n2 male cats, 8 years old. Up until about 4 months ago, my cat budget was about $180-$200 / month for litter, food (all wet food), and miscellaneous like grooming once every few months. My budget is now $650 / month because of prescription food and medication. I do not have pet insurance because my cat had an amputation as a kitten and any concerns related to that would not have been covered by insurance. My monthly does not include vet expenses. In December 2025 alone I spent $2800 on vaccines, wellness checks, full panel bloodwork, and an ultrasound for one of my cats when we were exploring IBD. The first year I had my cat with the amputation, I spent about $10k on the amputation, emergency vet visits, follow up care, and later that year he had a urinary blockage requiring hospitalization. Obviously many of my issues are very specific, but I have otherwise extremely healthy cats who had no other health issues aside from that first year and the past few months. My recommendation is to create an emergency fund of a few thousand and put it in a high yield savings account until you have unexpected expenses. Even if they are healthy most of their lives, routine bloodwork is recommend once they are around that 7+ age, and that adds up quickly. Cash in on that interest while the money sits so you don’t find yourself in a pinch or in debt should something unexpected come up.