How Much Does a Nebelung Cat Cost? (2024 Price Guide)

The Nebelung cat is a relatively new breed that is quite rare. Therefore, it is often hard to find a kitten to adopt in the first place. Generally, though, these cats aren’t terribly expensive, especially when you compare them to purebred dogs. Generally, you can find these cats for as little as $600 to $1,200 from a cattery.

Because these cats are so rare, it is nearly impossible to find them unless you adopt them from a breeder. You probably aren’t going to find them at your local animal shelter or anything of that sort. They simply aren’t common enough. Therefore, you should plan on spending around $1,000 on these dogs.

This cat is characterized by its silky blue coat. Its name comes from the German word for mist – “Nebel.” This is supposed to characterize their blue-grey coats. They are an attempt to get back to “ancient” genetics, resembling an idolized version of longhaired cats that may have existed in Russia in the nineteenth century.

Much like a mist, these cats are known for being slow and quiet. They aren’t a terribly active breed

Bringing Home a New Nebelung: One-Time Costs

Finding these cats is often very difficult. Adopting one isn’t so much about saving up the appropriate amount of money – but finding one to adopt in the first place. There are very few catteries in the United States that produce these breeds. The TICA doesn’t even have any breeders listed as specializing in this breed, which means that it must be quite rare indeed.

This often causes these cats to be quite expensive when they are found. Usually, these cats cost around $1,000 from a breeder. This is a bit expensive for a cat, but it isn’t a terribly high cost when you consider their rarity. Of course, you’ll likely have plenty of time to save up for that amount of money as you search high and low for a kitten.

The price can get even higher if you end up needing to import a kitten. While these cats were originally from America, they are more common today in the UK and other European countries.

Free

It is pretty much impossible to find these cats for free. They are exceedingly rare and not usually owned by your average cat owner. Most of them are not pets. Instead, they are usually owned by breeders, who aren’t typically willing to simply give their cats away. Most are the result of lots of work, which means that adopters must pay for that work.

If you find a Nebelung cat for free, it likely isn’t a Nebelung at all. Usually, these cats are likely scams, or the owners simply think they have a Nebelung cat based on the coat color. Many cats have similar coat colors, so it can be difficult for an uninitiated individual to tell the difference between this breed and another one.

When you adopt a cat for free, you have to consider its history. A cat that is free likely hasn’t had much money put into it; hence its free status. This means the cat likely has plenty of health problems and similar issues. You aren’t really getting a free cat, as there might be significant health issues down the line.

Adoption

$50 – $300

These cats are rarely found at animal shelters and adoption agencies. It can be difficult for many people to correctly ID these cats, so there are many that are misidentified as a Nebelung when they really aren’t. Some agencies might advertise these cats as Nebelungs to improve their chance of adoption. These cats are rare and often considered “exotic,” which can improve their adoption chances.

Usually, breed-specific rescues are the best place to find purebred cats. However, there are not currently any breed-specific rescues for this cat.

Either way, if you do find these cats at a rescue, they will likely be much cheaper than purchasing them from a breeder. Usually, the cost of adoption goes to the care that the cat had while at the shelter, so certain cats often cost more than others.

Breeder

$600 – $1,200

Breeders are the most expensive option for cat adoption. However, there is a reason they are so expensive. Breeders often provide their cats with more health care while they are kittens and before they are born. This limits the health problems that kitten has at adoption, lowering your vet costs.

Plus, many catteries health-test their cats before breeding. This means that they check for certain genetic conditions that adult cats can carry and potentially pass onto their kittens. These conditions often don’t show symptoms until the cat is older, or they may be completely undetected for its whole life. However, even without symptoms, these conditions can be passed onto their kittens.

Health testing can be expensive, which adds to the cost of the kitten.

It is nearly impossible to find a Nebelung outside of a professional breeder, as well.  So, this will often be your only choice.

Initial Setup and Supplies

$200 – $600

On top of purchasing the cat, you’ll also need to purchase some initial supplies. Many of these are one-time purchases that you won’t need to purchase very often (or at all). For instance, you’ll likely only need to purchase a cat bed once or twice over your cat’s lifespan if you choose a high-quality option. Some cats need special cat beds as they age, but they will often use the same bed for years.

Other initial purchases include microchipping, which can help reunite your feline with you if they get lost.

Theoretically, you can purchase some of these things after you adopt your cat. You’ll have to wait on things like microchipping until your cat is an appropriate age, of course. Other things will need to be purchased before you even bring your cat home. If you know that you’re adopting a cat, you can shop for deals months in advance to save a bit of money.

How Much Does a Nebelung Cost Per Month?

$120 – $630 per month

The monthly cost of a Nebelung is likely to be similar to other cats. They don’t have any particular needs that would make them more expensive. In general, you’ll be spending most of your money on food and cat litter. However, medical costs and other expenses can also take up a big chunk. It is important to budget correctly for your cat to ensure that you can care for them properly.

Some months may be more expensive, especially since you’ll likely pay most vet costs in one big chunk. However, you can still budget monthly for these costs by setting aside a particular amount of money each month for these larger expenses.

Keep in mind, the prices listed here do not take into account emergency vet bills and similar costs.

Health Care

$75 – $535

These cats are quite healthy – or, at least, they are so rare that common health problems are yet to be discovered. There have been no studies done on their health thus far, so it is difficult to say just how healthy these cats are. It could easily be that we just don’t know what health problems these cats are prone to yet.

Beyond this, the prices for their care will be similar to other felines. You should plan on spending a moderate amount on food, grooming, and pet insurance. When these cats do get sick, they don’t typically cost more to take care of. As average-sized cats, their medical bills shouldn’t be higher than other breeds.

Food

$30 – $60

The Nebelung does not require special food. They may be a rare, “specialty” breed, but they don’t require specialty food. Usually, they get along just fine with normal, commercial cat foods. However, that doesn’t mean that you should purchase them the lowest-quality option available. We do recommend that you choose decently high-quality cat food, as this will ensure that they are meeting their nutritional needs.

Purchasing in bulk is often the best option. The larger the bag, the cheaper it typically is by the ounce. You should also take care not to overfeed your feline. This will cost you money since your cat is eating more than usual. However, your cat can also become obese, which can affect their health and vet bills.

Grooming

$0 – $75

While these cats do have longer hair, they do not require much professional grooming. Usually, their needs can be taken care of at home with some basic grooming supplies. This includes things like a brush, which we have already included in the one-time purchase calculations. You may need a few different brushes if your feline is sensitive about their grooming.

However, there are no monthly costs that should fit in this category. You can take your cat to the groomer if you don’t want to deal with the upkeep. But this is often stressful on the cat and unnecessary. It can add quite a bit to your costs as well.

Medication and Vet Visits

$20 – $320+

This is one category that can shift widely from cat to cat. All cats will need a yearly check-up. This can cost anywhere from $125 to $250, depending on the vaccinations and tests the cat needs. You can budget for this by saving about $20 a month, which should be plenty to cover your costs.

This assumes that your cat is healthy and doesn’t require any special care. Most medications for chronic conditions range from $100 to $300 a month. This will likely also cover most supportive therapies as well. However, this is only for a single condition. If your cat needs care for multiple illnesses, it will likely cost much more.

Without pet insurance, surgeries can also be extremely expensive. We can’t include these in the budget, as they vary widely. However, we do recommend having an emergency fund set aside.

Pet Insurance

$20 – $80

Due to the high cost of surgeries and emergency care, we highly recommend paying for pet insurance. There are many different pet insurance options available, depending on the amount of coverage you’re looking for. Usually, injury-only care is the least expensive option. However, it leaves you open to more veterinary bills.

Preventative care is available in some cats. But this is often quite expensive. It is up to you how much to pay for your cat’s insurance.

Environmental Maintenance

$35 – $75

Typically, your environmental care is mostly going to involve your cat’s litter box. You’ll need to purchase cat litter, which can get a bit expensive. You’ll need to completely change your cat’s litter about once a month, as well as add in the litter as you scoop. This will likely take at least one container of litter a month.

Your costs will largely depend on the litter you choose. They aren’t all priced the same. Premium, all-natural litters are the most expensive option, while you can purchase cheaper litters to save a bit of money. These may lead to a smelly house and an unhappy cat, though, so it is going to depend on your preferences.

Entertainment

$10 – $20

The Nebelung is not a very active cat. They will spend most of their time lying around. For this reason, you do not have to worry about spending too much on cat toys. They usually won’t tear them up too quickly or play with them too often.

You can purchase cat toys yourself or decide to subscribe to a cat toy box. If you choose the latter option, you’ll likely only need a box every other month. Keep this in mind when you’re shopping around for boxes to order.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Nebelung

$120 – $630 per month

The Nebelung breed costs about the same to keep monthly as most other cat breeds. They don’t have any special needs and are usually pretty easy to take care of.

For most people, you’re going to be paying at the lower end of this monthly range. The higher-end is going to mostly contain cats with health problems who need monthly medication that your pet insurance won’t cover. This could also include therapies and similar treatments for chronic health problems. The large majority of cats will not fall into this category.

Owning a Nebelung on a Budget

Despite their rarity, owning one of these cats is very similar to owning any cat. They aren’t particularly unusual in their behavior or needs. You likely won’t be paying a particularly high amount to keep these cats thriving.

However, it is quite expensive to purchase these kittens. They are rare, which means that the supply often does not meet the demand. This can raise the price substantially. This is a one-time cost, though. You can save up for it once and then never pay it again. Like all cats, it will likely cost a few hundred dollars to purchase all the start-up equipment you need as well.

Saving Money on Nebelung Care

One of the easiest ways to save money on care is to purchase pet insurance. This will save you from surprise vet bills and may cover the cost of medication required for chronic conditions.

When possible, we also recommend buying in bulk, as this can often save you quite a bit of money. Food is easy to purchase in bulk and typically doesn’t go bad before your cat can eat it. Toys can be purchased via subscription boxes, which often leads to you saving a bit of money.

Choosing a high-quality litter may actually save you a bit of money, as it will clump more efficiently and require less changing. You may have to pay more upfront, but it can save you some cash in the long run.

Final Thoughts

Purchasing a Nebelung is quite expensive. They are one of the more expensive cat breeds, with a Nebelung costing around $1,000 for a high-quality kitten. That’s even if you can find a kitten to adopt. They are exceedingly rare and hard to find.

However, once you purchase these cats, they don’t actually cost much more than other breeds. Their monthly costs usually run anywhere from $120 to $630. Most cats will be on the lower end of this scale, though. Cats with health conditions will cost more money, and you never know exactly when your cat may be affected. For this reason, we recommend budgeting for a slightly higher amount than you really need.

The start-up cost for this breed will be about $200 to $605. It largely depends on the quality of the items you purchase.

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