Saturday, June 5, 2010

How Much Do Persians Cost?

When you first consider getting a Persian cat, one of the first things you will want to know is how much you should expect to pay for your Persian. The truth is that there is no pat answer to this question, as the cost of the Persian depends on many variables.

First note that if you find a Persian priced under $200 you probably are not getting a purebred. At the very least, you will be getting a purebred that has no pedigree – and this does happen. The typical cost of a purebred Persian kitten is about $500, but again, this isn't written in stone because many other variables come into play.

When it comes to price, you should know that prices in one area may not be the same as prices in a different area – even if the kittens are comparable as far as bloodlines and such go. As with any type of commodity, the price goes up when there is a greater demand, and the price goes down when there is less of a demand. Typically, the prices charged on the East coast of the United States are higher than those prices charged in the central part of the country or on the West coast.

The time of the year matters a great deal as well. Cats are generally in heat in the early spring and into the summer. This is when the most Persian kittens will be available – Spring, Summer, and even into the fall. However if a litter is born in the winter, you can expect the cost of those kittens to be higher – because there aren't as many kittens available.

If the Persian kitten’s parents are registered, this raises the price of the kittens, which will also be registered – or pedigreed. If the parents have won awards, this again raises the price of the kittens, because they are proven to be show quality animals based on their parent’s achievements. Show quality Persians always cost more than pet quality Persians.

The color of the kitten and the rarity of that color or pattern can also drive the price up. At the same time, however, if one color is currently more popular than others, which is shown by what the judges seem to favor at the cat shows, the cost of kittens of that color or pattern go up. The health guarantee that the breeder offers will also bring the price up. Good breeders have their kittens checked by a veterinarian, and this also drives the cost of the kittens up.

Overall, with all of these factors in play, one should expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1200 for a purebred Persian kitten. Older cats typically sell for less, and the Persians that you find at Persian rescue centers and Humane Societies will of course cost even less.