What a British Shorthair Costs
Here are some honest numbers to plan around. They're rough figures for the US (with UK figures where they differ a lot), and real costs vary with where you live and how fancy your cat's tastes are.
Buying the kitten
- From a registered, health-testing breeder: typically around $1,500–$3,500 in the US, and roughly £800–£1,800 in the UK. Rarer colors (lilac, cinnamon, golden) and kittens sold with breeding rights cost more.
- A price well below that range usually means no health testing, no papers or a scam (see Finding a Good Breeder).
- A rescue: usually an adoption fee of $100–$300, often with vaccines, microchip and neutering included.
Getting set up (one-time)
Expect around $300–$700 for the basics: a sturdy carrier, two litter boxes, food and water bowls (or a fountain), a scratching post, a cat tree, a brush and toys. If the breeder hasn't already done it, add neutering (about $200–$600, or less at a low-cost clinic) and a microchip.
Every year
- Food: $400–$900 for good-quality wet and dry food.
- Litter: $150–$300.
- Routine vet care: $200–$500 for a yearly check-up, boosters and parasite prevention.
- Dental cleaning: $300–$800 every few years, as needed.
That works out to roughly $1,000–$2,000 a year for one cat in normal health.
Plan for the unexpected
The cost that catches people out is the emergency: a blocked bladder, a swallowed hair tie or a heart scan can easily run into the thousands. The owners who cope best set aside a dedicated emergency fund, something like $1,000–$3,000, built up gradually, so a bad week at the vet is a worry about the cat and not about money.
British Shorthairs commonly live 12–17 years, and some make it to 20, so it's a long commitment, and a lovely one.