The Devon Rex is a fun-loving cat breed with large pointy ears, a thin wavy coat, and a uniquely shaped head. These cats are affectionate and sociable and act more like dogs than most cat breeds. The Devon Rex is interested in everything and anything you do, and owning one means you have a friend that will curl up in your lap, sleep with you, eat with you, and follow you around, much like a dog.
The Devon Rex loves its owners and forms strong bonds. They are happy to assist in household chores and even engage in a game of fetch or hide and seek. If you’ve considered owning a Devon Rex, this article will help you understand how much it will cost to own one, along with other valuable information about the breed.
Bringing Home a New Devon Rex: One-Time Cost
Bringing home a new Devon Rex means buying all the necessary start-up supplies your new kitty will need. Most one-time costs include food and water bowls, a collar, a bed, a litter box, and a kitty carrier. Adding a scratching post to the list is ideal, especially for the playful Devon Rex; however, you may need to replace the post at some point, depending on how much your Devon Rex uses it.
Free
Given their amazing characteristics and traits, finding a Devon Rex for free is highly unlikely. Most people will go through a breeder to get one of these sought-after cats, and they are not cheap. Even though the price of buying a Devon Rex from a breeder is high, the expense is worth the dent in your wallet, given their fun and loving personalities.
It’s unlikely you’ll find one in a shelter, but you can always keep a check in case one happens to end up in one due to life changes.
Adoption
There are not many Devon Rex rescues in the country,1 but there are a select few. Depending on where you live, you may need to travel to adopt or rescue a Devon Rex, but a rescue is certainly worthy of checking into. The price will be much less than what you’ll pay a breeder, but locating one is difficult.
Breeder
The Devon Rex is a cat breed in high demand, and you may need to get on a waiting list for one, especially considering this breed is relatively rare. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 for one, but again, the price is worth it.
It may be difficult to find a reputable breeder,2 depending on your location, but it’s not impossible. You may need to travel to get your new kitty, as breeders are scattered across the United States and Canada.
Initial Setup and Supplies
Once you’ve found a Devon Rex, you must factor in the costs for the initial setup and supplies needed to care for your new feline friend. Cats obtained through a reputable breeder will likely already have had their vaccines, microchip, spay/neuter, FELV/FIV testing, etc, but this is not always the case.
Below you’ll find a list of necessary supplies and the estimated costs of each item to give you a better idea of such expenses.
List of Devon Rex Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar | $15 |
| Spay/Neuter | $100 – $500 |
| X-Ray Cost | $100 – $250 |
| Ultrasound Cost | $25 – $500 |
| Microchip | $45 – $55 |
| Teeth Cleaning | $100 – $400 |
| Bed | $30 |
| Nail Clipper (optional) | $5 – $30 |
| Brush (optional) | $5 – $20 |
| Litter Box | $15 – $40 |
| Litter Scoop | $10 |
| Toys | $30 |
| Carrier | $40 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $10 |
How Much Does a Devon Rex Cost Per Month?
You will have monthly expenses owning a Devon Rex, just like with any cat breed. However, given the Devon Rex is playful and dog-like, you may find yourself buying more cat toys than normal. Other monthly costs include flea, tick, heartworm medication, and quality cat food.
Health Care
Owning a Devon Rex will come with monthly costs to anticipate. Parasite prevention is important to stay on top of, and you can do this by keeping your Devon Rex on a monthly parasite prevention that you can buy from your vet’s practice or a retail pet store.
Food
Feeding your Devon Rex quality cat food is essential for overall health. There are a variety of cat foods on the market, giving you plenty of options for both dry kibble and wet canned food. Some cats require specific diets, such as high fiber, high protein, gluten-free, and others. Wet canned food is a little more expensive than dry kibble, but wet canned food contains moisture to help keep your Devon Rex hydrated. Your veterinarian can help you pick a food that suits your Devon Rex’s needs to fit your budget while offering all essential nutrients.
Grooming
The Devon Rex requires minimal grooming because they are considered low-maintenance cats. They have a short, fine coat that sheds minimally, and the texture of the coat makes the hair not as noticeable on furniture or clothing. You do not need to brush them often, and they only need a bath if they get dirty.
Keeping the nails trimmed and keeping up with dental hygiene is important. You can get your Devon Rex used to having its teeth brushed at an early age, and you can also buy dental treats if you have a hard time brushing the teeth. A professional groomer can take care of all these needs for you if you’re not comfortable.
Medications and Vet Visits
We’ve discussed the importance of providing monthly parasite prevention, and you can buy a 3-month supply or a 6-month supply. Parasite prevention is really the only cost you will incur monthly as far as medications and vet visits. You will not need to take your Devon Rex to the vet monthly, but health issues can arise out of nowhere, and you must be prepared to carry your kitty to the vet when needed.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is an excellent idea to keep significant expenses down in the event your Devon Rex gets injured or sick. Obtaining a pet policy prevents you from having vet bills that can exceed the thousands.
The monthly premium will vary depending on your customizable options and the age of your Devon Rex. For example, a policy for a 1-year-old will cost less as opposed to a 7-year-old cat, and your deductible, reimbursement rates, and annual payout limits also affect the monthly price. It’s best to get pet insurance when your Devon Rex is young for a lesser monthly premium.
Environment Maintenance
Owning a Devon Rex, or any cat for that matter, means replacing litter, litter box liners, and deodorizing sprays monthly. Litter should be replaced at least weekly to keep odors down and to provide your kitty with a clean spot to go potty. Be sure to scoop waste from the litter box daily. Here’s a breakdown of the cost.
| Litter box liners | $3 – $10/month |
| Deodorizing spray or granules | $5 – $20/month |
| Litter | $20 – $40/month |
Entertainment
The Devon Rex is a playful cat, and you may buy more cat toys for your feline pal more often than you would with a different cat breed. There are a few cat subscription boxes you can sign up for to keep your cat entertained that will be delivered right to your door each month. The subscription prices vary depending on what you want to be included in the monthly box, but the average cost ranges from $15 to $30 per month.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Devon Rex
Your Devon Rex’s needs and your budget will play a role in your monthly expenses. Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention are definite costs to factor in, and your budget will determine how much you spend on toys for your Devon Rex. Food, cleaning supplies, and cat litter will also be monthly expenses.
Additional Costs to Factor In
Life happens, and you must be prepared for unexpected costs, such as an illness or injury, paying a pet sitter while out of town, and possible household damage caused by your active Devon Rex.
Most cats can do just fine being left alone for a day or two, but anything more than that will require a pet sitter, especially for the attention-craving Devon Rex. Some people may have a friend willing to take care of their cat for them, but if you need a professional, the costs can range from $10 to $20 per hour.
Owning a Devon Rex on a Budget
Unless you adopt your Devon Rex from a rescue or other organization, the cost of getting the cat will be your highest expense. Once you bring your Devon Rex home, you can cater cat toys and other expenses to fit your budget. You don’t have to buy the most expensive cat toys—your Devon Rex will be happy to play with basic toys too.
Feeding high-quality cat food is something you should be mindful of, as premium cat food can be a little costly. Mixing in dry kibble with wet food helps keep expenses down. However, feeding high-quality cat food will keep your Devon Rex happy and healthy, which will cut down on trips to the vet.
Saving Money on Devon Rex Care
Many cat subscription boxes offer discounts upon signing up, with continued deals as a member. If you want pet insurance, buy a policy as soon as possible while your kitty is young. Buying cat food in bulk is also a nice way to keep finances down, and always be on the lookout for coupons and other deals.
You can also learn to groom your Devon Rex yourself to keep expenses down. Remember, the Devon Rex does not need to be brushed often, and they only need bathing when dirty. You can learn to trim the nails and brush their teeth to help with costs.
Conclusion
The initial cost to buy a Devon Rex from a breeder will be high—you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 for one. You can also expect to tack on anywhere from $200 to $500 for initial setup costs, but you can look for deals in that regard to help keep expenses down.
Recurring costs will consist of parasite prevention, food, litter, cat toys, and cleaning supplies. The initial costs of owning a Devon Rex may be more than other cat breeds, but the love and fun times you’ll gain from your Devon Rex will be priceless.
Featured Image Credit: Oleksandr Volchanskyi, Shutterstock
