The yearly costs, line by line
The most detailed public breakdown is the ASPCA's cost table, marked as a 2021 update. Its cat column lists these yearly costs:
| Yearly cost (ASPCA, 2021) | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $225 | $18.75 |
| Litter | $150 | $12.50 |
| Routine medical costs (vaccines, wellness visits) | $160 | $13.33 |
| Preventive medication (heartworm, flea and tick) | $140 | $11.67 |
| Health insurance | $348 | $29.00 |
| Treats | $36 | $3.00 |
| Toys | $22 | $1.83 |
| Grooming supplies (shampoo, conditioner) | $28 | $2.33 |
| License | $15 | $1.25 |
| Kennel or boarding (listed per day) | $25 | $2.08 |
| Total | $1,149 | $95.75 |
Food and litter alone are $375 a year, about $31 a month. Health insurance is the largest single line at $348; without it the yearly total would be $801.
The first year
The ASPCA lists one-time costs separately:
| One-time cost (ASPCA, 2021) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial medical costs (vaccines and similar) | $175 |
| Spay or neuter | $150 |
| Carrier | $40 |
| Microchip | $20 |
| Litter box | $20 |
| Grooming tools (brushes, clippers) | $20 |
| Collar, leash or harness | $15 |
| Scratching post | $15 |
| Total one-time | $455 |
It also lists dental care at $300 as a special cost. Adding the three groups gives the ASPCA's first-year figure:
Spread over twelve months, that is about $159 a month in year one, then about $96 a month after that if prices stay the same.
Updating the 2021 prices
The ASPCA figures are from 2021, and prices have risen since. By the consumer price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U), the general measure of US prices, the average price level in 2025 was 18.8% higher than in 2021. Applied to the ASPCA totals:
| Total | 2021 prices | 2025 prices (CPI-U) |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $1,149 | $1,365 |
| First year | $1,904 | $2,262 |
This is a rough update, not a new survey. The CPI-U averages everything people buy, and pet food, vet care and insurance follow their own trends. The inflation calculator does the same conversion for any amount and year.
Boarding: the line that is easy to underestimate
The ASPCA lists kennel or boarding at $25 per day, and its yearly total counts that once. If your cat stays somewhere while you travel, multiply by the days:
| Days away per year | Boarding | Yearly total |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | $175 | $1,299 |
| 14 | $350 | $1,474 |
A pet sitter or a neighbor may cost more or less; replace the $25 with your own quote.
Over several years
The first year carries the one-time costs and the dental line; after that the yearly total repeats. At the ASPCA's 2021 prices, with no inflation, the running total looks like this. The durations are examples to show the arithmetic, not a statement about how long a cat lives.
| Years | Total at 2021 prices |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,904 |
| 5 | $6,500 |
| 10 | $12,245 |
| 15 | $17,990 |
The yearly line is the one that adds up: after ten years, the yearly costs are 94% of everything spent, and the one-time costs are a small share. A difference of a few dollars a month on a recurring line adds up to more over the years than a one-off price difference on a carrier.
Where it fits in a monthly budget
Take an example take-home pay of $3,500 a month. Under the 50/30/20 split, $1,750 goes to needs such as rent, groceries and bills. The ASPCA's yearly cat total, about $96 a month, would be 5.5% of that needs budget, or 2.7% of take-home pay. In the first year, at about $159 a month, it would be 4.5% of take-home pay. Whether you count a pet as a need or a want is your call; what matters is that the money is planned before it is spent.
Where the ASPCA says you can save
The same ASPCA page that carries the cost table lists ways to keep the bills down. The ones that are about prices rather than care:
- Compare fees. The ASPCA suggests comparing what different vet practices charge for preventive care.
- Low-cost spay or neuter. It points to low- or no-cost surgeries through local shelters and to its own database of low-cost programs.
- Insurance terms. If you buy pet health insurance, it suggests buying while your pet is healthy and reading the fine print, because plans differ.
- Grooming at home. Regular brushing and nail trims at home can replace some professional grooming visits.
Anything that concerns your cat's health, such as which vaccines or treatments it needs, is a question for your vet.
Your own worksheet
The ASPCA numbers are a starting point. To make them yours, go line by line:
- Food and treats. Price the bag or cans you buy and how long they last, then multiply to a year.
- Litter. Price a bag and count how many you use per month.
- Vet costs and preventive medication. Ask your vet practice for its prices for a yearly visit and for what it recommends for your cat. What your cat needs is your vet's call, not a budget table's.
- Insurance. If you want it, get quotes for your cat's age and your area.
- License. Check your city or county; rules and fees are local.
Then put the monthly figure into the budget planner as a need, next to rent and groceries, so it is covered before the wants. The pet care log keeps track of what you actually spend.
Example: adding a second cat
A second cat does not simply double the bill. As an example only, assume food, treats, vet costs, preventive medication, insurance, license and boarding are per cat, while litter, toys and grooming supplies are shared. Using the ASPCA lines, the yearly total for two cats comes to $2,098 instead of $2,298, about $175 a month. Your own split may differ, so check each line.
For a kitten or an older cat, the cat age calculator shows its age in human years and its life stage. For the dog version of this budget, see how much a dog costs per year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cat cost per year?
The ASPCA cost table (2021 update) puts the yearly costs of a cat at $1,149, or about $96 a month. That covers food, litter, routine vet costs, preventive medication, health insurance, treats, toys, grooming supplies, a license and one day of boarding. Those are 2021 prices, so check them against quotes where you live.
How much does a cat cost in the first year?
The ASPCA lists $1,904 for the first year: $1,149 in yearly costs, $455 in one-time costs such as spay or neuter, initial vaccines, a carrier and a litter box, and $300 for dental care listed as a special cost.
Is a cat cheaper than a dog?
In the ASPCA table, yes. The cat column adds up to $1,149 a year and $1,904 in the first year, against $1,391 and $3,221 for a dog. The biggest differences are food, insurance and the one-time costs, where a dog's list includes training and a crate.
What is the biggest yearly cost of a cat?
In the ASPCA cat column the largest single line is health insurance at $348 a year, followed by food at $225. Without insurance the yearly total would be $801. Whether insurance suits you is a personal choice; compare quotes before you decide.
How do I update the 2021 figures?
One rough way is the consumer price index. By the CPI-U, average prices in 2025 were 18.8% higher than in 2021, which turns the $1,149 yearly total into about $1,365. Pet food, vet care and insurance each have their own price trends, so local quotes beat any index.
Sources
- ASPCA, Cutting Pet Care Costs (2021 update: annual, one-time and special costs for a cat and a dog, with totals)
- ASPCA, Cutting Pet Care Costs, money-saving tips (compare preventive care fees; low- or no-cost spay and neuter through shelters; buy insurance while healthy and read the fine print; groom at home)
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), series CUUR0000SA0
General information based on the sources above, not tax, legal or financial advice.