Svetlana Rey / Adobe Inventory
Making plans so as to add a purebred cat in your circle of relatives quickly? You would possibly not notice how a lot it will possibly value to shop for a kitten from a breeder—particularly if it’s some of the pricey cat breeds. The common worth of a purebred kitten from a breeder is set $500 to $1,500 for commonplace breeds. On the other hand, some cat breeds, like the ones indexed under, value a lot more than that.
Hybrid cat breeds with wild heritage have a tendency to be the costliest because of the prices and problem concerned about breeding them. Different pricey cat breeds come with the ones with coveted genetic characteristics like hairlessness or folded ears, and people who are uncommon and feature restricted availability. Breeds that experience a large number of genetically connected well being prerequisites additionally have a tendency to be dearer. It is because accountable breeders need to spend some huge cash on well being checking out for the grownup cats to make sure long term litters of kittens are as wholesome as imaginable.
10 Maximum Pricey Cat Breeds
Consider, you don’t have to shop for your subsequent cat, even supposing you’ve got your center set on a purebred cat. Adopting a pedigreed cat from an animal safe haven or rescue staff now not best prices a lot much less, however you might be saving a existence. Adoption charges vary from about $75 to $300, with kittens and purebred cats steadily costing extra to undertake than different cats.
Listed here are the ten most costly cat breeds:
#1 Savannah
Nynke van Holten / Shutterstock.com
The Savannah cat tops the listing as the costliest cat breed. The Savannah is a hybrid breed, which means that it used to be created the usage of home cats and wild cats—in terms of the Savannah, the African serval. Breeding Savannahs is each tough and costly. Breeders want to achieve a number of servals, which value so much to deal with and feed. Interbreeding two species is a difficult procedure.
Queens can enjoy problems all over being pregnant and litters are most often small. Male Savannahs aren’t at all times fertile, which additional complicates issues. Savannahs are desired for his or her unique look and distinctive character.
#2 Bengal
Alexander_Evgenyevich / Shutterstock.com
Just like the Savannah, the Bengal is a hybrid breed. It used to be created by way of crossing home cats with a small wild cat species known as the Asian wild cat. In comparison to the Savannah, the Bengal is a extra established breed with a bigger gene pool. This present day, Bengal breeding methods don’t most often come with Asian leopard cats, as an alternative the usage of Bengals that may hint their lineage again generations to their wild ancestor.
On the other hand, Bengals are dear as a result of they’re in top call for. Some colours and patterns are extra fascinating, such because the coveted rosette noticed development, which provides those cats a definite “wild” look.
#3 Persian
Cassiano Correia / Shutterstock.com
The Persian cat is without doubt one of the hottest cat breeds, liked for its stunning lengthy hair, endearing flat faces, and candy character. But it surely’s additionally some of the pricey. Breeding Persian cats is difficult and costly, which means that kittens value extra. The breed is at risk of plenty of recognized genetic well being prerequisites, together with polycystic kidney illness (PKD), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and modern retinal atrophy (PRA). Respected breeders carry out in depth checking out on their grownup cats earlier than breeding them to stop well being issues from being handed directly to the kittens.
This heath checking out, which would possibly come with genetic checking out, echocardiograms, blood typing, and normal well being checks, is terribly pricey, which raises the cost of kittens. One more reason Persian cats are so pricey is as a result of they generally tend to have small muddle sizes, and occasionally want veterinary help all over birthing.
#4 Peterbald
SSeregraff / Shutterstock.com
The Peterbald used to be created by way of crossing a hairless Russian breed known as the Don Sphynx with the Oriental Shorthair. The outcome? A cat with 5 imaginable coat varieties: bare (hairless), chamois (hair like suede or peach fuzz), flock (advantageous to rather dense velour or velvet coat), brush (a sparse wiry coat), and directly (a brief coat). Breeding Peterbald cats is sophisticated; breeders should in moderation pair cats because of the coat genetics concerned.
Breeders in the US would possibly need to import cats from different international locations, which is expensive. The Peterbald cat may be slightly uncommon. As a result of there are few breeders and kittens to be had, costs have a tendency to be upper. They’re liked for his or her distinctive look and captivating character.
#5 Sphynx
Alexander Piragis / Shutterstock.com
The Sphynx is the oldest hairless cat breed. It originated in Canada within the Sixties when a bald kitten named Prune used to be born in a muddle of absolutely lined kittens. Prune’s hairlessness used to be because of a herbal genetic mutation. The breed used to be at first known as the Canadian Hairless Cat, however the identify Sphynx used to be later followed.
Sphynx cats are expensive to reproduce. Accountable breeders carry out well being checking out and genetic checking out on their grownup Sphynx, and make cautious breeding choices to assist them produce wholesome, hairless Sphynx kittens. Sphynx are extra uncommon than another breeds, however in top call for, so costs will also be upper.
#6 Scottish Fold
D’Motion Pictures / Shutterstock.com
The Scottish Fold cat is loved for its lovely folded ears, which makes those cats seem like little owls. The folded ears are the results of a genetic mutation, which is able to occasionally motive undesirable well being problems, together with issues of cartilage and bones, and spinal deformities. Breeders should be very cautious when breeding Scottish Fold cats to make sure the kittens are born wholesome.
The prices related to well being checking out grownup cats earlier than breeding them makes kittens pricey. Moreover, now not all kittens born in a muddle can have folded ears, however the ones are the kittens the general public need. As a result of fewer-folded ear kittens are to be had, their worth will likely be upper than their straight-eared siblings.
#7 Maine Coon
photosbelkina / Shutterstock.com
One of the vital biggest home cat breeds, the Maine Coon is loved for its giant measurement and mellow character. However this mild large comes with a hefty price ticket. Maine Coons are in top call for, however breeding them is dearer than breeding different cats. Because of their massive measurement, Maine Coons are gradual to mature, which means that breeders should carry and space the cats longer than moderate earlier than breeding them.
Accountable breeders additionally behavior well being assessments on their cats, together with screening for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), hip dysplasia, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Moreover, it prices extra to maintain the outsized Maine Coon—they devour extra meals than smaller cats and require upper doses of flea keep watch over, dewormers, and different drugs.
#8 Ragdoll
Peredniankina / Shutterstock.com
The Ragdoll is a well-liked cat breed precious for its stunning look and beautiful temperament—they loosen up and snuggle into your fingers similar to a floppy ragdoll. The Ragdoll isn’t extraordinarily dearer than moderate, however they may be able to value somewhat greater than different breeds.
Just like the Maine Coon, the Ragdoll is gradual to mature, so breeders steadily wait longer than moderate to reproduce adults. Additionally, Ragdolls have genetic assessments to be had for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and polycystic kidney illness (PKD), that are expensive however assist make sure the well being of long term litters. One of the vital largest causes Radgoll kittens are pricey although is their top call for.
#9 British Shorthair
Natasha B / Shutterstock.com
British Shorthairs are coveted for his or her spherical, smiling faces with overweight cheeks that lead them to seem like teddy bears. Accountable breeders carry out well being checking out on their British Shorthairs for illnesses commonplace within the breed like HMC and PKD, which will increase the price of breeding them. Regardless that British Shorthair kittens are in top call for, they generally tend to have smaller litters than another breeds, which drives up their worth.
#10 Siberian
fantom_rd / Shutterstock.com
One of the vital causes Siberian cats are so pricey is as a result of they’re probably the most few cat breeds thought to be to be hypoallergenic. Regardless of their thick fur coat, Siberians appear to supply decrease ranges of the Fel d 1 protein that reasons allergic reactions in other folks. (Consider, no cat is assured to not motive allergic reactions—allergic other folks will have to spend time with grownup Siberians to look how they react earlier than bringing one house.)
Siberians are moderately uncommon in the US—fewer kittens to be had approach their costs will likely be upper. Despite the fact that puppy high quality Siberian cats moderate round $2,000, display high quality Siberians can value up to $4,000 or extra.