In California, most cat projects cost between $100 and $3,000 per cat, with a typical price near $500. Local labour, permits and materials move the final price, so treat the range below as a planning guide.
Typical cat cost
$100 – $3,000
per cat · typical $500
A general planning range, not a quotation.
Cat cost breakdown
- Adoption from shelter/rescue$50.00 – $300typical $150
- Purebred from breeder (pet quality)$500 – $1,500typical $900
- Show/rare breed$1,500 – $3,000typical $2,500
At a glance
- Typical range$100 – $3,000
- Unitper cat
- Cities covered200
What Cat Breeds costs
Covers the purchase price of a cat from a breeder or adoption fee from a shelter. Purebred kittens from reputable breeders cost more due to bloodlines and health testing. Adoption fees are lower and include vaccinations and spay/neuter.
By city in California
- Adelanto
- Alameda
- Alhambra
- Aliso Viejo
- Altadena
- Anaheim
- Antelope
- Antioch
- Apple Valley
- Arcadia
- Arden-Arcade
- Azusa
- Bakersfield
- Baldwin Park
- Bell Gardens
- Bellflower
- Berkeley
- Brea
- Buena Park
- Burbank
- Calexico
- Camarillo
- Campbell
- Carlsbad
- Carmichael
- Carson
- Castro Valley
- Cathedral City
- Ceres
- Cerritos
- Chico
- Chino
- Chino Hills
- Chula Vista
- Citrus Heights
- Claremont
- Clovis
- Coachella
- Colton
- Compton
- Corona
- Costa Mesa
- Covina
- Culver City
- Cupertino
- Cypress
- Daly City
- Danville
- Davis
- Delano
- Diamond Bar
- Downey
- Dublin
- East Los Angeles
- Eastvale
- El Cajon
- El Centro
- El Dorado Hills
- El Monte
- El Paso de Robles
- Elk Grove
- Encinitas
- Escondido
- Fairfield
- Florence-Graham
- Florin
- Folsom
- Fontana
- Foothill Farms
- Fountain Valley
- Fremont
- French Valley
- Fresno
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Gardena
- Gilroy
- Glendora
- Hacienda Heights
- Hanford
- Hawthorne
- Hayward
- Hemet
- Hesperia
- Highland
- Hollister
- Huntington Beach
- Huntington Park
- Indio
- Inglewood
- Irvine
- Jurupa Valley
- La Habra
- La Mesa
- La Mirada
- La Presa
- La Puente
- La Quinta
- Laguna Niguel
- Lake Elsinore
- Lake Forest
- Livermore
- Lodi
- Lompoc
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Los Banos
- Lynwood
- Madera
- Manteca
- Martinez
- Menifee
- Merced
- Milpitas
- Mission Viejo
- Modesto
- Monrovia
- Montclair
- Montebello
- Monterey Park
- Moorpark
- Moreno Valley
- Morgan Hill
- Mountain View
- Murrieta
- Napa
- National City
- Newport Beach
- North Highlands
- Norwalk
- Novato
- Oakland
- Oakley
- Oceanside
- Ontario
- Orange
- Oxnard
- Pacifica
- Palm Desert
- Palm Springs
- Palmdale
- Palo Alto
- Paramount
- Perris
- Petaluma
- Pico Rivera
- Pittsburg
- Placentia
- Pleasanton
- Pomona
- Porterville
- Poway
- Rancho Cordova
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Rancho Palos Verdes
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Redding
- Redlands
- Redondo Beach
- Redwood City
- Rialto
- Riverside
- Rocklin
- Rohnert Park
- Rosemead
- Roseville
- Rowland Heights
- Sacramento
- Salinas
- San Bernardino
- San Bruno
- San Buenaventura
- San Clemente
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Gabriel
- San Jacinto
- San Jose
- San Leandro
- San Luis Obispo
- San Marcos
- San Mateo
- San Rafael
- San Ramon
- Santa Ana
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Clara
- Santa Clarita
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Maria
- Santa Monica
- Santa Rosa
- Santee
- Seaside
- Simi Valley
- South Gate
- South San Francisco
- South Whittier
- Stanton
- Stockton
Frequently asked questions
Why do some cats cost thousands?
Rare breeds, champion bloodlines, and health testing increase prices. Breeders invest in vet care, genetic screening, and registration. Show-quality cats cost more than pet-quality.
What's included in the price?
Typically includes initial vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, and sometimes spay/neuter. Adoption fees often cover these too. Some breeders provide a health guarantee or registration papers.
How can I save money?
Adopt from a shelter—fees are much lower and include medical care. Consider mixed breeds, which are often healthier. Avoid rare breeds. Check breed-specific rescues for lower costs.