If you’ve ever seen a Toyger, you’re unlikely to forget the experience. These gorgeous creatures are often referred to as Toy Tigers. In fact, they were bred to raise people’s awareness that tigers were slowly starting to decline in the wild.

The Toyger is yet to be recognized by the Cat Fancier’s Association, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t earned several awards since their creation. If you’re considering giving a Toyger a forever home, it’s important to note that they come with a very steep price tag. It’s not only the cat that’s expensive, however.

You’ll have to deal with one-time costs for setting up your furry feline and monthly expenses to ensure your Toyger is happy and healthy. In the guide below, we’ll give you everything you need to know about how much it costs to own a Toyger Cat, from the adoption fee to monthly costs.

Bringing Home a New Toyger Cat: One-Time Costs

As previously mentioned, purchasing a Toyger isn’t going to be cheap. You can expect to pay $500 to $1,000 if you find one at a rescue shelter and between $1,500 and $5,000 if you get the cat from a reputable breeder. However, the purchase price doesn’t factor into the initial setup cost or the other one-time costs you will incur.

Free

It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find a Toyger for free anywhere. At the moment, there are said to be less than 400 of these adorable cats in existence, so it’s unlikely that you will find one that a friend or a neighbor is giving away.

If you do happen to find a Toyger that someone is trying to rehome, make sure that you do your research well to determine if the cat is a real Toyger or not.

Adoption

$500–$1,000

Finding Toygers at a local animal shelter will be challenging due to their rarity, but you may have more luck with a rescue. If you find a Toyger up for adoption, you should expect to pay between $500 and $1,000.

Breeder

$1,500–$5,000

You can expect to pay $1,500–$5,000 for a Toyger from a breeder. However, show-quality Toygers cost much more, and some have paid as much as $50,000. It’s vital to research the breeders thoroughly to ensure you get a healthy cat, but unfortunately, your options are limited since there aren’t many Toyger breeders in the United States. It’s best to search for TCA-approved breeders with an excellent reputation.

Initial Setup and Supplies

$365–$500

The initial setup to bring home your Toyger and the supplies you need can run you anywhere from $365 to $500. That includes food, a bed, food and water bowls, litter, a litter box, an ID tag, and a collar. You’ll also need to pay for spaying or neutering, microchipping, and a checkup with the vet.

List of Toyger Cat Care Supplies and Costs:

How Much Does a Toyger Cat Cost Per Month?

$50–$150 per month

Once you’ve purchased your Toyger and taken care of the one-time costs, it’s not as expensive as you would think to care for your feline friend. Owning a Toyger is similar to caring for other breeds regarding monthly expenses.

Health Care

$0–$50 per month

You can expect to spend up to $50 a month for health care for your Toyger Kitten. They’re healthy cats that aren’t vulnerable to many health issues. For that reason, you might not have to spend as much on healthcare every month. However, you must pay for flea and tick prevention every few months. Of course, as your cat gets older, you may pay more for health care.

Food

$12–$21 per month

You can expect to pay between $12 and $21 monthly for cat food for your Toyger. However, if you join a subscription service that delivers monthly meals, you’ll pay $30 or more. Toygers don’t have any special nutritional needs, but it’s best to buy high-quality cat food with plenty of protein. They’re energetic cats that need a high-protein diet to keep them healthy.

Grooming

$0–$30 per month

Grooming for the Toyger Cat isn’t as hard as you might think. They were developed by crossing Domestic Shorthairs with Bengals, and their gorgeous striped coat is relatively easy to maintain. Daily brushing is ideal, but you can get away with brushing them twice a week.

Besides the initial purchase of clippers, shampoo, and a brush, you won’t spend much on grooming the Toyger. However, if you feel that you can’t groom your Toyger properly or don’t have the time, you can find a reputable groomer for around $30 a month.

Medications and Vet Visits

$0–$50 per month

As previously mentioned, the Toyger Cat is a pretty healthy breed, so you might have to spend nothing on medications. However, you’ll need to buy flea and tick medication that typically comes with a 3-month or 6-month supply. Unless they get sick or hurt, your Toyger will only have to visit the veterinarian for a checkup twice a year.

Pet Insurance

$25–$35 per month

While pet insurance isn’t required, injuries, accidents, and illnesses are bound to happen. Depending on the insurance company you choose and the policy you decide on, pet insurance can cost you around $35 a month.

Since the Toyger is so expensive to purchase, it’s certainly recommended that you pay for pet insurance for your furry pal. Enrolling your cat as soon as you adopt them is best to keep your insurance costs down. Pet insurance companies don’t reimburse you for veterinary services related to pre-existing conditions, but a healthy kitten is less likely to have medical problems than an adult.

Environment Maintenance

$15–$35 per month

When it comes to maintaining the environment of your Toyger, you’ll need litter box liners, cat litter, and some type of deodorizing spray or granules to eliminate the litter box smell. Depending on the brand, you’ll pay anywhere from $15 to $35 a month for these supplies.

It’s more cost-effective to purchase high-quality litter since the cheapest brands don’t last as long or hold up well to repeated use. You could pay more for the cheaper litter because you’ll must purchase it more often.

Entertainment

$10–$50 per month

Interactive toys can keep your Toyger entertained for hours, but you should also get toys that require you to interact with your pet, like catnip mice, teaser wands, and laser pointers. You can expect to spend between $10 to $50 monthly entertaining your cat. There are also monthly subscription boxes that you can buy that come with treats, food, and toys. However, some companies allow you to select boxes that only come with toys.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Toyger Cat

$50–$150+ per month

Between the food, entertainment, medication, and vet visits, we estimate that you’ll spend $50–$150 a month on taking care of your Toyger. Considering how much you’ll pay to purchase the Toy Tiger, what you pay monthly isn’t going to be that much of a hardship.

Additional Costs to Factor In

While we’ve given you the purchase price, one-time costs, and monthly costs of owning a Toyger Cat, there are always additional costs you should factor in as well. That’s why it’s best to set aside a bit every week for your cat’s budget.

For example, you might have to go out of town and need a cat sitter or a boarding facility to care for your cat while you’re away. Cats are also pretty destructive, and you might have to replace furniture or carpeting that your Toyger has decided to use as a scratching post.

Owning a Toyger Cat on a Budget

Although they are expensive, that doesn’t mean you can’t own a Toyger on a tight budget. You can always look for coupons for food and treats online and in Sunday newspapers. Instead of hiring a pet sitter when you’re away, you can ask a friend or family member to take care of your Toyger.

However, you shouldn’t neglect their healthcare; maintaining regular veterinary appointments is essential.

Saving Money on Toyger Cat Care

As previously mentioned, you don’t have to have pet insurance, but it is recommended. It’ll save you more money than you think in the long run if something should happen to your cat. An injury or illness can cost several hundred dollars or more to treat, but most insurance will reimburse you for 90% of your veterinary bill.

However, insurance doesn’t typically pay for vet visits unless you purchase an add-on plan. You can also purchase your cat food and litter in bulk, which will save you money.

Conclusion

Toyger cats are very expensive animals, and some can cost $5,000 or more. However, after the first year, your expenses will decrease significantly. Toygers are healthy cats, and the monthly costs to care for them aren’t much different than with other breeds. Maintaining regular veterinary appointments, providing healthy meals, and playing with your Toyger daily will keep them happy and fit.

Although the cost of owning a Toyger may seem steep, it is possible to care for them properly on a tight budget.

• See Also: How Much Does a Tortoiseshell Cat Cost? Updated Price Guide

Featured Image Credit: stockelements, Shutterstock