps cover a variety of medical events, including emergency care, injuries, genetic conditions, hospitalization, prescriptions, alternative treatment, cancer and other illnesses.
Just like with regular health insurance, you’ll pay a monthly premium and have a deductible.
You can get free quotes from comparison site PetInsuranceQuotes.com. Quotes depend on factors like the cat’s age and breed but for a 6-year-old mixed breed cat, for example, insurer Trupanion charges between $32 and $91 per month.
[See: 11 Expenses Destroying Your Budget.]
(Getty Images)
Getty Images
Your pet emergency fund. If you don’t want to pay for ongoing insurance, set up a separate savings account for pet emergencies. Otherwise, you might turn to credit cards to cover expenses and wind up in debt.
Keep in mind that these expenses are planned or expected costs, but you could also be faced with some unexpected costs in the future.
This is why it’s best to establish an emergency fund and factor in pet emergency expenses as well, so you can be prepared.
[See: How to Build an Emergency Fund.]
(Courtesy Philadelphia Zoo)
Courtesy Philadelphia Zoo
Grooming. Domestic cats already do a pretty good job of grooming themselves and keeping clean. However, you may need to consider nail trimming, ear cleaning or dematting services.
Some breeds of cats have fur that gets tangled and needs to be professionally combed and trimmed. Groomers at a national chain such as PetSmart charge $51 to $75 per session for a cat.
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
