Cost of Cat Ownership Per Year: Philadelphia Was $116 Higher
Cost of cat ownership per year for recurring supplies was $754.45 in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 22. In Clayton, Missouri, the same one-cat basket cost $638.52.
That roughly $116 difference came mostly from two shelves: wet cat food and cat litter. Together, they explained about 94% of the Philadelphia-Clayton gap.
The annual basket includes dry food, wet food, litter, treats, and litter box liners.
Philadelphia led the annual cat cost ranking
Philadelphia led a seven-city group above $720 that also included Los Angeles, New York, North Jackson, Chicago, Houston, and Seattle.
| Rank | City | Postal code | Cost per year | Price observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA - South Philadelphia | 19145 | $754.45 | 158 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA - Mid-City | 90019 | $734.25 | 155 |
| 3 | New York, NY - Ridgewood/Glendale | 11385 | $727.12 | 154 |
| 4 | Jackson, MS - North Jackson | 39206 | $727.05 | 151 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL - North Center/Avondale | 60618 | $722.01 | 147 |
| 6 | Houston, TX - Midtown | 77004 | $720.54 | 152 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA - Rainier Valley | 98118 | $720.50 | 149 |
| 8 | San Jose, CA - Blossom Valley | 95123 | $710.80 | 159 |
| 9 | Jacksonville, FL - Westside | 32210 | $688.40 | 151 |
| 10 | East St. Louis, IL | 62201 | $685.16 | 149 |
| 11 | San Antonio, TX - West San Antonio | 78228 | $645.74 | 144 |
| 12 | Clayton, MO | 63105 | $638.52 | 138 |
The June 22 annual cat-supply basket contains 1,807 price observations across 12 cities. Clayton and San Antonio sat well below the next cluster of cities.
Wet cat food and litter carried the gap
Wet food and litter created most of the Philadelphia-Clayton difference.
| Component | Clayton contribution | Philadelphia contribution | Difference | Price observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet cat food | $300.47 | $365.73 | $65.26 | 54 |
| Cat litter | $180.89 | $224.38 | $43.49 | 56 |
| Cat treats | $31.00 | $38.79 | $7.79 | 63 |
| Dry cat food | $95.24 | $99.28 | $4.04 | 74 |
| Litter box liners | $30.93 | $26.28 | -$4.65 | 49 |
Wet cat food by itself explained $65.26 of the gap. Cat litter added another $43.49. Cat treats and dry cat food mattered less, and litter box liners moved in the opposite direction.
Wet food and litter explain most of the city gap. The latest totals are on the Cost of Cat Ownership Per Year history, with separate histories for wet cat food, cat litter, and dry cat food.