If you are planning to add a Persian cat to your family, you must know that it’s not all cute cuddles and purrs. Raising one would take time and, of course, money. So, how much does a Persian cat cost?
Not all fur parents understand the financial commitment of getting a cat. That’s why it’s important to plan your budget ahead of time.
To help you out, I compiled everything you need to know about the cost of raising a Persian cat. Hopefully, this article will help you decide whether this is the right breed for you or help you prepare financially.
The Average Cost of a Persian Cat
A Persian kitten from a reputable breeder can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,800. The price also differs for cats sold as pets and those with show and breeding potential. Show cats with breeding rights can cost $3,000 and above.
Persian cats are not rare, but they are one of the most expensive cat breeds because of their popularity.
In fact, Persian is one of the most popular cat breeds among pet enthusiasts. Their price range may vary vastly from breeder to breeder.
You might be surprised at how expensive a Persian cat can be. But actually, these price ranges are quite normal for purebred Persian kittens. Price reflects the health guarantee, conditions, and quality of the cat.
Many breeders sell older Persian cats for much less, so that can be a cheaper option if you are open to owning adult counterparts.
Some breeders ask for a higher price on female Persian cats than their male counterparts. Female Persian cats come with a hefty price tag because they are obviously the ones who can reproduce kittens.
Factors Affecting the Cost of a Persian Kitten
A high price does not always mean high quality. However, you have to understand that breeding healthy litters of kittens does not come cheap.
Reputable breeders always do genetic testing and vet checks for the parents. Once the kittens are born, they also go through health checks and initial vaccinations. They also need to spend on all the cats’ daily needs.
Aside from the breeder’s expenses, here are other factors affecting the Persian cat price:
Pedigree: A purebred Persian cat from champion lines or those who won numerous awards would be more expensive. Even if you don’t plan to join cat shows, this would be beneficial for you. Show-quality cats are usually known to be born healthy and more agile than regular felines. Those are genes that you would want in your Persian kitten.
Show/Breeding Rights: This is related to the first factor. High-quality Persian cats that have the potential for shows or breeding are more expensive mainly because they are of better physical form than pet-quality Persian cats. Breeders only pick those with no physical faults for shows. The same is true for cats sold with breeding rights because they want to improve the overall health of the breed.
Age: Persian kittens are more expensive because they are more in demand. Most people want to see their pets grow up with them. You can also opt for an older cat which comes at a significantly lower price. The catch is missing the cute growing-up stages, and you would have to train the cat to re-adjust to your home.
Coat Color: Rarer colors are usually more expensive because they are highly prized by fans of the breed. The Persian cat breed comes in a wide array of beautiful colors, but a solid white luxurious coat is quite rare. White Persian cats bred with odd-color or blue eyes will usually fetch a high price.
Type: Persian cats are broadly categorized into two groups: the Peke or show-faced and the traditional or doll-face Persian cats. Peke-face Persian cats have flatter faces, small ears, and squish in their noses. They are a bit more expensive than a doll-faced Persian cat that has a distinctive round face, standard snout, and luxurious coat.
Of course, the main reasons behind the Persian cat’s price would differ from breeder to breeder. But then again, by knowing these factors, you could also adjust your preferences in color or type if you want to save a bit of money.
How Much Does It Cost to Adopt a Persian Cat From a Rescue?
Adopting a Persian cat from a local shelter or a rescue organization would only cost you about $100 to $500.
This covers a lot of expenses such as veterinary costs, spaying/neutering, microchipping, and the everyday needs of the cat while in their care. Adoption fees are way less than the expenses of taking care of the rescue cat.
You don’t have to worry much about the cat’s health, as rescues and animal shelters usually ensure that they are in their best health before you take them home. They will also be transparent if a cat has specific needs or conditions.
Initial Cost of Persian Cat Ownership
Before you take your cat home, make sure that you have prepared and bought essential supplies. Remember that there will be an adjustment period, so you should try to make them as comfortable as possible.
Here are some initial supplies you would want to have for your Persian cat:
Food and Treats: You should always try to provide a complete and balanced diet for your new kitten. You can give wet or dry food or a combination of both. Treats should also be given from time to time. Expect to spend at least $20 to $50 on food costs.
Food and Water Bowls: Food and water bowls should be appropriate in size. Since Persian cats have long hair, choose ones that will make eating and drinking less messy. They can cost about $10 to $25.
Litter Box: Persian cats are known to be fussy about the cleanliness of litter boxes. You will see so many designs of litter boxes to choose from. It’s best if you can pick one that is easy to clean. Litter boxes can be anywhere from $20 to $160.
Litter Sand: Changing litter sand regularly is also important to keep your home clean and free from the foul odor. Litter sand costs anywhere between $15 to $25.
Collar and ID tag: A collar and ID tag will be essential, especially if you take your cat out regularly. You can find a good cat collar and ID tag for around $5 to $20.
Cat Bed: Persian cats are considered quite inactive, so expect that they will sleep a lot. You can buy them a good quality bed for $15 to $30.
Cat Carrier: Carriers are a must if you want to keep your cat safe when you travel. It is also very useful for regular vet checks. Good quality carriers are around $20 to $60.
Toys and Scratching Post: Just like other cat breeds, your Persian cat will instinctively need to scratch, and you wouldn’t want them to do it on your furniture. You can go for simple scratch posts and toys to entertain themselves. Depending on what kind you will get, expect to shell out $15 to $70.
Grooming Essentials: Persian cats are high maintenance when it comes to grooming. Their long hair needs daily brushing to maintain coat quality. You also have to do the usual nail trimming and ear cleaning to keep them clean and in good shape. Expect to spend around $25 to $35 on grooming tools.
Initial Vet Visits: Persian kittens are most vulnerable to health risks. Once you take home your Persian kitten, it’s important to take them to a local veterinarian for an initial checkup. The veterinary cost may range between $100 to $250.
Initial Vaccine Shots: For Persian kittens to grow up to be healthy adult cats, they need to complete their initial vaccine shots. These will protect them from common cat diseases. Initial vaccination costs around $25 to $50.
Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Medications: Like other cats, your Persian cat needs to have tick and flea treatments and heartworm medications. If your breeder doesn’t provide this, you need to spend around $30 to $100 for these expenses.
Neutering or Spaying: If you don’t plan to have other pets, you should consider neutering your male Persian cat or spaying your female Persian cat. Like with other feline breeds, these procedures are also good for many Persian cats due to their health benefits. You should prepare to shell out between $200 to $500 for the surgical costs.
Microchip: As a cat owner, it’s recommended to have your Persian microchipped for easy identification. This is helpful in situations where your cat gets lost. The process of microchipping typically costs around $40 to $60.
Miscellaneous Supplies: Pet owners should also include a budget for supplies such as urine cleaners, poop bags, and cat accessories. These can easily be bought at local pet stores for around $15 to $30.
Here’s a recap of all the Persian cat expenses I mentioned above:
You can buy these supplies a few weeks before you pick up your kitten. I recommend that you ask your breeder beforehand about the supplies and brands they use for their cats.
Annual Cost of Owning a Persian Cat
Owning this popular cat breed requires financial responsibility. As you can expect, there are annual expenses that come with the total Persian cost.
Aside from your initial supplies, you would have to spend money on other services, products, and preventive treatments for your Persian kitten.
Below is a summary of the first-year expenses for your Persian cat:
Most of your Persian cat’s annual expenses would be for their health. Routine veterinary care will reduce the risk of polycystic kidney disease and other illnesses as your pet becomes an adult cat.
Keeping your cat healthy will incur $100 to $200 per year, which doesn’t include potential medications or treatment needed.
Look for a veterinary clinic that you can trust and is easily accessible. It is also important that the prices of their services fit your budget.
While some health conditions can be prevented, others may still affect your Persian cat. To avoid expensive vet bills in the future, it’s important to invest in pet insurance which can cost around $360 to $600 per year.
The average price of insurance may be overwhelming, but it will be worth it, especially during medical emergencies.
Other Potential Expenses
The estimates above are conservative, based only on a Persian cat’s basic needs and assuming that it would stay healthy.
Depending on your lifestyle, there are other expenses that you might incur, as is the case with owning other cat breeds.
Cat Boarding/Pet Sitting: If you have to travel and cannot take your pet with you, one option is to leave them in a boarding facility. It will usually cost $20 to $40 per night. If your cat cannot tolerate change that much, a pet sitter can be a good alternative. A pet sitter may charge $15 to $40, depending on how often they should stop by your home to check on your cat.
Pet Fee/Pet Deposit: If you are renting your house, the landlord may charge a pet fee or pet deposit. A study showed that the average pet deposit was around 40 to 85 percent of the monthly rent. The laws vary per state, so it is best to do your research first before bringing your cat home.
Emergency Treatment: Emergency treatments can cost an average of $800 to $1,500. It can easily balloon to a few thousand dollars if your cat needs to stay in the vet clinic longer for treatment.
Grooming: Needless to say, grooming is essential for Persians since they are high-maintenance cats. It will be a good idea to bring them to a professional groomer at least twice a year or more often if you have a white Persian cat. A single package for typical grooming costs around $50 to $80.
Here is a quick before and after comparison of a Persian cat after a professional grooming session:
Before and after, Persian bathing and blow drying by a professional Cat groomer<a href="https://youtu.be/WcixfKCpdts" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FWcixfKCpdts%2F0.jpg" alt="Before and after, Persian bathing and blow drying by a professional Cat groomer" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
As you can see, some of these expenses are not required except for pet fees and emergency treatment. You can skip on these services if you have the time to tend to your Scottish fold at home.
Places to Find Persian Kittens for Sale and Adoption
Searching for a good Persian cat breeder will take time and effort. It is recommended that you talk to a few breeders before applying to purchase one.
If possible, talk to people who got Persian kittens from the breeders you are considering. It would be easier to understand the whole process of purchasing.
To help you begin your search, here are a few Persian cat breeders you can get in touch with:
OpalRey’s – This Arizona-based breeder specializes in producing Persian Bicolors — Vans. You can see pictures of previously sold kittens as well as customer reviews on their website. To be included in their waitlist, you have to email them your completed application form.
Pelaqita Persian Cats – Pelaqita Persians have been recognized as a Cattery of Excellence by the CFA for multiple years. They have specific conditions for each type of cat they sell. For example, all cats sold as pets (non-show homes) are spayed/neutered. To apply, simply accomplish the form on their website.
Ocalicos – Ocalicos specializes in purebred bi-colored or tri-colored Persian cats. They have been a CFA-registered cattery since 1992. If you are interested in purchasing a Persian cat from them, you simply have to send them an email.
NW Kitten – NW Kitten is a breeder based in Washington. They specialize in tabby and bi-colored Persian cats. They only sell kittens as pets, and according to their contract, all kittens must be spayed or neutered by six months of age. For inquiries, you can contact them directly through email or the contact form on their website.
If you want to consider adopting, the process will more or less be the same. Like breeders, rescue organizations will typically need application forms, references, and conduct interviews.
You can check these rescue organizations where you can find a Persian cat for adoption:
Specialty Purebred Cat Rescue – This rescue organization helps purebred cats find new homes. Their organization handles 700+ rescues per year, and a lot of them are Persian cats. If you see a Persian cat you are interested in on the site, you have to fill out an application form on their website.
Persian & Himalayan Cat Rescue (PHCR) – PHCR was founded in 1990, and they have since been helping Persian and Himalayan cats get rehomed. If you want to adopt from them, you can call them directly or send a scanned copy of your application form via email.
Purebreds Plus – Purebreds Plus is an all-volunteer organization that also helps purebred cats. You can read important information about each rescue cat’s history and temperament with the foster family. You can begin the adoption application process by completing a form on their website.
Adopting a Persian cat from a rescue is a practical option for those with low budgets. However, if you want to get this feline without spending money at all, check out our article on how to get free kittens in your area.
Money-Saving Tips for Persian Cat Owners
As much as we want to spoil our Persian cats, pet supplies and maintenance costs can get really expensive. In this case, you have to cut down on expenses without sacrificing your cat’s overall well-being.
Thankfully, there are simple ways we can save a bit of money, and here are some tips for first-time cat owners:
Try to DIY. You could save a few dollars by trying to make your cat toys using materials commonly found at home. You can also try cooking homemade treats for your cat. Not everything has to be store-bought!
Invest in your initial supplies. Some of the initial supplies would be used by your cat for a long time. It would be good to invest in good quality products like carriers and litter boxes so that you can avoid buying new ones every few years.
Help your cat stay healthy. Remember that Persian cats are not a very active breed. In order to have healthy cats, you would want to keep them on a balanced diet and make sure they do physical activities. This way, you can prevent weight-related health issues in the future.
Get pet insurance. Like humans, cats get more prone to diseases as they get older. It might seem like just an added expense, but getting pet insurance will save you some money in the future. It will also ensure that you can have your cat treated anytime the need arises.
Keep them indoors. Keeping your Persian cat indoors would lessen the risk of accidents. It can also lessen their exposure to diseases they can get from the environment and other animals. Similarly, they would also not get dirty all the time, which means that you don’t have to bring them to a professional cat groomer to get cleaned.
Join local feline clubs. Learning from the experience of fellow Persian cat lovers can help you save money from trial and error. Ask about best practices, good brands, breeders, and even recommended vet clinics.
By following these tips, you can provide the maintenance costs of owning a Persian cat without struggling with your pet budget. In this way, you can also reduce health risks that may also take up a chunk of your savings.
Final Thoughts
Getting and raising a Persian cat is undeniably costly. If you don’t want to spend much on getting a pet, adopting will be much cheaper than buying a Persian cat.
But either way, you have to be financially capable of supporting one for at least ten years.
Do your research and evaluate where you can save money and where you should invest. Medical expenses can easily cost thousands of dollars, so your cat’s health should always be a priority.
If a companion pet with a gentle temperament is what you are looking for, then you would find that a Persian cat would be worth it despite having a high price tag compared to other popular cat breeds.
Now that you are equipped with knowledge of how Persian cats cost, are you ready to own one? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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