Adopting a cat is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s important to consider the financial responsibilities that come with welcoming a cat into your home. From upfront expenses to ongoing costs, here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what you need to budget for when adopting a cat in the UK. Please note that costs vary vastly so any we mention below are just estimates.
1. Adoption fees
The first cost you’ll encounter is the adoption fee. This varies depending on where you adopt your cat from:
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Cat rescues and charities: Adoption fees typically range from £50 to £200, depending on the rescue, the cat’s age, and whether they’ve been vaccinated, microchipped, and neutered. Rescues, understandably, tend to charge more for kittens.
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Private adoptions: If you adopt from a private seller or individual, fees might be lower, but you’ll likely need to cover additional initial vet costs. If you are adopting a cat from a previous owner, please do your due diligence to understand why they are giving up the cat and ensure they are not just breeding cats to be sold as ‘rescues’
2. Initial vet costs
Most reputable rescues will provide basic healthcare for cats before adoption, but there may still be costs to consider:
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Vaccinations: If not already done, the first set of vaccinations costs around £50-£60.
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Microchipping: Often included in adoption fees, but if not, this typically costs around £15-£20. Microchipping is now required by law in England. There may also be a cost associated with putting your cat’s microchip in your name so you may want to research this.
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Neutering/spaying: This procedure costs between £50-£100 depending on the clinic and the cat’s size or gender.
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Health checks: Initial vet check-ups can range from £30-£60. Some vets do free initial kitten check ups.
3. Pet insurance
Pet insurance is highly recommended to cover unexpected vet expenses. We recently spoke to a veterinary professional who advised costs have gone up so much recently, you should really consider insurance cover up to £10,000 for your cat in case of emergencies that involve costly services such as operations. From our own experience, Tippaws HQ cat Gus recently had to have an abdominal ultrasound which involved sedation and this cost a whopping £1,000 so we were very relieved we had insurance which would cover this.
Of course this is entirely your decision. Costs depend on the coverage level, your cat’s breed, and age:
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Basic plans: Start at around £5-£10 per month.
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Comprehensive plans: Range from £15-£30 per month, providing broader coverage. Of course, if you claim then your premium will likely increase the year after.
There are some great pet insurance companies out there that are compassionate and really try to do the right things by your animal. Insurance companies we’ve partnered with in the past at Tippaws include Waggel, Animal Friends and Agria.
4. Food and treats
Feeding your cat a healthy diet is crucial. Costs will vary depending on the type and brand of food you choose:
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Dry food: £10-£30 per month. If you buy in bulk or larger bags it is generally cheaper.
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Wet food: £15-£30 per month.
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Treats: Optional but can cost an additional £5-£10 per month.
5. Cat litter and litter trays
Cat litter is an ongoing expense that varies depending on the type you prefer:
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Non-clumping: Costs around £5-£20 per month depending on what you use and how often you change your tray.
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Premium or clumping litter: Can cost up to £15-£20 per month depending on what you use and how often you change your tray.
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Litter trays: A one-time purchase, with basic options starting at £10 and more advanced models costing up to £50.
We have a comprehensive analysis of litter costs on our website here. We would always recommend clumping litter as it’s better for the environment, traps odour better and lasts a lot longer.
6. Essential supplies
When bringing your cat home, you’ll need to invest in some basic supplies:
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Food and water bowls: £5-£20.
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Bedding: £10-£50.
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Scratching posts: £20-£40.
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Toys: £5-£20 initially, with replacements over time.
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Carriers: £15-£50 for safe transportation.
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Collars: £5-£40
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Trackers and AirTags: £30
7. Routine vet visits
Regular vet visits are necessary to keep your cat healthy and the services below are generally not covered by insurance. You will likely have to pay as go or sign up to plan provided by your vet to get cheaper rates:
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Annual check-ups: £30-£60.
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Booster vaccinations: Around £30-£40 annually.
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Flea and worm treatments: £10-£20 per month.
8. Grooming costs
While many cats are self-groomers, some breeds require additional grooming:
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Brushes and grooming tools: £10-£30.
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Professional grooming (if needed): Around £40-£60 per session.
9. Emergency funds
Unexpected veterinary bills can arise. It’s wise to have a savings buffer of at least £500-£1,000 for emergencies if you don’t have insurance.
10. Additional considerations
Other costs to keep in mind include:
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Pet sitting or boarding: £10-£20 per day if you travel.
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Cat flaps: Installation can range from £50-£200.
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Fencing or outdoor enclosures: Optional but could cost hundreds of pounds if you want a secure outdoor space.
Final thoughts
Adopting a cat is a long-term financial commitment, but careful planning can help ensure you’re prepared to give your new pet the best life possible.
If we add up the initial costs above, adopting a cat will cost around £245-£650 depending on what you have at home already and how much you want to invest in their wellbeing.
The ongoing yearly cost of owning a cat is approximately £480-£1,380 a year depending on insurance cover, food you buy, litter you buy etc.
By budgeting for these costs and ensuring you’re financially ready, you’ll set yourself and your feline friend up for a happy and stress-free future together. Remember, the love and companionship a cat brings to your life are priceless!