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How much does a kitten cost in the UK? Prices by breed

What UK sellers asked for kittens on Mypetzilla, for pedigree breeds and moggies, what should be included in the price, and what a cat costs over its lifetime.

By Mypetzilla Editorial TeamPublished 4 min read

This guidance applies across the UK.

A blue-grey British Shorthair kitten sitting on a pale sofa in a bright living room.

The short answer

On Mypetzilla, the typical asking price for a kitten in 2022 and 2023 was about £500, with half of adverts between £248 and £800. Mixed-breed kittens were typically about £125, while Sphynx and Maine Coon kittens were about £775 to £800. The PDSA estimates the minimum lifetime cost of a cat at £11,400 to £13,600, plus about £366 in set-up costs, before the purchase price and vet fees.

Key considerations

  1. 01The typical asking price on Mypetzilla in 2022 and 2023 was about £500. Mixed-breed kittens were typically about £125.
  2. 02The PDSA puts the minimum lifetime cost of a cat at £11,400 to £13,600, not counting the purchase price or vet fees.
  3. 03In England, kittens must be microchipped before they are 20 weeks old.
  4. 04The GCCF says pedigree kittens should be at least 13 weeks old before they leave the breeder.
In this guide

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Kittens cost far less than puppies on average, but prices still range from under £100 for a mixed-breed kitten to well over £1,000 for some pedigree breeds. This guide uses the asking prices in kitten adverts placed on Mypetzilla to show what sellers typically ask, and what you should get for your money.

How we worked out these prices

These figures come from 509 cat-for-sale adverts placed on Mypetzilla between 2014 and 2025. They are asking prices, not the price a buyer finally paid. We left out adverts with no price and obvious mistakes (anything under £20 or over £10,000). Almost all of the recent adverts were placed in 2022 and 2023, so treat these as a guide to the market rather than today's exact price.

We show the median price: half of adverts asked less and half asked more. The range is the middle half of adverts.

How kitten prices have changed

PeriodAdvertsTypical asking priceMiddle half of adverts
2014 to 2019208£400£200 to £650
2020 to 2021141£500£240 to £850
2022 to 2025160£500£248 to £800

Kitten prices rose less than puppy prices during the pandemic and have stayed at about the same level since.

Kitten prices by breed

These are the breeds with at least 12 priced adverts from 2022 onwards.

BreedAdvertsTypical asking priceMiddle half of adverts
Sphynx18£800£762 to £988
Maine Coon22£775£362 to £1,288
British Shorthair32£500£338 to £600
Bengal19£500£325 to £825
Mixed breed35£125£95 to £178

The wide range for Maine Coons reflects the difference between registered kittens from established breeders and unregistered kittens. For other breeds, there weren't enough recent adverts to give a reliable figure. Read why some cat breeds cost more for the reasons behind the higher prices.

What the price should include

Ask the seller exactly what is included. A responsibly bred kitten usually comes with:

  • Vaccinations. The GCCF says the first course is usually given at 9 and 12 weeks.
  • A microchip. In England, kittens must be microchipped before they are 20 weeks old, and the seller should register you as the new keeper.
  • Worming and flea treatment, with dates and the product used.
  • Paperwork for pedigree kittens. Kittens registered with the GCCF should come with a pedigree certificate showing at least 3 generations, a registration document and a vaccination card.
  • Insurance. Many breeders include a few weeks of pet insurance.

The GCCF says pedigree kittens should be at least 13 weeks old before they leave the breeder, and a breeder registered with them must not let a kitten go until 7 days after its full vaccination course. Be wary of anyone selling much younger kittens.

Price warning signs

A cheap pedigree kitten is a common sign of a scam or a poorly bred animal. Be careful if:

  • the price is far below the range in the table above
  • the seller asks for a deposit before you have seen the kitten
  • the seller won't let you see the kitten with its mother, or offers to deliver
  • the kitten looks unwell, with sticky eyes, a runny nose or diarrhoea

In England, Lucy's Law means kittens under 6 months must be bought directly from the breeder, or adopted from a rescue centre. Pet shops and other third-party sellers can't sell them. Read how to spot a puppy or kitten scam before you pay anything.

The real cost: owning a cat

The PDSA calculated in 2024 that:

  • set-up costs, such as a bed, litter trays, a carrier, a microchip, first vaccinations and neutering, come to about £366
  • the minimum monthly cost, including insurance, food, litter, booster vaccinations and parasite treatment, is about £79
  • the minimum lifetime cost of a cat is £11,400 to £13,600

Those figures don't include the price of the kitten, vet fees if your cat becomes ill or injured, or extras such as cattery boarding. The PDSA notes that pedigree cats are often at higher risk of certain health problems, which can add to the cost.

Before you buy

If you are deciding between a kitten and an adult cat, or between a breeder and a rescue, read getting a cat or kitten. Many rescues rehome kittens as well as adult cats, usually already vaccinated, microchipped and neutered. You can browse cats for adoption or kittens for sale on Mypetzilla.

Before you decide

  • Can you afford about £79 a month in basic costs, plus vet bills if your cat is ill?
  • Have you seen the kitten with its mother, at the seller's home?
  • Does the price include vaccinations, microchipping, worming and flea treatment?
  • For a pedigree kitten, will you get the registration document and pedigree certificate?

Questions readers ask

How much is a kitten in the UK?

On Mypetzilla, the typical asking price for a kitten in 2022 and 2023 was about £500, with half of adverts between £248 and £800. Mixed-breed kittens were typically about £125, and Sphynx and Maine Coon kittens about £775 to £800.

How old should a kitten be when you buy it?

The GCCF says pedigree kittens should be at least 13 weeks old before they leave the breeder, once they have finished their vaccinations. Be cautious about kittens offered at much younger ages.

Sources: Choosing a kitten

Do kittens have to be microchipped before they are sold?

In England, kittens must be microchipped before they are 20 weeks old. Many breeders microchip kittens before they go to their new home. Ask the seller to transfer the microchip record into your name.

Sources: Cat microchipping now mandatory

How much does a cat cost a month?

The PDSA estimates the minimum monthly cost of a cat at about £79, calculated in 2024. That covers insurance, food, litter, booster vaccinations and flea and worm treatment, but not vet fees if your cat becomes ill.

Sources: The cost of owning a cat

Sources and further reading

  1. The cost of owning a cat, PDSA. Accessed
  2. Choosing a kitten, The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy. Accessed
  3. Cat microchipping now mandatory, GOV.UK (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) (). Accessed
  4. Ban of third-party sales of puppies and kittens known as Lucy's Law confirmed, GOV.UK (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) (). Accessed

About this article

  • Written by Mypetzilla Editorial Team
  • Published

This article is general pet advice, not veterinary or legal advice. If your pet is unwell, speak to a vet.

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