Why are Registered Kittens so Expensive?

Most legitimate breeders do not even cover their own costs. It's a very expensive hobby. As an example, buying a top show quality kitten with breeding rights can cost more than $1000 per cat. 

Showing cats to the title of "Champion" can add another $500-$2000 to the investment. Showing a male or female to the title of "Grand Champion", or "Regional/National Winner"  can be from $1000 to over $20,000! 

Maintenance, supplies and veterinary care generally cost breeders about $500 per cat per year. By the time a cat is first bred, at about a year old, the breeder will have invested several thousand dollars.

Kitten shots and vet visits cost breeders about $100 per kitten and that's if there are NO problems to be treated. Kittens stay with the breeder for about 8 weeks to 3 months, and have to be cuddled, and cleaned up after for all that time. Separate, special areas of the house are often customized for the cats to use as a cattery or nursery and some cattery set-ups cost $5000 or more to build.

If all goes well, fat healthy kittens are born. But there are always the disasters, such as C-sections that run $750 and up. Good breeders make a huge investment into  " doing it right", by having the right breeding cats and facilities. Caring, professionaly breeders make huge sacrifices in their personal lives, and shed lots of tears, in trying to create a successful breeding program. 

---