Cat cost of ownership calculator
Five inputs. Recalculates instantly, no sign-up, nothing stored. Litter is included; grooming is at home. How the cat model differs.
Your cat
Food tier
Pet insurance
Your estimate $1,482
Estimate for your cat
Typical per year
$1,482
$983 – $1,849 depending on choices
First year
$2,386
Lifetime (11.54 yrs)
$18,333
Source · 6 sources · Updated 2026-09-21estimate
SOURCE · PetSmart.com regular (non-promotional) list prices — hand-recorded SKU sample — PetSmart (recorded by pawdget), 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals (RER = 70 × kg^0.75, MER factors) — Merck Veterinary Manual, 2024 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Veterinary Exam and Procedure Costs (ASQ360° research, 50 states + DC) — CareCredit / Synchrony, 2025 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · pawdget methodology — our own schedules, rubrics and formulas — pawdget.com, 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Regional Price Parities by State, 2024 (table SARPP) — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · State of the Industry Report 2026 — highlights (2025 data) — North American Pet Health Insurance Association, 2025 data · accessed 2026-09-21
METHOD · estimated by formula · View methodology
Where the money goes
| Category | per year | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & treats283 kcal/day × $2.16 per 1,000 kcal + 10% treats | $246 | 17% | PetSmart · est. |
| Vet & preventive1 exam, core vaccines, dental every 3 yrs, 12 months of flea/heartworm prevention | $570 | 38% | CareCredit / Synchrony · est. |
| InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state | $422 | 28% | North American Pet Health Insurance Association · est. |
| GroomingHome grooming: brush and nail clippers | $6 | 0% | PetSmart · est. |
| Litter, supplies & gear25 lb of litter a month at $0.62/lb, plus scratcher and toy replacements | $238 | 16% | PetSmart · est. |
| Training & boardingNot modelled for cats — no public average for cat sitting or boarding | $0 | 0% | pawdget.com · est. |
First-month shopping list
- Litter Box ExquisiCat · X Large $36
- Litter Scoop ExquisiCat $2
- Carrier Midwest · 24″ $72
- Bowls ×2 Whisker City · 6 fl oz $11
- Bed Whisker City $8
- Brush Whisker City $11
- Nail Clipper Whisker City $8
- Cat Tree Whisker City $145
- Total$294
Source · PetSmart (recorded by pawdget) · Updated 2026-09-21
SOURCE · PetSmart.com regular (non-promotional) list prices — hand-recorded SKU sample — PetSmart (recorded by pawdget), 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
METHOD · measured
partner link · As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices above are our own recorded PetSmart samples, not Amazon's.
Lifetime uses the breed's median lifespan from UK survival data where it exists, otherwise the US life expectancy for purebred cats.