Most cats are known for being fairly low maintenance. As long as you give them food, water, a litter box, some toys and cuddles, they usually don’t need much more. However, there are some big costs that come with felines that go beyond pets and kisses.
Owning a cat comes with several costs, Kimberly Palmer, a personal finance expert with NerdWallet, explained. There are basic essentials, such as food and litter, but one of the biggest expenses can arise when your cat needs veterinary care. Depending on your insurance plan, those costs can vary widely. Still, some expenses are unavoidable if you want to keep your cat happy and healthy.
Breaking Down the Cost of a Cat
Here’s a breakdown of the cost per year of owning a cat, using data from NerdWallet and Rover.
- Food and treats: $320 to $1,870
- Pet sitter: $20 to $70 per night; $140 to $490 for a week
- Toys: $20 to $245
- Cat litter: $125 to $580
- Health insurance: $112 to $859
- Total: $577 to $4,044
The total varies in part because pet-sitter costs depend on whether you travel and how long you’re away.
On average, Palmer said the cost of owning a cat is estimated to be about $2,015 per year, which could total around $40,300 if the cat lives to age 20. These costs exclude adoption fees, microchipping and the startup expenses that come with bringing home a pet.
Despite these costs, owning a cat is cheaper than owning a dog.
Palmer said dogs cost an average of $2,932 per year. That said, cats tend to live longer, which could make them more expensive over time. While cats are cheaper in the short term, there are still some hefty costs. Palmer said the biggest cost is health insurance, but there are ways to make it cheaper.
Where Pet Insurance Fits In
Choosing cheaper health insurance is an option, but Palmer said you have to be prepared for a potentially large, unexpected expense. Cheaper pet insurance plans may cover accident-related care only, while other plans can include coverage for accidents, illnesses and wellness visits.
Palmer said another way to cut back on costs is with pet sitters. If you stay home rather than travel, it could save you hundreds. If you’re planning to travel, Palmer suggested booking early so you have cheaper options.
“You could send a note to your local neighborhood listserv and see if you could do some kind of exchange with someone who’s traveling at a different time. So basically, you can get creative and certainly save money. You just want to make sure you’re not planning it at the last minute, because that’s often when people feel pressure to take the most expensive option just because they don’t have time to compare,” Palmer said.
Ways to Cut Cat-Care Costs
Palmer said buying food in bulk and joining loyalty programs can also save you money.
NerdWallet suggests other ways to cut down on costs as well, like making your own toys, learning the basics of pet care so every problem doesn’t take a trip to the vet and adopting from a shelter, which is generally cheaper than buying a cat elsewhere.
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