How to Plan a Budget for Your Cat

Last Updated on January 29, 2022 by Holly Anne Dustin

It’s the season where a lot of people take a look at their finances. Are you building your budget to try to get out of debt or save money for some big expense without wrecking Kitty’s lifestyle? Or maybe increasing your budget for cat supplies to bring home a new friend? Hopefully the statistics in this post will help you plan a budget for your cats’ needs without trashing your own financial health.

Updated January 2021

Maybe you’re not reading this in January, maybe you are researching what you should budgeting for a cat before you add your first furbaby to the family. Congratulations for making a responsible decision instead of acting on impulse. Adopting a cat is an exciting decision. But the costs of cat ownership do add up. First time cat owners are often surprised by the amount a little kitten adds to their budget! A study by Synchrony Financials, the operators of Care Credit and Pets Best pet insurance, suggested that half of pet owners underestimate the costs of caring for their pet and are not prepared.

If you are going to add a furry friend to your family you need to be prepared to be in it for the long term. A cat can live upwards of 20 years. Being a cat guardian is a significant commitment of both your heart and your wallet.

Can you afford to own a cat?

Keep in mind there is no free kitten. Create a savings account for your pet just as you would a child. You won’t be paying for college for your kitty but you will save yourself so much stress and hassle if you prepare for the unexpected expenses and create a budget for your cat’s costs.

You will have to pay for:

• Vet Care: spay/neuter, microchipping, annual visits and boosters, dental care and parasite prevention.
• Equipment: litterbox, scoop, litter mat, bed, scratching posts, climbing towers, bowls, etc.
• Food and litter.
• Toys and treats.
• Licensing fees if your area requires it.
• Pet sitting when you travel.
• Grooming if you can’t groom Kitty yourself.
• Additional cleaning expenses.

If you rent you might have to pay an additional security deposit or a monthly pet fee. It can be harder to find an apartment that allows pets. If you adopt you are committing to the cat for the rest of her life. You can’t just abandon her.

How much does a cat cost?

Obviously adopting a shelter pet is significantly cheaper than purchasing a cat through a breeder. Adoption fees range from $75-$200. It varies widely across the country. The fee for a kitten is usually higher than for an adult. A senior cat might be even less expensive or possibly even free or donation.

Breed cats can range from $500 to a few thousand depending on the quality of the cat, transferable breeding rights, and the popularity of the breed and number of breeders producing quality cats.

You might be able to find a breed-specific rescue group or a breeder that has a retiring adult cat looking for a pet home if you have your heart set on a particular breed.

I’m a firm believer that the right cat finds the right person at the right time.

Are cats expensive to care for?

The ASPCA estimates the cost of caring for a cat at approximately $1200 in their first year and $800 annually after that. In my opinion that is definitely a low-ball estimate. It doesn’t consider providing true enrichment and a happy life for the cat.

The study by Synchrony surveyed 1200 pet parents and 100 veterinarians. The study showed that the lifetime cost of care for a cat to be $15,000 TO 45,000. They suggest that first year costs are $960 – $2500.

Initial equipment 

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Expenses to set up your cat will run you $50-300 to add a new cat to the family. Increase that by more than $500 if you buy a lot of smart pet products. Do some research at your favorite pet retailer and put together a budget for your cat that includes:

• Feeders and waterers
• Harness and leash
• Litterbox and scoop
• Toys
• Scratching posts
• Grooming tools
• Stain/carpet cleaners
• Beds/carrier pads
• Carrier

Food

$350-600. Better food costs more than the cheap stuff, but less than a visit to the vet for a urinary blockage

Don’t overfeed Kitty. Feed an appropriate caloric intake for your cats, not just what the cans say. Portion controls food costs and controls vet costs for problems relating to a bad diet or overfeeding, like obesity or diabetes

Medical Care

Regular care averages $375-965 according to Synchrony. Annual vet care would average $50-100 for basic checkup type care per year. An initial kitten visit with vaccinations averages $150. Call around to get an actual amount to put in your new budget for a cat, because costs vary depending on where you live. Parasite prevention, medications, vaccinations, dental care all add up.

Sick care could be in the thousands. For example:

• Urinary blockage $1200 (I paid $400 – three times. But I have a friend that spent $2500 in another area of the country. )
• Seizures $2000
• Foreign body ingestion $3000
• Accident/hit by car $3700
• Liver failure $5400
• Thyroid radiation treatment $1500
• Cancer $5000
• Diabetes could require 10K in care over the lifetime of your cat.

How much should you budget for a cat?

Kitty will add three line items to your family or personal budget. If you are just getting your first cat you’ll have to go by estimates like those in this post. You’ll be able to tighten up the amount you actually spend after 6 months or so.

Budget Monthly Expenses for Pet Supplies: 

This part of your budget includes all the stuff you buy for your furbaby every month. The monthly premium for pet insurance goes here if you opt for insurance and pay monthly. The average monthly expenses are going to be $80-250 according to Synchrony.

Cat food can cost $20-30 a month per cat. Litter can run you from $7 to $25. Flea treatment is around $15 a month per cat. Toys and treats are discretionary. Grooming can be $10 for a nail trim to $125 for a lion cut.

Annual Expenses in Your Budget for Your Cat: 

These expenses you only pay one time a year. These items include Kitty’s annual vet visit, your licensing fee if your area requires one, and your pet insurance policy if you pay it annually. Divide the total amount by 12 and deposit that amount in Kitty’s savings account, or mark it in your budget planning software or papers.

The annual vet visit averages $50-100. If you want an exact number from the beginning, call your vet and ask for an actual estimate for what the annual cost is likely to be with your vet. Prices will vary across the country. The age and health of your cat will make a difference too.

Put money aside in a pet savings account. Some vets will allow you to pre-pay the cost by putting money on account. Don’t do this if you think there is any chance you might want to change vets.

Emergency Fund: 

Unexpected medical expenses for our furbabies can cause significant stress. Thirty-eight percent of cat owners think they are prepared to absorb the expense when in fact they are not. Another recent survey shows that 42% of millennials have taken on debt to care for their pet and 10% are still paying it off. It is better to plan ahead and set up an emergency fund.

The ASPCA reports that every 6 seconds a pet parent gets a vet bill of more than $1,000. You never know when that bill is going to lead you down a rabbit hole of complications either as I recently discovered when my Treeno went in for a routine dental and developed an autoimmune reaction. Twenty vet visits later we’re still fighting it – and so are my wallet and credit cards.

Dr. Louise Murray, vice-president of the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City, states that “Owners will likely incur at least one $2,000 -4,000 bill for emergency care at some point during their pet’s lifetime.”

You must plan for this by putting some money aside just for your pet’s emergency fund. Then you will not have to choose between providing care for your cat or feeding your children or paying the mortgage.

Some people opt to open up a Care Credit card just for their cat’s expenses in case of major emergencies. They give you a length of time to pay it off without interest. It is not for everyone but it is a resource.

Is Pet Insurance worth it?

It might be. But it isn’t the right choice for every person or every cat either. There are a lot of different companies and policy options. You need to do a lot of research, read reviews and ask a lot of questions of customer service people before you sign up. It can work for you if you look at it as another way to pay a little at a time rather than one huge bill. Premiums can run you $200-400 per cat.

Read this post for more information on insurance for cats and whether or not it is worth signing your kitties up.

You can compare pet insurance plans at Money.com

The biggest downside is that pre-existing and chronic conditions aren’t covered. There is no Obamacare for cats. Breed-specific health concerns may also play a role in what is and isn’t covered.

Some policies cover office visits and preventive care, some don’t. Some cover a set fee for procedures and if your vet charges a bigger amount the insurance won’t pay the extra. It can be as big or bigger a headache to deal with a pet insurance company as it is to deal with your personal health insurance.

How to save money on cat care?

Raising a cat is just like raising a human. There’s not one figure someone can give you for how much it costs to raise your human child to adulthood while keeping them happy and healthy. There are estimates of course. But so much depends on your circumstances, what you can afford, and what you are willing to pay.

Your actual costs will depend on which breed you choose, your cat’s health, the type of food you buy, where you live, your lifestyle choices, and whether or not you invest in pet insurance. Wise buying decisions can save you money whether you are buying for a child or furbaby.

Money Saving Tips for Cat Guardians

These tips will help give your cats their best life possible while making it easier on the wallet.

• Adopt from a shelter instead of a breeder.
• Go for an adult cat, not a kitten. The adoption fees are usually lower and the initial vetting will all be done.
• Sometimes you can find special adoption events where the fees are reduced or even waived to clear the shelter. Valentine’s Day seems to be popular. Clear the Shelters Day is in August. Stay in touch with your local shelters and rescues to see if they have something coming up.
• Sign up for cash back apps like Ibotta and Rakuten.
• Your local independent pet stores likely have frequent buyers’ programs. Some online sellers may as well. Over time, this can earn you free bags of litter or cases of food.
• Sign up for an email newsletter from your favorite brands and follow them on Facebook or Twitter. Brands often send out coupons or deals just for their subscribers.
• Stock up when your preferred products are on sale. Buy in bulk.
• Use subscribe and save at Amazon or Chewy to save on the stuff you normally buy.
• Shop online and pick up in-store deals can save you at big box stores like PetSmart and Walmart.
• Shopping around can help keep your cat care budget lean. Buy prescription drugs at a pharmacy, not your vet. Ask your vet if a generic is ok. Check with Chewy’s online pharmacy (or Petsmart or Petco.) You can save on things like flea meds, wormers, and supplements.
• DIY toys, beds, towers. Shop at garage sales or thrift stores for bowls and bedding or furniture you can refurb into cat playscapes. Bonus points if it helps support a rescue or shelter.
• Look for discounts on vet care. You can usually clinics for vaccinations and basic well-care. Most areas have lower cost spay and neuter programs. Sometimes vet practices will have specials on certain services at certain times of the year.

You can find more tips on how to save on vet care in this post.

You want to be able to control the cost of owning cats without sacrificing their quality of life. It is important to give your furbaby an enriched lifestyle, provide proper medical care, and a good diet. It is quite possible to spoil your Kitty and still stick to the budget you made for your cat.