Cat Reviews & Guides
UK guides for cat owners, in the order most owners need them: getting ready for a kitten, choosing a breed, what a cat costs, food, insurance and vet bills, then kit such as litter trays, microchip cat flaps and feeders. Battersea puts the cost of owning a cat at around £1,500 a year (updated 6 July 2026); our cost of owning a cat guide breaks that down from prices checked on 21 October 2026. Every comparison links to its sources and shows when we last checked it.
Topics, in the order most owners need them
- Kitten checklistWhat to buy before a kitten arrives, with example prices and when to vaccinate, neuter and microchip.See the checklist
- Cat breedsMoggy or pedigree, plus British Shorthair, Maine Coon, Ragdoll and Bengal: breeder health tests and lifespan from UK vet records.Compare breeds
- Cost of owning a catMonthly and yearly costs on dry or wet food, with every figure's source and date, and a calculator for your own cat.See the costs
- Cat foodComplete foods compared on cost per day for a 4 kg cat and declared meat content, with kitten, sensitive stomach and subscription guides.Compare foods
- How much to feed a catCalories and grams a day from your cat's weight and age, using the published FEDIAF formula.Use the calculator
- Cat insuranceCover types and vet-fee limits explained, with sourced costs for common cat conditions and a guide to insuring a kitten. We do not rank insurers.Understand cover
- Vaccinations and neuteringKitten course, booster, spay and castration prices from published UK practice price lists.See the prices
- Litter traysTrays compared on price, size and entry, with litter cost per month and International Cat Care's tray advice.Compare trays
- Cat techMicrochip cat flaps, automatic feeders and water fountains compared on price, specs and running costs.Compare cat tech
Start here
- In season: Dogs and fireworksUK fireworks dates and legal cut-off times for 2026, RSPCA, Dogs Trust and PDSA advice for dogs and cats, and dated prices for non-medicine calming products.
- Cost of owning a catWhat a cat costs a month and a year on dry or wet food, with each figure dated and sourced.
- Cat food compared on cost per dayCost per day for a 4 kg cat and declared meat content, and what being an obligate carnivore means for diet.
How much should your cat eat?
Work out calories and grams a day from your cat's weight and age, and what the food costs.
Open the calculatorEvery cat guide
Insurance
Food
Health & supplements
Accessories & care
Costs
Puppies
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of owning a cat per year?
Battersea puts it at around £1,500 a year (updated 6 July 2026) and Cats Protection at over £1,000 each year. Our cost of owning a cat guide adds up food, litter, flea treatment and the yearly booster from prices checked on 21 October 2026; insurance comes on top. The pet cost calculator works it out for your own cat.
How much should I feed a cat per day?
Using the FEDIAF energy factors, a neutered or indoor 4 kg cat needs roughly 132–190 kcal a day and an active lean cat around 250. Our cat food portion calculator turns your cat's weight and age into calories and grams for the food you buy. Follow the pack's feeding guide as well, and adjust to keep your cat at a healthy weight.
How much are cat vaccinations in the UK?
A kitten vaccination course cost £78–£115 and a yearly booster £47–£84 at the 11 UK practices whose price lists we read on 21 October 2026. WSAVA classes the vaccines against feline parvovirus and cat flu as core for every cat; your vet decides which your cat needs. See our cat vaccination cost guide.
How we research this topic
All cat guides on Pawwala are researched from published prices, labels and policy documents, and checked against veterinary and welfare sources such as International Cat Care, Cats Protection, Battersea, WSAVA and the PDSA. We compare products; we do not use them ourselves.
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