The Cost of Cat Parenthood in 2025

Recently, it feels like the cost of everything has increased — but what about the cost of being a cat parent? According to Rover’s survey of 1,000 pet parents, nearly half (49%) of cat parents are concerned about the rising cost of pet care over their pet’s lifetime.  This year, cat parents can expect annual costs to increase by as much as 10%. We’ll break that down further throughout our report on the cost of cat care in 2025.

From the moment you bring your cat home, your cat’s lifetime costs can range from $10,725 to $61,520. Factors that influence this cost include the size of your cat and their lifespan. Coincidentally, 40% of cat parents agree that size was a more important factor in choosing their cat than cost or breed.

If these costs feel like a lot to take in, you’re not alone — 27% of cat parents admit they are worried about being able to afford the things their pet needs right now. Learning what costs to anticipate, especially for a cat’s senior years, can help you stay within budget. And remember, the average healthy cat lives for 12 to 18 years — but some even live up to 20.

At Rover, we’ve witnessed this cost rise as we refresh our data this year, researching prices across the nation and interviewing experts. A significant factor contributing to the cost of cat care is the rising trend of premium cat toys, trees, and scratchers (68%). This trend has widened the gap between the low- and high-end prices of pet products.

Let’s break down the cost of cat parenthood into four categories: upfront costs when you first bring your kitty home, annual essentials you’ll be buying every year, optional extras that vary based on factors like your cat’s breed, age, and lifestyle, and lastly, the costs unique to senior kitties and end-of-life care, which we’ll explore at the end of this article.

Cat Prices: How Much Does It Cost to Get a Cat?

When it comes to adopting a cat, you can expect the upfront costs to range from $765 to $2,715 in the first year. This is a 4% increase from last year, largely due to the rising prices of veterinary care (8%) and enrichment toys, such as cat trees and scratching posts (68%).

A cat’s size and age can also play a major role in the initial cost for supplies, such as kitten food, size-appropriate toys and veterinary care. 

Up-front costs for bringing your cat home:

Let’s break these costs down.

First up, adoption fees: kitten vs. older cat

The cost of adopting a cat varies greatly, from bringing home a cute, free kitten from your neighbor to finding the perfect pet at your local humane society. You could even adopt through a specialty cat breeder, which could cost you upwards of $1,000, though we didn’t account for those costs in our estimates.

For most people, adopting a cat will range from $30 to $125. This is a 16% decrease from 2024, largely due to lower adoption rates. Sometimes, the adoption fee will cover the spay or neuter costs. But if they don’t, keep in mind that those surgeries can cost between $310 and $560 depending on when you spay or neuter your cat.

Cost of cat vet visits

The cost of cat vet visits will vary based on the age of your kitten or cat when you bring them home. Kittens will need a series of vaccination boosters for the first 4 months ($100 to $200) and then a yearly shot for upkeep ($80 to $150). 

Some vet clinics may skip the office visit fee (average $75) and charge a vet tech fee instead, if your cat is only getting a vaccination. You may also be able to find low-cost cat vaccination programs near you.

Other essential one-time costs to consider are: 

• microchip ($10 to $35) in case your cat ever gets lost
• a pet license ($5 to $35) to help prove vaccinations
• grooming supplies, such as a brush ($5 to $45) and nail trimmers ($5 to $55)

Cat necessities vs. optional supplies 

The upfront cost of cat supplies can range from $105 to $1,520. These prices may seem high but we also included high-end products such as ceiling-to-floor cat trees or high-tech litter robots. Most cat items only need to be purchased once every year or two, with the exception of litter and cat food, which are a monthly to bi-monthly expenses. 

To help your new kitty feel at home and part of the family, follow our new kitten supply checklist. The costs below represent one-time purchases:

• Cat carrier ($20 to $170)
• Collar ($5 to $30)
• Food and water bowls ($4 to $65)
• Litter box ($10 to $475)
• Scratching post or cat tree ($10 to $560)
• Cat bed ($10 to $310)
• Cat toys ($10 to $80)
• Litter ($15 to $45)
• Cat food and treats ($20 to $165)

For new cat parents, opt for more affordable options before splurging. For some cats, a simple cardboard scratcher, a perch to watch the world go by (such as a pillow on a windowsill), and a basic kitty litter pan will work just fine. Remember, cats are creatures who sleep up to 20 hours a day and love to play with toilet paper rolls!

How Much Does a Cat Cost Per Year?

Once your cat is settled in, it’s important to factor in the costs you can expect to pay throughout the year. You can expect to spend between $830 and $3,095 for kittens. This reflects a 10% increase from last year. 

If you’re bringing home an adult cat, or wondering how much your kitten will cost you after the first year, expect an 8% increase in spending. An adult cat may cost between $760 and $3,495 per year until they become a senior. 

Interestingly, the cost of a senior cat may drop by up to 31%, largely due to decreased food and supply costs. However, this does not include late-stage care, such as mobility aids, medication, and dental cleaning, which could add an additional $3,355 per year.

Annual Cost of Cats By Life Stage

Let’s break the costs down

• Food costs: In 2025, cat parents can expect to spend $240 to $1,980 on food, depending on the brand, type of cat food, and how often your kitty needs to eat. We calculated these costs based on a combination of feeding 2/3 dry and 1/3 wet food. 
• Litter: Another essential for all indoor cats, litter typically costs $180 to $485 a year to keep your cat’s bathroom fresh and clean. Senior cats shouldn’t use more litter than usual, as increased urination or inappropriate urination is often a sign of a medical issue.
• Toys: While cats aren’t as prone to regularly destroying their toys like dogs, it’s important to keep them active and stimulated with new toys to hunt and play with. Cat toys cost anywhere from $10 to $80 a year depending on what kind of toys your cat likes (from interactive robotic toys to cheap feather wands) and how often you replace them.
• Routine vet visits: In 2025, your cat’s annual check up will be around $65 to $89.
• Pet insurance: You may also opt for pet insurance, which can help with alleviating surprise or emergency costs. Pet insurance for cats can cost anywhere from $22 to $105 per month or $265 to $1,210 per year. 

How Much Does End-of-Life Care Cost for a Cat?

As difficult as it can be to imagine, a pet’s senior years and end-of-life care are important to keep in mind. A cat’s needs will change as they age, and it’s important for pet parents to show up for and support them at every stage of life.

Depending on your cat’s health and other considerations, the costs during your cat’s golden years and at the time of their death could range from $2,265 to $4,385.

What Is the Monthly Breakdown of Cat Expenses?

It may be easier to break down your budget into monthly expenses so you know how much to set aside. On average, cat parents with a medium-sized breed can expect to spend between $70 and $260 per month on their cat’s care. From food to vet visits and unexpected expenses, this reflects a 11% increase from last year.

Here is how much you may spend on your cat each month:

• Diet & health (approx. $30 to $115): This category includes everything related to wellness, from food, treats, and chews to monthly preventatives.
• Medical (approx. $29 to $62): This covers vet visits, medications, and dental care.
• Gear (approx. $5 to $11): This includes items like litter, toys, cat beds, and trees.
• Grooming (approx. $3): This includes brushes and nail trimmers, which after often purchased once a year.
• Pet care services (approx. $36 to $63 annually): This category covers cat sitting, drop-ins, and boarding.
• Miscellaneous (approx. $30 to $65 annually): Unplanned pet care costs, such as emergency vet services and unexpected items, fall into this category.

Note: Grooming, pet care, and surprise costs, such as emergency vet visits or miscellaneous products, are more likely to occur once a quarter or year rather than monthly. As a result, we multiplied the monthly cost by 12 to show a more realistic spend for the average healthy cat.

How Expensive Can a Cat Get? Additional Extras

Unexpected expenses can make a significant dent in your cat’s annual costs and vary depending on your cat’s situation. It’s important to keep surprise costs in mind. These potential costs, which can range from absolutely necessary to optional, average between $1,135 and $2,865 total.

Here’s what may factor into your surprise costs:

• Emergency vet visit: Hopefully, you’ll never need to visit an emergency vet, but if you do, a visit can average anywhere from $310 to $1,850 for services such as emergency surgeries, x-rays, imaging, and overnight care.
• Cat boarding or sitting: Don’t forget to factor cat care costs when you go on a trip! Cat care can cost as little as $20 for a drop in visit or up to $65 per night for an overnight cat sitter in your home.
• Professional grooming: A typical cat grooming appointment costs up to $155, or $620 per year. If you have a long-haired cat or breed with a coat that requires regular maintenance, grooming is important to budget for four grooming sessions a year (or learn how to do yourself.)
• Litter disposal system: A litter disposal system such as a Litter Genie (which is like a diaper pail, but for cat litter) are a level up from the traditional litter box, but many pet parents appreciate the convenience, and they are relatively inexpensive to purchase at about $30 to $50.

A note about pet deposit

If you rent your home, you’ll likely need to pay additional pet rent or put down a pet deposit before bringing your cat home. Cat urine is notoriously difficult to remove so landlords typically charge a pet deposit. A cat deposit adds up to about $70 to $500 annually for the average renter. 

Additional Tips and Resources for Cat Parents

• When it comes to shopping for high-end cat gear, turn to your local community first to see if there are any products your neighbor’s cat isn’t using. Find other ways to save on pet care with our tips.
• What do new cat parents need to know? We share our top 10 tips, from choosing the right cat breed for you to budgeting wisely.
• Pet insurance can be a way to save on your pet budget over the lifetime of your cat. Do the math to see if the benefits around the cost of pet insurance outweigh the risks. 
• Low-cost, subsidized, or free pet vaccinations are available in some areas. This resource can be helpful if you are looking to find more affordable vaccination care.

Methodology

*A Rover survey of 1,000 pet parents conducted in February 2025, via Pollfish.

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