If you’ve never had a cat before, you may be tempted to think it’s a minor expense. If you calculate the costs of purchasing a well-behaved kitten, stocking up on food and toys, providing a cat bed, and taking your cat to the vet twice a year, the costs add up quickly!
Before bringing home a Teacup Persian cat, you need to make sure that you can provide for its needs financially. In this section, you will receive an overview of the initial costs and monthly costs for owning a Teacup Persian cat so that you can determine whether or not you can keep such a cat.
Initial costs
The initial costs for keeping Teacup Persian cats include the costs you need to cover before bringing your cat home. Some of the initial costs that you will need to cover include your cat’s bed, food/water bowls, toys and accessories, microchip, initial vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and supplies for grooming and nail trimming; it also includes the cost of the cat itself.
You’ll find an overview of each of these costs, as well as an estimate for each below:
Purchase Price
The cost of purchasing a cat can vary greatly depending on where you buy it. You can adopt a rescue cat for as little as $50 (£45) sometimes, but buying a kitten, especially a purebred kitten from a responsible breeder, could be much more expensive.
The cost of a show-quality Teacup Persian cat or one with a unique color could be up to $1,200 (£1,080) or more, while well-bred pet-quality kittens could cost closer to $700 (£1,080).
If you have your heart set on a Teacup Persian cat, the costs could be completely different. It is important to remember that Teacup Persian cats are not a separate breed, they are only bred for size.
Due to the potential for health issues, responsible breeding is a must, so don’t plan on spending less than $500 (£450) for a Teacup Persian kitten. On the other hand, don’t spend more than $800 (£720) for a pet-quality kitten.
Bed
Because Teacup Persian is a small-sized cat, you won’t need a very large bed. The average cost of a small cat bed is around $30 (£19.50) in most cases.
Food/Water Bowls
In addition to providing your Teacup Persian cat with a bed to sleep in, you should also make sure it has a set of high-quality food and water bowls. The best material for these is stainless steel because it is easy to clean and does not harbor bacteria; ceramic is another good option.
The average cost for a set of quality stainless steel bowls is around $20 (£18).
Toys
Giving your new cat plenty of toys to play with will help prevent him from getting into trouble when he is home alone; They can also be used to provide mental stimulation and enrichment.
To start, plan to buy a variety of toys for your cat until you know which type he prefers. You may want to budget for a $50 (£45) cost for the toys just to make sure you have enough.
Microchip
In the United States and the United Kingdom, there are no federal or state requirements stating that you have to microchip your cat, but it is a very good idea. Your Teacup Persian cat could slide out an open door or window without you noticing.
If someone finds you without identification, you can be taken to a shelter to have his microchip scanned. A microchip is something that is implanted under your cat’s skin and carries a number that is linked to your contact information.
The procedure takes just a few minutes to perform and only costs around $30 (£19.50) in most cases.
Initial vaccinations
During the first year of your kitten’s life, he will need several different vaccinations. If you buy your kitten from a reputable breeder, he may have already had a few, but you’ll still need more in the coming months, as well as booster shots every year.
You need to budget around $50 (£32.50) for the starter shots just to be prepared.
Spay/Neuter Surgery
If you do not plan to breed your Teacup Persian cat, you must neuter or spay him/her before 6 months of age. The cost of this surgery will vary depending on where you go and the sex of your cat.
If you go to a traditional vet, the cost of spay/neuter surgery could be very high, but you can save money by going to a veterinary clinic.
The average cost of neutering surgery is $50 to $100 (£32.50 – £65) and spay surgery costs around $100 to $200 ($65- £130).
Supplies/Accessories
In addition to buying your cat’s bed and food/water bowls, you should also buy some basic grooming supplies like nail clippers and mild pet shampoo. You may also want a necklace with an identification tag.
The cost of these items will vary based on quality, but you should budget around $100 (£32.50) for these additional costs.
Monthly costs
The monthly costs to have a Teacup Persian cat as a pet include the costs that are repeated monthly. The most important monthly cost to have a cat is, of course, food. However, in addition to food, you will also need to think about things like your annual license renewal, toy replacements, and vet exams.
Below you will find an overview of each of these costs, as well as an estimate of each cost:
Food and Treats
Feeding your teacup Persian cat a healthy diet is very important to her/his health and well-being. A high-quality diet for cats is not cheap, although this breed is quite small and does not eat much at once.
Still, you should be prepared to spend around $35 (£31.50) on a large bag of high-quality cat food that will last you about a month. You should also include a monthly budget of approximately $10 (£6.50) for treats.
License Renewal
Your Teacup Persian cat license fee will generally be around $25 (£16.25) and you can renew the license for the same price each year.
The license renewal cost divided into 12 months is approximately $2 (£1.30) per month.
Veterinary exams
To keep your cat healthy, you should take him to the vet approximately every six months after he passes kittenhood. You may need to take it more often during the first 12 months to make sure he gets his shots on time.
The average cost of a vet visit is roughly $40 (£26), so if you have two visits per year, you average $7 (£4.55) per month.
Other Costs
In addition to the monthly costs of your cat’s food, license renewal, and vet visits, there are also other costs that you might have to pay from time to time. These costs can include things like worn-out toy replacements and cleaning supplies. You should budget around $15 (£9.75) per month for additional costs.
Pros And Cons Of Teacup Persian Cats
The Teacup Persian cat is a beautiful breed that makes a wonderful pet, but it is not the right choice for everyone. Before making a decision, consider the pros and cons of this breed.
Below you will find an overview of the pros and cons of the Teacup Persian breed:
Pros
- Small in size compared to many cats (average 3-8 pounds), which means they need less space (good for apartment and condo living)
- Generally not an active or energetic breed, content to sleep all day on the couch
- Very kind and loving with family, they are a people-oriented breed
- The long, luxurious coat comes in a variety of different colors and patterns
- It is usually a very calm breed, it uses their eyes to communicate instead of meowing a lot
- Usually gets along with gentle dogs, children, and other cats
- Can be left alone during the day, but would rather spend time with family
Cons
- Long thick double liner requires daily brushing and frequent bathing and grooming
- Not the most active breed if you are looking for a cat that is always interested in playing with you
- The thick fur makes them more sensitive to heat, it is not recommended as an outdoor cat.
- Prone to a number of inherited health conditions requires careful parenting
- Can be distant with strangers at times, but generally warns up fairly quickly
- Shedding will always be a problem with this breed.