The upfront cost to adopt a cat typically ranges from about $30 to $125 in many shelters, with additional one-time costs for spay/neuter, vaccines, and initial supplies. After adoption, initial-year costs (food, litter, routine veterinary care, and enrichment) commonly total a few hundred dollars, and can vary based on age (kitten vs. adult), health, and the shelter's policies. Overall first-year startup costs are frequently estimated around several hundred to a couple thousand dollars, with major variability by location and individual cat needs.