The average annual cost of owning a cat might surprise you. After analyzing data provided by the American Pet Products Association and breaking it down by type of pet (small dog, medium dog, large dog and cat), MoneyGeek came up with the following typical costs of owning a cat (not including emergency costs like those for illness or injury):
Food $224
Recurring medication $160
Litter $165
Toys/Treats $25
Pet insurance $175
Miscellaneous costs $30
Annual total $779
According to the analysis, it costs less to care for a cat than a medium-size dog ($894) or large dog ($1,040), but costs more to care for a cat than a small dog ($737).
Top photograph: Tracy Pitts | Getty Images
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