Introduction
Purebred or pedigreed cats from professional breeders typically cost between $800 – $2000 for a kitten. This is significantly more expensive than a mixed breed or domestic cat, which usually costs between $50 – $100 from a local shelter or rescue. Breeder cats come with a higher price tag for several valid reasons related to the costs and challenges of responsibly breeding healthy, purebred cats. This includes expenses like health testing for the parents, medical care, premium food and supplements, facilities, breeding and showing costs, and more. While breeding pedigree cats is not a highly profitable business, ethical breeders price kittens to cover their expenses and continue their breeding program at the highest standards. The rarity of certain pedigreed cats also impacts their value. This article will explore why reputable breeders invest so much into producing exceptional purebred kittens and why that necessitates the higher price compared to other sources.
cite 1: https://www.chemicoons.com/the-costs-of-pedigree-cats
Breeding Costs
One of the biggest expenses for ethical breeders is the health testing of parent cats before breeding. Reputable breeders will screen their breeding cats for genetic diseases common to the breed. This usually involves DNA testing, which can cost $40-150 per test per cat according to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. A single breeder may need to test multiple cats for multiple diseases, quickly multiplying the costs. For example, Persian cats are prone to polycystic kidney disease, so ethical Persian breeders test their cats for this condition which costs around $50 per test. Maine Coon cats can suffer from spinal muscular atrophy, so breeders test for this disease at a cost of $50-150 per test based on lab used. In total, testing for all recommended genetic diseases for a breed often reaches $200-500 per breeding cat. With most reputable breeders having multiple breeding cats in their program, these costs add up rapidly.
Birthing and Neonatal Care
Providing medical care for a pregnant cat and her newborn kittens can be very expensive. According to Furry Acres, breeders often pay $400-600 in stud fees per litter. Cats typically have small litters of 3-5 kittens, so the stud fee cost is multiplied by each kitten. Once the kittens arrive, neonatal veterinary care like deworming, vaccinations, and health checks can cost $50-150 per kitten in the first 8 weeks.
Breeders also provide extra nourishment and supplements for nursing mother cats which can cost $50-100 per litter according to Cat Breeder Sensei. Any emergency cesarean-sections or medical issues for mother and kittens also add substantial veterinary expenses of $300 or more per occurrence.
Premium Food and Supplements
Breeder cats require a high quality diet with premium ingredients for optimal health and wellbeing. This is especially important for queens to ensure healthy pregnancies and milk production. Premium cat foods contain higher quality sources of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals compared to regular grocery store varieties. They use wholesome ingredients like fresh meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables rather than meat by-products or fillers.
According to Petco, premium dry cat foods can range from $15 to $60 for a 10-15 lb bag, with prices averaging around $25-35. Canned premium varieties tend to be $2-5 per can. This means premium foods cost approximately $1.50 to $4.00 or more per pound, compared to $1 or less for grocery store brands. Over the lifetime of a cat, this can add up to hundreds or even thousands more per year in food costs.
In addition to premium cat food, breeders may supplement with vitamins, probiotics, omega fatty acids and other products to support health. These can range from $10-30 per container. With multiple cats to feed, the costs add up quickly.
For breeders, paying more for quality nutrition helps ensure healthy litters and reduces potential veterinary expenses down the line. It’s an investment in their cats’ wellbeing as well as the reputation of their cattery.
Showing and Promoting Cats
One of the biggest expenses for breeders is showing and promoting their cats at cat shows and competitions. Top breeders invest significant amounts of time and money to showcase their cats and establish their cattery’s reputation.
Entering cats into shows can cost $200-500 per show, with some breeders attending dozens of shows per year. There are entry fees, hotel costs, transportation, grooming supplies, etc. Showing cats helps promote the cattery and demonstrate the quality of its breeding program. Winning titles and awards raises a cat’s value and stud fees. It also connects breeders to an influential cat fancy network.
According to COSTS OF PEDIGREE CATS, a local cat show, where hotel accommodations are not needed, will still run approximately $200 per weekend. Breeders actively showcasing their cats could easily spend $5,000-10,000 per year attending shows.
Facilities and Equipment
Breeder cats require specialized housing and equipment to ensure healthy litters. A proper breeding facility needs enough space and separate enclosures for breeding pairs, queens about to give birth, mothers with litters, and kittens as they grow. According to https://www.daysmart.com/pet/blog/cost-of-cat-boarding/, boarding fees at reputable catteries range from $15-$20 per night to cover facility expenses. Premium breeders invest in climate-controlled spaces with proper ventilation, heating, and air conditioning. They also provideMulti-level housing with scratching posts, climbing towers, and comfortable bedding allows cats to exhibit natural behaviors. Breeders stock facilities with litter boxes, food bowls, toys, and other essentials for each cat or litter.
Veterinary supplies like vaccines, medications, supplements, and emergency first aid kits add to costs. Breeding requires equipment like digital scales to monitor kitten weight and health. Heat lamps and supplemental formula keep weak or rejected kittens alive. High-quality cat food and nutritional supplements support queens throughout pregnancy and nursing. These expenses ensure healthy kittens at birth.
Labor Costs
Breeding cats requires a significant investment of time and effort from the breeder. Unlike some pets, cats cannot simply be put together and expected to breed on their own. Breeders must carefully select a mating pair, monitor the female for signs of estrus, introduce the pair for supervised matings, and monitor the pregnancy. Once kittens are born, the breeder must monitor them closely, weighing them daily and supplementing feeding as needed. Kittens also need socialization, training, and grooming before they go to new homes. According to sources like https://www.comparably.com/salaries/salaries-for-cat-breeder, cat breeders can spend 50-60 hours per week caring for their cats. Their time and labor represents a significant expense that must be accounted for in the pricing of kittens.
Breeding is not just a full-time job but a lifestyle commitment. Unlike other pets, cats cannot simply be left alone for 8-10 hours while the breeder is at their day job. Breeders must be available around the clock to monitor pregnant and nursing cats. They sacrifice weekends and holidays to be there for kitten births and take care of newborn kittens’ constant needs. The significant personal time and effort breeders invest is a major factor in why breeding cats is so expensive compared to simply purchasing pet cats.
Profit Margins
Breeding cats is a business, and cat breeders aim to at least recoup their expenses and make a livable income from breeding, even if they may not disclose exact profit margins. According to Cat Breeder Sensei, there are certainly many expenses involved in breeding cats responsibly. While specific profit margins are not publicly shared, breeders acknowledge that cat breeding can be a source of income if done properly.
As with any business, margins vary based on factors like expenses, location, expertise, demand, and premium pricing for rare breeds. Breeders must factor in significant upfront and ongoing costs for birthing, neonatal care, premium food, facilities, vet care, showing cats, and marketing. With high expenses and small litters, cat breeding profits largely come from charging premium prices for pedigree kittens of popular breeds. Responsible breeders aim for reasonable profits to sustain their breeding program at a quality level.
Rarity of Breed
The rarity and exclusivity of certain cat breeds is a major factor driving up their price. Purebred cats that are scarce in supply but high in demand often command premium prices. Breeds like the Ashera, Savannah, and Bengal are produced in very limited numbers annually. There may only be a few hundred Ashera cats in existence worldwide. According to https://www.rd.com/list/most-expensive-cat-breeds/, the Ashera is the rarest and most expensive breed, with a median price around $75,000.
The basic economic principles of supply and demand apply to the cat breeding market. When a breed is extremely rare, breeders can charge higher prices, especially if demand is strong. People are willing to pay more for something that few others can attain. The prestige and bragging rights associated with owning a rare luxury cat allows breeders to command premium pricing. Limiting the supply also allows them to better control the breed and its bloodlines over time. So rarity drives up both monetary and intrinsic value.
Breeders who produce very low volumes must cover all their breeding and care expenses across fewer cats. They may only produce a couple litters annually from their rare breeding stock. The costs get divided over a much smaller number of kittens. This too pushes prices upward for the rare breeds. The significant time, effort and expertise required to ethically produce these unusual breeds also factors into their high price tags.
Conclusion
In summary, there are several key reasons why breeder cats tend to be expensive:
Breeding cats is costly due to the expenses of health care, food, facilities, and labor. Breeders must ensure high standards of care and comfort for their cats and kittens, which requires significant investments in housing, veterinary services, staffing, and supplies.
The rarity or desirability of particular cat breeds also drives up prices, as breeders must carefully manage their bloodlines. Unique or exotic breeds are more expensive due to limited availability and high demand.
Proper neonatal and birthing care is essential for breeders to maximize kitten health and survival rates. This specialized care and monitoring requires extra staffing and expenses.
Promoting and showing cats at events and online platforms is another cost for reputable breeders aiming to prove the quality of their program.
When accounting for all of these factors, breeder cats can cost two to ten times more than regular domestic cats. For buyers seeking specific breeds, the higher price from responsible, ethical breeders helps support health, welfare, and continuation of the breed.