Siamese cats remain one of the most popular breeds of cat in the US and around the world. Their cost to buy can vary depending in their breeding pedigree, their colour and other factors. So is the Siamese expensive? What costs are involved aside from the purchase price?
Upfront costs
The first choice to make when it comes to getting any breed of cat is do you want to adopt a kitten from a breeder or rehome an adult cat either from a breeder or from a shelter? Rehoming is generally cheaper than buying a pedigree kitten but the pedigree of the cat is less likely to be known. They are also liable to have neutered or spayed so won’t be any good if you are planning your own breeding programme. On the turn side, if you want to do some good and take in an animal abandoned by someone else to make a loving and interesting companion, then a cat from a shelter will be ideal.
Assuming that you want a pedigree kitten for showing or breeding purposes, you can contact a local or national cat registry to find out details of local breeders. Speak to a few to get an idea of the cost of their kittens and also their pedigree. Prices can range from hundreds to thousands of pounds depending on the lineage of the kitten.
Other costs
Buying a cat isn’t the only cost to consider before starting the process – there are ongoing costs to think about. Yes, there is the food bill, cat litter, toys, and cat furniture to buy on an ongoing basis but there is also vets fees to consider.
As a rule, Siamese are relatively healthy cats and don’t have the problems associated with longhaired breeds such as the Persian. Many of the genetic problems that once afflicted the breed are far less common due to the diligent work of breeders to remove these genetics from the breeding pool. Kittens that have these problems likely won’t be sold to anyone planning to show or breed for obvious reasons.
Siamese are on the list of breeds that are more prone to developing respiratory issues, particularly in younger cats. These include infections caused by calicivirus and feline rhinotracheitis virus. This is often because adult cats have received their shots that save them from the infections but the younger cats may not have yet had theirs.
Overgrooming or psychogenic alopecia is another problem that can occur with Siamese if they are lonely and bored. These cats are highly sociable and don’t cope well being left all day alone. Therefore, this needs to be considered before buying one of this breed.
According to pet insurance providers, Siamese are the most expensive cat in the US in terms of vets’ fees. Since 2000, there have been over $74,000 in claims for Siamese cats with an average bill of just under $400. However, this statistic should be offset by the fact that Siamese are also one of the most numerous breeds of cat in the country.
Finally, there are vaccinations that need to be given regularly to cats to avoid the general and potentially life threatening illnesses cats can contract. If you plan to breed or show cats, these are compulsory but even so, are very much essential for your cat’s wellbeing.
Conclusion
Siamese can be expensive in terms of their initial outlay and ongoing care and health issues. However they are not on the list of the most expensive breeds with the Savannah currently being at the top – the purchase price for one of these cats can be anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000. One cool cat!
