Scottish Fold Price: Updated Cost in 2023

Introduction

The name of the Scottish Fold tells you the one thing that makes these cats unique: those folded ears! This medium-sized cat has a stocky build, a round face, and big round eyes. It’s also why they have the nickname, “owl cat!”

If you’re considering investing in a Scottish Fold, you should know the price of this breed and how much taking care of them will cost.

Bringing Home a New Scottish Fold: One-Time Costs

The biggest one-time cost for a Scottish Fold is the cat themselves. But there are other one-time expenses that you need to be aware of before bringing your new cat or kitten home.

There’s also the spaying or neutering surgery and most of the equipment that you’ll need, such as the litter box, food bowls, cat carrier, and cat tree.

Free

Finding a Scottish Fold for free is unlikely unless you’re lucky enough to have a breeder in the family or as a friend.

You can try asking around—there’s the possibility of someone needing to rehome their cat. But looking for a free Scottish Fold isn’t the greatest idea, anyway, unless they’re a rescue animal.

Adoption

Getting a cat from a rescue group or animal shelter is one of the more rewarding ways to bring a cat home. Purebreds, particularly rare ones like the Scottish Fold, will be hard to find as a rescue, but it’s always possible.

Rescue organizations charge a fee for their cats, but the price won’t be any different if you adopt a tabby or a Fold.

Breeder

Scottish Folds are highly sought after but not always easy to find, so they can be expensive. If you see a cat advertised as a “straight Scottish Fold,” that’s a cat that is a Fold but doesn’t have folded ears, which might be less expensive than Folds with folded ears.

Ensure that you work with a reputable breeder and avoid any breeders offering their cats at a cheap price. This may be an unethical breeder, and cheap purebred cats also tend to be unhealthy and have behavioral problems.

Initial Setup and Supplies

How much you pay for supplies depends on whether you already have any supplies from a previous cat or can get any from a friend or family member.

This list includes the approximate price of getting your cat spayed or neutered and the supplies that you may or may not need before bringing your new cat home.

List of Scottish Fold Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Scottish Fold Cost Per Month?

How much you spend on your Scottish Fold depends on a few of your choices and the health of your cat. The kind of food and cat litter that you choose will also impact your expenses.

There are also incidentals that might occur, such as repairing damage to your property or paying for a groomer.

Health Care

Unfortunately, Scottish Folds are prone to the joint disease osteochondrodysplasia. What causes their ears to fold also affects the cartilage in their joints, so all Scottish Folds are likely to feel great pain in their hind legs, lower back, and tail at a young age. They are also predisposed to heart disease, kidney disease, and obesity.

Food

You’ll want to opt for high-quality food for your Scottish Fold. If joint disease starts to affect your cat, you might need to invest in specialty food for cats with arthritis in addition to supplements.

Go for a diet of wet and dry food—dry food helps keep their teeth clean, and wet food is excellent for hydration and maintaining a healthy weight.

Grooming

Part of how much you spend will depend on whether you leave grooming up to professionals or do it all yourself. Shorthaired Folds only need weekly brushing, but longhaired Folds must be brushed several times a week.

You’ll also need to stay on top of cleaning your cat’s teeth and trimming their nails. If you opt for a groomer to take care of these duties, the price will vary. These cats’ ears need special attention because they might have difficulty cleaning them.

Medications and Vet Visits

Yearly wellness exams, including physical tests and vaccinations, might cost you about $150 a year. If you don’t brush your cat’s teeth, an annual dental cleaning might be up to $500.

You can also opt for parasite prevention for fleas and ticks for your Scottish Fold. However, this likely won’t be necessary if you keep your Fold inside (unless you have another pet that goes outside).

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is optional, but investing in a purebred cat like the Scottish Fold is a good idea. Most insurance companies will cover the Fold’s joint disease, provided that they don’t exhibit any signs when you apply, hence why you should do it as soon as possible.

How much you pay depends on your cat’s breed and age and where you’re located.

Environment Maintenance

You’ll need to start with the right litter and litter box for your cat. It might take a while to find what your cat prefers. For example, some cats want a covered litter box, while others want an open top.

Most cats favor a sandy texture for their litter, but you can experiment with different types, such as clay, pine, clumping, or non-clumping. Just try to stay away from scented litter.

Entertainment

All cats need toys and anything entertaining when they aren’t sleeping, grooming, or eating. You can start with toy mice, balls, and fishing line toys, so you can play with your cat too.

But cats will get bored of their toys in time, and they can break, so you’ll be replenishing them throughout your cat’s lifetime.

You might want to subscribe to a monthly cat toy box. This way, new cat toys will always be available for about $20 to $30 every month.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Scottish Fold

So many things impact your monthly costs. If your Fold stays in good health, you’ll only have to worry about annual wellness checks with your veterinarian. The food and cat litter that you prefer will affect your budget. Doing the grooming yourself will help save money.

Just bear in mind that we haven’t included any emergency health issues or if your cat needs medication on an ongoing basis. It’s a good idea for you to budget for these scenarios.

Additional Costs to Factor In

Emergency health problems or unexpected illnesses or injuries can take a chunk of your budget. There’s also what you’ll need to do with your cat when you go on vacation, such as paying for cat boarding or a pet sitter. Taking your cat with you will cost extra if they travel on the plane and stay in a hotel with you.

There’s also the damage that they can cause, like clawing up your couch or knocking your favorite glasses off the counter and breaking them.

Just remember to always budget for things that you didn’t plan on.

Owning a Scottish Fold On a Budget

You will need a large budget initially just to pay for your Scottish Fold and cat supplies. But you don’t need to purchase every unique and expensive toy.

As long as you plan carefully and are willing to do some of the work yourself, owning a Scottish Fold on a budget is possible.

Saving Money on Scottish Fold Care

Start by paying less for toys. Cats enjoy simple things, like batting around the lid from your milk jug or playing in a box with crumpled-up aluminum foil balls. Try to do all the grooming yourself. Get your Fold used to you brushing their teeth and having their paws handled for nail trimming.

The better you care for your cat, the less likely they’ll develop health conditions later, saving you money. A cat water fountain can help prevent health conditions as they age. You can also search for deals online, such as for cat food, which will save you money if you buy in bulk (if you have the space for it).

Conclusion

While owning a Scottish Fold on a budget is possible, remember that they are prone to joint disease, which might end up costing a fair bit to manage.

Once you’ve paid for your cat and the initial supplies, you’re looking at about $80 to $200 a month, depending on certain factors and your choices.

As long as you can take care of your Fold and any medical issues that crop up and treat them with love and a healthy dose of respect, the Scottish Fold can be a great cat to own.

Featured Image Credit: Alexander Sobol, Shutterstock