PDSA works on a cat living 12 to 14 years, and many live longer. Taking one home is a promise to feed it, keep it healthy and look after it when it’s old. It helps to know what that costs before you start.
Prices vary a lot between countries, cities and vets, so no one can give you an exact figure. What we can do is show you where the money goes, using two well-known estimates: one from PDSA, a UK vet charity, and one from the ASPCA in the United States.
The short version
| Setting up | About €400–450 for neutering, vaccines, a chip and the basics. |
|---|---|
| Every month | About €80–95 for food, litter, flea and worm treatment and insurance. |
| The first year | About €1,500–1,700 in total. |
| Each year after | About €1,000–1,100. |
| A whole life | At least €13,000–15,500, before any illness. |
Rough, and varies by country and vet. Converted from PDSA’s 2024 UK figures and the ASPCA’s 2021 US figures.
Where the numbers come from
PDSA worked out its figures in 2024 from prices online. It puts the set-up costs at about £366 (about €420), the minimum monthly cost at £79 (about €90), and a whole life at at least £11,400–13,600. That covers basic care and insurance, but not vet bills for illness or injury, holiday care, or the cost of getting the cat.
The ASPCA’s figures are from 2021. It puts a cat’s first year at $1,904 (about €1,650) and each year after at $1,149 (about €1,000). Prices have gone up since then.
The euro amounts on this page are rough conversions, rounded. Treat them as a guide to the size of the bill, not a quote. Your local vet can tell you their prices.
One-off costs
Most of these come in the first few months. The ASPCA’s 2021 US prices, converted roughly:
- Neutering. About €130. Often the biggest single bill, and the most important.
- First vaccines and a vet check. About €150.
- A microchip. About €17. The UK government gives an average of around £25 (about €30) including registration.
- A carrier. About €35. You need one for every vet visit.
- A litter tray, scratching post and brush. Around €50 together, plus bowls.
More on why the chip matters in microchipping your cat.
Every month
- Food. The ASPCA’s figure is about €195 a year. Wet food costs more than dry, and many cats eat some of each.
- Litter. About €130 a year. A cat that goes outside often uses less.
- Flea and worm treatment. About €120 a year. Our guide to fleas and worms explains the signs and the treatments.
Every year
- A check-up and booster vaccines. About €140 a year in the ASPCA’s figures. A yearly check catches problems early, when they’re cheaper to treat.
- Teeth. The ASPCA sets aside about €260 for dental care. Not every cat needs it every year, but many older cats do.
- Care when you’re away. A cat sitter or cattery. Neither estimate counts this as a regular cost, but it adds up.
Insurance and surprise bills
This is the part people forget. A cat that eats something it shouldn’t, gets hit by a car or falls ill can need tests, surgery or a stay at the vet. Neither estimate includes this, because no one can predict it.
The ASPCA puts insurance at about €300 a year. If you don’t insure, set money aside each month instead, so a vet bill doesn’t force a hard choice. In a 2025 PDSA survey, two in five people in the UK said owning a pet costs more than they expected.
Adopting a street cat, or buying one
Buying a pedigree kitten adds the price of the kitten itself, and the first vet bills still follow.
Adopting from a rescue usually costs less, and the cat often comes ready. Cats Protection in the UK, for example, neuters, vaccinates, microchips and treats every cat for fleas and worms before it goes home. Its fee is a contribution, and doesn’t cover all of that.
Taking in a street cat you already know costs nothing up front, but the vet visit is still yours to pay. Our guide to adopting a street cat covers that first visit.
Ways to save, without cutting care
- Neuter early. Many charities and councils run low-cost neutering. It also prevents the cost of kittens. See World Spay Day.
- Adopt. A rescue cat often comes neutered, vaccinated and chipped.
- Buy in bulk. Food and litter cost less in larger bags.
- Keep up the basics. Flea and worm treatment, vaccines and a yearly check are cheaper than treating what they prevent.
- Skip the extras. A cardboard box and a scrunched-up paper ball are as good as most toys.
- Ask about help. Some vet charities help owners on low incomes. Ask your vet what’s available near you.
Don’t save on food quality, vaccines or vet care when your cat is unwell. Those cost more later.
Questions people ask
How much does a cat cost per month?
Roughly €80–95 a month for food, litter, flea and worm treatment and insurance, based on PDSA and ASPCA estimates. It varies a lot by country and vet, and vet bills for illness are extra.
How much does a cat cost in its first year?
Roughly €1,500–1,700, because of one-off costs like neutering, first vaccines, a microchip and a carrier. After that, about €1,000–1,100 a year.
Is adopting a cat cheaper than buying one?
Usually. Rescue cats often come neutered, vaccinated and chipped, and the adoption fee is normally less than the price of a pedigree kitten.
Thinking of taking in a cat you already know from the street? Snap it first, and it’s in your CatDex from day one.
