Cost of having a cat: how much does it cost to keep a cat?
Cost of having a cat: how much does a cat cost per month and per year? What are the initial expenses when you get a cat? Comparis explains.
18.01.2024
Comparis.
1. Costs of buying a cat
How much it costs to buy a cat varies greatly. You can often get a cat from a farm or an animal shelter for cheap or even for free. However, purebred cats from a breeder can easily cost over 1,000 francs.
Furthermore, there are additional costs of at least 435 francs to cover any initial purchases for your new cat, as well as vet visits.
Cats shouldn’t be alone
Cats are very social animals. House cats in particular should not be kept alone. Unlike cats with outdoor access, house cats have little variety in their surroundings. If your pets have company, they won’t get bored – even in your absence.
One-off costs for a cat in Switzerland
In addition to the cost of the cat, there are other expenses. These include, for example, initial vet costs and any equipment you might need for your new cat. This does not include any treatment costs due to illness or accident.
The estimated cost of initial expenses for a new cat (as of December 2023):
| Reason for expense | One-time cost in CHF |
|---|---|
| Initial purchases | from 130 |
| Basic medical treatment (vaccinations, deworming, etc.) | from 130 |
| Castration | from 90 |
| Spaying | from 185 |
| Inserting microchip | from 85 |
| Total costs | Male cat: from 435 Female cat: from 530 |
Prices for medical treatment vary from vet to vet. The table below shows the best prices according to publicly available price lists.
This table takes into account the cheapest option for all these services. As a result, it represents the minimum costs you can expect. The actual cost depends on the choices you make.
2. What additional items should I get for my cat?
Cat net
Do you have a balcony? Then it’s a good idea to buy a cat net. This protects your cat from falls and injuries.
How you attach your cat net depends on the structure of your apartment and on your rental agency/landlord. If drilling isn’t an option, telescopic rods or magnetic hooks are possible.
Tilted window protection
Cats can injure themselves on tilted windows. You can get protective gates made of metal and plastic to protect them.
Cat flap
For cats with outdoor access, cat flaps are available. There are various versions:
Simple cat flap: these are the cheapest option.
Cat flap with chip detection: this flap detects your cat’s microchip and prevents other cats from entering your home.
Cat flap with prey detector: these flaps detect whether the cat wants to bring its prey into the house. If your cat brings a mouse along, for example, the flap won’t open.
Check with your rental agency/landlord whether you are allowed to install a cat flap. Important: get the cat flap installed by a professional. They create a custom-made disc with a cut-out for the cat flap.
This is good because you can store the original glass and simply have it reinserted before you move out.
You should have at least one litter box per cat. Some cats don’t like litter boxes with lids because unpleasant smells gather there more easily.
Choose cat litter with the following properties:
unscented
low dust
odour-absorbing
Put at least five centimetres of litter into the litter boxes. This lets your cats bury their business.
In addition to the litter box, you also need a shovel to clean it out with. Shovels with holes are best because clean litter falls right through.
Comparis tip
Is your cat fully grown? Buy a litter box with high edges. If you have younger cats, make sure the height is right for them.
In addition, place a mat or carpet in front of the litter box. Your cats spread less litter around your apartment this way.
Food and water bowls should have the following properties:
They should be made of porcelain or glass. Aluminium or other metals can alter the smell of food, and bacteria gathers easily in plastic. Plastic can also contain toxic softening agents.
They should be round. You can clean round bowls easier than ones with corners.
They should have flat edges. Many cats don’t like their delicate whiskers touching the edge of the bowl.
They shouldn’t be too small. It’s better to get a larger bowl than a small one.
Cats usually don’t drink much. However, you can encourage your cat to drink from a drinking fountain. These are an alternative to the classic water bowl.
Cats use scratching posts to sharpen their claws. They can also play and climb on them.
When buying a scratching post, pay attention to the following:
Nothing should be sticking out of it. Exposed nails or screws can cause injury.
The scratching post must stand securely. You can attach it to the wall or ceiling, for example. Large base plates help with stability.
Which scratching post is right for your cat depends, among other things, on the size of your apartment. Your cat’s personality is also a factor. For playful cats, a scratching post with balls hanging down is a good idea, for example.
Cat trees as an alternative
You will often find cat trees in pet shops. They are an alternative to scratching posts. They can even fit into smaller apartments.
Cat trees have a large surface area for scratching. They also have lots of hiding places.
Size of the cat carrier
Make sure the size of the carrier is suitable for your cat. Your cat should be able to stretch out in it.
Material and structure of the cat carrier
Plastic cat carriers are more suitable than ones made of wicker. Plastic boxes are easier to clean, and cats are more likely to get their claws stuck on a wicker box.
Metal doors are more stable than plastic doors. Make sure the carrier also has a door at the top. This makes it easier to get your cat in and out.
Quality of your cat carrier
A cat carrier should last you many years. Therefore, make sure it’s of good quality. This will save you money in the long run.
It's best to buy a selection of different toys. This way you can offer your cat variety. Cats get bored easily when they only have one toy.
Your cat may not be interested in every toy, so try out different types. The following are particularly popular:
Mice
Toys attached to a string
Balls
Cat activity boards
Toys containing valerian or catnip
No laser pointers for cats
Don’t buy your cat a laser pointer. There are several reasons for this:
Risk of eye injury: the light from laser pointers is highly concentrated. This is already dangerous for humans. A cat’s eyes are even more sensitive than human eyes.
Laser pointers are frustrating for cats: a laser pointer doesn’t simulate real hunting as they can’t catch the light. Cats like to bite and “kill” their toys. They can’t do this when playing with laser pointers.
You can keep your cat’s coat in good condition with combs and brushes. This is especially important if your cat is moulting and also prevents your cat’s fur getting matted. By brushing and combing, you can also detect injuries and parasites early.
Keep your cat’s fur in mind when choosing a brush or comb. Long-haired cats have different needs than short-haired cats. Different types of combs and brushes have different functions:
Brush with metal bristles: metal bristles are suitable for combing out excess fur.
Brush with soft bristles: soft bristles smooth the cat’s fur. They also make it shinier.
Comb: use a comb to reduce matting and undo knots from your cat’s fur. Combs are also suitable for combing out the undercoat. Look at the material of the comb: plastic combs can become electrically charged.
Is your cat an indoor cat? Then it doesn’t need a collar.
For cats with outdoor access, collars are used to identify them. Take note of the following:
Buy a collar with a safety lock. This opens when pressure is applied. It lets your cat free itself in an emergency.
Check the fit of the collar. You should have two fingers’ space between the cat’s body and the collar.
Check the fit of the collar regularly.
3. How much does a cat cost per month and per year?
The monthly and yearly costs of having a cat depend on a number of factors. Food prices can vary in particular. Cat food at a discount supermarket is cheaper than branded food.
The table below provides an overview of the approximate regular costs of having a cat.
| Reason for expense | Monthly costs in CHF | Annual costs in CHF |
|---|---|---|
| Cat litter | from 10 | |
| Food | 30–100, depending on type of food | |
| Vaccinations, worming | from 110 | |
| Annual check-up | from 37 | |
| Pet insurance | from 54 | |
| Total costs | from 40 | from 201 |
Prices for medical treatment vary from vet to vet. The table below shows the best prices according to publicly available price lists.
Over a cat’s lifetime of roughly 15 years, you therefore pay approximately 9,400 francs after any initial purchase costs.
4. What food and cat litter should I choose?
Which food and cat litter you choose depends on your cat’s needs.
Choosing cat food
When choosing cat food, make sure the meat content is as high as possible. In addition, it should be marked as “complete feed”. This will give your cat the nutrients it needs.
The food should contain as few animal by-products as possible and no sugar.
No milk for cats
Many cats are lactose intolerant. Therefore, don’t give your cat cow’s milk. Special cat’s milk is suitable as a treat, however. This contains no lactose.
Which cat litter is best?
There are two types of cat litter:
clumping cat litter
non-clumping cat litter
The difference lies in how the litter reacts with urine. Clumping cat litter forms clumps. You can clean these up with a litter shovel. You should change the litter completely every two to four weeks.
Non-clumping litter absorbs the urine. You must change the litter completely at least once a week.
Pet insurance protects against high vet costs
Visiting the vet can be expensive. Pet insurance can help you.
For example, it covers vet fees or overnight stays in an animal hospital.
This article was first published on 30.08.2018
