$1,364 per year
Cat cost reference · Model 1.0.0
Cat costs by state, with the assumptions attached.
The national fixed-scenario estimate is $114 per month, or $1,364 per year, for one adult cat. State comparisons use the same pet and care choices everywhere.
Updated: August 13, 2026 · Model 1.0.0
National cat-cost reference
per month · heuristic, not confidence interval
flat dollars · not a lifetime forecast
Fixed reference scenario: one adult pet; insurance benchmark included; setup, dental, boarding, professional grooming, and emergency savings excluded. The ten-year figure repeats the annual estimate in flat dollars. Displayed dollars are rounded, while each table cell’s machine-readable value retains full precision.
Monthly and annual cat cost by state
The low and high columns apply the model's 85%–125% planning heuristic. The ten-year column repeats the current annual scenario without forecasting inflation, aging, health, or lifespan.
| Location | Monthly | Annual | Low / month | High / month | 10-year flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. average | $114 | $1,364 | $97 | $142 | $13,637 |
| Alabama | $111 | $1,332 | $94 | $139 | $13,320 |
| Alaska | $118 | $1,418 | $100 | $148 | $14,183 |
| Arizona | $112 | $1,339 | $95 | $140 | $13,395 |
| Arkansas | $109 | $1,308 | $93 | $136 | $13,080 |
| California | $118 | $1,418 | $100 | $148 | $14,176 |
| Colorado | $113 | $1,356 | $96 | $141 | $13,562 |
| Connecticut | $113 | $1,354 | $96 | $141 | $13,535 |
| Delaware | $112 | $1,341 | $95 | $140 | $13,414 |
| District of Columbia | $118 | $1,422 | $101 | $148 | $14,215 |
| Florida | $113 | $1,356 | $96 | $141 | $13,556 |
| Georgia | $113 | $1,352 | $96 | $141 | $13,521 |
| Hawaii | $122 | $1,458 | $103 | $152 | $14,584 |
| Idaho | $111 | $1,337 | $95 | $139 | $13,370 |
| Illinois | $116 | $1,395 | $99 | $145 | $13,950 |
| Indiana | $111 | $1,331 | $94 | $139 | $13,315 |
| Iowa | $109 | $1,303 | $92 | $136 | $13,031 |
| Kansas | $109 | $1,307 | $93 | $136 | $13,075 |
| Kentucky | $111 | $1,330 | $94 | $139 | $13,302 |
| Louisiana | $109 | $1,310 | $93 | $136 | $13,097 |
| Maine | $113 | $1,354 | $96 | $141 | $13,537 |
| Maryland | $116 | $1,389 | $98 | $145 | $13,890 |
| Massachusetts | $114 | $1,365 | $97 | $142 | $13,649 |
| Michigan | $112 | $1,339 | $95 | $140 | $13,395 |
| Minnesota | $114 | $1,371 | $97 | $143 | $13,709 |
| Mississippi | $111 | $1,329 | $94 | $138 | $13,291 |
| Missouri | $111 | $1,327 | $94 | $138 | $13,275 |
| Montana | $111 | $1,334 | $94 | $139 | $13,341 |
| Nebraska | $109 | $1,306 | $93 | $136 | $13,059 |
| Nevada | $111 | $1,336 | $95 | $139 | $13,361 |
| New Hampshire | $114 | $1,366 | $97 | $142 | $13,657 |
| New Jersey | $119 | $1,427 | $101 | $149 | $14,270 |
| New Mexico | $111 | $1,335 | $95 | $139 | $13,346 |
| New York | $119 | $1,430 | $101 | $149 | $14,297 |
| North Carolina | $111 | $1,337 | $95 | $139 | $13,373 |
| North Dakota | $109 | $1,313 | $93 | $137 | $13,132 |
| Ohio | $110 | $1,318 | $93 | $137 | $13,175 |
| Oklahoma | $109 | $1,310 | $93 | $136 | $13,097 |
| Oregon | $117 | $1,406 | $100 | $146 | $14,058 |
| Pennsylvania | $113 | $1,361 | $96 | $142 | $13,612 |
| Rhode Island | $113 | $1,353 | $96 | $141 | $13,528 |
| South Carolina | $111 | $1,335 | $95 | $139 | $13,354 |
| South Dakota | $109 | $1,313 | $93 | $137 | $13,133 |
| Tennessee | $111 | $1,327 | $94 | $138 | $13,270 |
| Texas | $112 | $1,345 | $95 | $140 | $13,453 |
| Utah | $111 | $1,338 | $95 | $139 | $13,379 |
| Vermont | $113 | $1,350 | $96 | $141 | $13,505 |
| Virginia | $114 | $1,370 | $97 | $143 | $13,698 |
| Washington | $117 | $1,408 | $100 | $147 | $14,080 |
| West Virginia | $112 | $1,341 | $95 | $140 | $13,410 |
| Wisconsin | $110 | $1,324 | $94 | $138 | $13,236 |
| Wyoming | $111 | $1,334 | $94 | $139 | $13,336 |
Highest and lowest modeled states
Hawaii has the highest cat reference at $1,458 per year. Iowa has the lowest at $1,303 per year. The difference comes from broad state goods and service price factors applied to the same national care baseline.
Actual costs can differ because of food choice, preventive care, insurance coverage, age, health, provider prices, and unexpected treatment. The calculator lets you replace selected model amounts with local quotes while keeping the calculation on your device.
Questions about these estimates
How much does a cat cost per month in this model?
The national reference estimate is $114 per month for one adult cat in the fixed scenario. It includes the insurance benchmark but excludes setup, dental, boarding, professional grooming, and emergency savings.
Does the cat estimate include litter?
Yes. The model includes a cat-litter baseline in the supplies category, then updates and location-adjusts that amount with the other disclosed inputs.
Does this table predict an individual cat's veterinary bills?
No. It is a predictable-care planning estimate and cannot predict illness, injury, dental treatment, medication, breed-related risk, or a specific veterinarian's prices.