Tuxedo Cat Price: How Much They Cost in 2024

Bringing a tuxedo cat home is like adding a dash of elegance to the household. If you’ve fallen in love with the tuxedo’s gorgeous bicolored coat and are considering adding one to your family, you’re likely wondering how much they cost.

It should be noted that a tuxedo cat is not a breed but a coat color. This means a Maine Coon, a Persian, or a regular mixed breed can all be tuxedo cats, so how much you spend depends on which breed you want. You can expect to pay $50–$500 when adopting a tuxedo cat, or $500–$3,000 if you buy one from a reputable breeder. Caring for a tuxedo cat can generally cost between $50 and $300 per month.

Here, we go through many of the expenses that come with owning a cat and give you an idea of how much tuxedo cats might cost.

Bringing Home a New Tuxedo Cat: One-Time Costs

While the main cost of bringing home a new cat is the cat themselves, there are other expenses that you should be aware of, for items that your new cat will require.

Food bowls, cat beds, scratching posts, and litter boxes are all essential things that you will need for your tuxie.

Free

Finding a cat for free isn’t easy, but a friend or family member might have an adult tuxedo that needs rehoming or a litter of kittens.

That said, most people ask for a small fee to adopt a kitten or adult cat, to ensure that the adopter is serious about taking good care of the cat. It also reimburses the person or organization for the time and resources that have already gone into the cat’s care.

Adoption

If you keep an eye out for a tuxedo cat at your local rescue or animal shelter, chances are that you will find one eventually. But if you’re hoping for a purebred tuxie of a specific breed, you aren’t likely to find one. If you do, though, you will pay the same adoption fee as for a mixed-breed cat.

You might also find a tuxedo cat or kitten available for rehoming online, and the rate that you pay will entirely depend on where you get them.

Breeder

You won’t find a breeder that only breeds tuxedo cats, so your only option is to try to find one that has the breed that you’re most interested in.

How much you pay depends on the breeder and the breed. Some breeds are far more expensive than others, but you should be wary of a breeder offering a cat for less than you would expect to pay. This cat might have health issues, and you’d potentially be supporting an unethical breeder.

Initial Setup and Supplies

How much you spend on things like food bowls and litter boxes depends on whether you already own cat supplies or need to purchase everything. If you get an adult cat, you likely won’t need to pay for spay or neuter surgery, which will save you money, but there are other supplies that you can’t do without.

Also, keep in mind that a few of these supplies will need replacing over the course of your cat’s lifetime.

List of Tuxedo Cat Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Tuxedo Cat Cost Per Month?

Once the initial costs have been taken care of, there are monthly expenses that you will be responsible for. How much you spend depends on your choices and your cat.

Health Care

Your monthly expenses will be quite low if your tuxedo is a healthy cat with no health issues, though you need to factor in the annual wellness check with your veterinarian.

If your tuxie is a purebred, you should become familiar with any genetic conditions that the breed is predisposed to. If they have any health problems, your monthly budget will need to stretch to fit in any possible medications or treatments.

Food

A large cat will cost you more in food than a small cat, and while high-quality cat food is recommended, it costs more. That said, feeding your cat top-notch food might reduce the chances of illness occurring later.

You may want to feed them both wet and dry food. Dry food is higher in carbs and can keep their teeth clean, and wet food has high water content, which can help keep your cat hydrated. It can also help a cat that needs to lose weight.

Grooming

How much you pay depends on how much of the work you do yourself and how long your cat’s fur is. If your tuxedo is shorthaired, grooming is easy, and they’ll just need weekly brushing. But if they have long fur, you’ll be brushing them several times a week. You’ll also need to trim your cat’s claws and brush their teeth.

If you do all the work yourself, you’ll save money, but if you want a groomer, how much you pay depends on your cat and the groomer.

Medications and Vet Visits

This is why brushing your cat’s teeth every week is beneficial. Not regularly brushing their teeth will require professional cleaning annually, which might run roughly $500. In general, though, if your tuxie is healthy, you won’t need to pay too much at the vet.

Pet Insurance

You don’t need pet insurance when you own a pet, but it can help if you end up in a situation where your cat needs expensive treatment.

If you own a purebred cat that’s known for being susceptible to a serious health condition, pet insurance might end up saving you money. How much you pay for insurance depends on the breed and age of your cat and where you live.

Environment Maintenance

Litter is the most expensive environmental monthly fee that you will pay. Of course, the larger your cat is (like a Maine Coon) and the more cats you have, the more litter you’ll need.

Cats generally prefer their litter to have a sandy texture, but there are many brands to choose from. You’ll want to avoid scented litter, though, as the fragrance will overwhelm most cats.

Entertainment

Toys are essential when taking care of a cat. They boost their mental and physical health, so you’ll need to stock up on things like feather wands, springs, and toy mice.

You’ll need to spend time playing with your tuxedo, and you’ll also need to replace their toys at times, as some will break, and your cat might get bored with them.

Consider investing in a monthly cat toy subscription box, which can range from $20 to $30 a month. You can also just buy these boxes every once in a while instead of monthly, but it’s a great way to replenish your cat’s toys.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Tuxedo Cat

Many variables can impact how much you ultimately spend on your tuxedo cat. How healthy they are and how much you do yourself will significantly influence how much you spend. The  brands of litter and cat food that you purchase will also be significant factors.

Additional Costs to Factor In

Unexpected events happen, such as a sudden health problem or injury; unless you have pet insurance, this can take a sizeable chunk out of your budget.

When you go on vacation, you need to make arrangements for your tuxie. You might need to pay a fee to bring them with you or for a pet sitter or to board them.

You might need to replace items in your home when your cat damages them. This could mean trying to repair your couch when your cat claws it up. This is why scratching posts are so essential.

Basically it’s important to leave room in your budget for other expenses, especially the unexpected ones.

Owning a Tuxedo Cat On a Budget

Owning a cat means having enough finances to care for them. But there are a few steps that you can take that will help you save money.

Saving Money on Tuxedo Cat Care

Don’t get every gadget toy for your cat. Cats are famous for preferring to play with the box that their toy came in. You can also make your own toys—even crumpling aluminum foil into balls can work!

Doing their grooming yourself will definitely save you money. Treats that your cat loves can help if they aren’t fond of having their nails trimmed.

Your cat should visit the vet every year because if any health issues are lurking, they can be caught early. Getting your cat vaccinated will also keep them healthy.

While purchasing high-quality food can be expensive, it can save money in the long run by keeping your cat in better health. Consider subscribing online for the food, as it can be cheaper, as can buying in bulk.

Finally, consider using a water fountain instead of a bowl. Cats prefer drinking cool running water, and the more water they drink, the less likely they will develop kidney problems as they age, which is something that many cats are prone to and requires expensive treatment.

Conclusion

A tuxedo cat will only be as expensive as the breed. Purchasing a tuxedo Maine Coon, for example, will be the same price as a tabby Maine Coon. That said, since many tuxedos are just typical domesticated cats, most will be quite affordable.

Once you have your cat and everything is in place, you can expect your monthly costs to run from $50 to $300, depending on your choices and your cat.

As long as you take especially good care of your tuxedo cat and head off any potential health issues through diet and regular veterinary visits, your cat should be with you for a long time.

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Featured Image Credit: Rosy_Photo, Pixabay