How Much Does It Cost to Own a Cat in 2026?

First-year vs yearly costs

A cat costs the most in its first year, when you buy supplies and pay for spay or neuter surgery, kitten shots and a microchip. After that, the bill settles into food, litter, checkups and the occasional surprise.

Source: Rover, The Cost of Cat Parenthood in 2026, May 2026. Adult monthly figures are our calculation (yearly cost divided by 12).

Rover says costs went up across the board in 2026: upfront costs rose 5%, adoption fees 11%, kitten yearly costs 15% and adult yearly costs 16%. Price growth on store shelves has been slower. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that prices for pets and pet products rose 1.3% from September 2025 to September 2026, and pet food and treats rose 1.5%.

Upfront costs

Most of these are one-time costs. The wide ranges come from the choices you make, such as a basic carrier versus a designer one, or a plain box versus a self-cleaning litter box.

Source: Rover, May 2026.

Renters should check the lease first. A pet deposit or pet rent can cost more than everything else on this list combined.

Yearly costs, line by line

Here is where the money goes once your cat is settled in.

Sources: Rover, May 2026; ASPCA, 2021 update.

The ASPCA’s older estimate is a useful low-end check: a healthy cat on basic food and care still came to about $1,149 a year. Rover’s higher end reflects premium food, more vet care and city prices.

Vet care is the line that moves the most. Data from the American Pet Products Association, cited by NerdWallet, shows cat owners spent an average of $215 a year on routine vet visits and $246 on sick visits. For a full price list, see our guide to vet visit cost.

Surprise and late-life costs

Even healthy cats have expensive moments. Rover puts unexpected or extra costs at $515 to $1,665, with these common items:

• Emergency vet visit: $145 to $900, plus $3,000 to $4,000 if surgery is needed.
• Professional grooming: up to $155 a visit, mostly for long-haired breeds.
• Overnight boarding or a sitter: $35 to $70 a night. Drop-in visits run $22 to $44.

Senior cats cost less day to day (Rover says everyday spending can drop by up to 16%), but late-stage care can add $2,255 to $4,740. That covers medication ($660 to $1,380 a year), special diet food ($660 to $1,500) and test panels ($150 to $350). End-of-life costs include euthanasia ($300 to $550) and cremation ($70 to $255, or $285 to $395 for private cremation).

Is pet insurance worth it for a cat?

Insurance for cats is far cheaper than for dogs. The North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA) reports average 2025 premiums for cats of $435 a year ($36 a month) for accident and illness cover, versus $836 for dogs. Accident-only plans average $112 a year.

Whether it pays off depends on your savings. If one $3,000 surgery would go on a credit card, a policy or a dedicated savings fund is worth a look. Our pet insurance cost guide breaks down prices by age, breed and state, and an emergency fund calculator can help you size a cash cushion instead.

Cat vs dog: which costs more?

Cats are usually the cheaper pet to keep. Rover’s 2026 surveys for both species show the gap clearly.

Sources: Rover cat and dog cost reports, May 2026; NAPHIA 2025 premiums via NerdWallet.

At the low end, an adult dog costs more than twice as much per year as an adult cat (our calculation: $1,930 versus $850). Cats need no walking, no daycare and fewer grooming visits, and their insurance costs roughly half as much.

You are far from alone in paying these bills. The American Pet Products Association reports that Americans spent $158 billion on their pets, and 95 million US households own at least one pet.

How to pay less

1. Adopt from a shelter. Rover’s $50 to $155 adoption fee range is far below breeder prices, and shelter cats often come spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.
2. Use low-cost clinics for basics. Shelters and nonprofits often run vaccine and spay or neuter clinics at reduced prices.
3. Keep up with dental care. The ASPCA lists dental work at around $300 even in its low 2021 estimate, and problems caught early cost less to treat.
4. Buy litter and food in bulk. These two lines alone can run $445 to $2,450 a year at Rover’s ranges (our calculation), so unit price matters.
5. Skip pricey gadgets. A $10 litter box does the same job as a $1,600 self-cleaning one for most cats.

Thinking about a dog instead, or as well? Compare with the cost of owning a dog.

See how we research every number on our method page, or browse more pet costs.