Buying and caring for a cat: breeds, prices and first costs

A kitten in Azerbaijan usually costs between 50 and 200 AZN: on 27 September 2026 the median price of the latest 300 listings in Prayk's "Cats" section was 100 AZN — also 100 AZN for the most listed breed, the Scottish, and 150 AZN for British cats. But the real cost of a cat starts after you buy it: vet check-ups, vaccinations, food, a litter tray and a carrier. This guide covers prices by breed, how to check a kitten's health, first costs and the scams that turn up in cat listings.

Short answer: as of 27 September 2026 Prayk has more than 2,800 cat listings. The median price of the latest 300 is 100 AZN, with half between 53 and 200 AZN. Scottish (Fold and Straight) — median 100 AZN, British — 150 AZN, "chinchilla"-coloured cats — 150 AZN. Sphynx listings are few (11, from 70 to 800 AZN) and Maine Coons are rare. When buying, check the eyes, ears, coat and behaviour, ask for the vaccination record and never send a deposit before seeing the kitten.

How much do cats of different breeds cost?

The table is based on the latest 300 listings in the Cats section published between 19 and 27 September 2026 (215 in Baku). The breed was identified from the listing title. The median is the price in the middle when listings are sorted by price; the "middle half" is the range of the central 50%.

Scottish cats clearly dominate the section — more than a third of the latest 300 listings. British and "chinchilla" listings are about 1.5 times more expensive. Most Sphynx prices are 400–600 AZN, but there are too few listings for a median. A Maine Coon search returned just one listing (150 AZN) — if you're after this breed, save a search. In 18 of the latest 300 listings the price is 10 AZN or less — usually cats given away free or for a token sum "to a good home".

Besides the breed, the price depends on documents (pedigree, vaccination record), age, colour, sex and litter training. Vaccinations are mentioned in the text of 39 of the latest 300 listings, litter training in 26, and documents, a passport or a pedigree in only 4.

Which breed suits you?

• Scottish (Fold and Straight). Calm cats that bond closely with people. The gene behind folded ears is linked to cartilage and joint problems: check the flexibility of the kitten's tail and legs, ask about the parents and raise it with the vet at the first check-up.
• British. Dense short coat, known for a balanced, calm temperament; adapts well to flat life. Prone to putting on weight — watch the portions.
• "Chinchilla". Not a separate breed but a colour name (usually golden or silver in British or Scottish cats). Check the breed in the listing.
• Sphynx. Hairless: sensitive to cold and needs regular skin care, but doesn't shed. The price is high, so check the seller especially carefully.
• Maine Coon. A large breed that needs space, a big litter tray and a sturdy scratching post. Rare on the market.
• Mixed-breed (domestic) cat. Often free or for a token sum, and it needs the same care as a pedigree cat — vaccinations, check-ups and a decision on neutering.

How do you check a kitten's health before buying?

1. Eyes and nose should be clean — discharge, redness or sneezing can be signs of infection.
2. Ears should be clean inside; black or brown debris and frequent scratching can point to ear mites.
3. Coat and skin: no bald patches, sores or signs of fleas.
4. Belly and stool: the belly should be soft, with no signs of diarrhoea — ask the seller what the kitten eats and about its litter habits.
5. Behaviour: a healthy kitten is curious and playful; don't rush to take one that is listless, hides or shies away from hands.
6. Age and documents: ask how many months old the kitten is and whether it has been vaccinated and dewormed, and see the vaccination record or passport. If a breed is claimed, ask for the pedigree.
7. See the parents and conditions. If possible, see the mother and the place where the kittens are kept with your own eyes.

Take the kitten for a vet check-up in the first days after buying. It confirms its health and lets you set up a vaccination schedule.

What do vaccinations and the law require?

Under the "Rules for keeping dogs, cats and other domestic animals in settlements of the Republic of Azerbaijan", approved by Cabinet of Ministers decision No. 38 of 9 March 2011:

• a pet owner must have the animal examined at a veterinary clinic once a year and carry out treatment and preventive measures against rabies (clauses 5.1.3 and 5.1.4);
• each family living in a separate flat in a multi-storey building may keep one dog and two cats, provided the neighbours are not disturbed (clause 2.1);
• no animal may be sold to a person under 18 without the written consent of their parents or guardians (clause 4.3).

The Rules have since been amended. This is general information — check the current text on e-qanun.az and discuss vaccine types and schedules with your vet.

What are the first costs of a cat?

Besides the kitten itself, you'll need a few things in the first week. A search for "pişik" (cat) in the Pet supplies section returned 395 listings on 27 September 2026; prices for the most common items were:

• Litter tray (often a set with bowls and a scoop) — 37 listings, median 30 AZN, half between 25 and 35 AZN.
• Food — 25 listings, median 22 AZN, but pack sizes and types (dry, wet) vary widely; compare by the same weight.
• Carrier (box or bag) — 12 listings, prices from 11 to 203 AZN (too few for a median). You'll need one in the first week for the vet visit.
• Scratching post, bed, toys, brush — mostly from a few manats to a few dozen.

On top of that come cat litter, the vet check-up, vaccinations and deworming — ask the clinic for prices. Don't change food abruptly: keep giving the food the kitten ate at the seller's for the first days and switch gradually. Feed kitten food and don't give food from the table.

What scams show up in cat listings?

• "We're in another city, we'll ship it, send a deposit first". The most common scheme in cat listings. Don't send money before you've seen the kitten. In Prayk chat, payment requests like this are automatically flagged with a warning.
• Photos taken from the internet. Ask the seller for a video of the kitten from today or a photo with a note bearing your name. The listing page's "Check a listing" report shows whether the photos were first published in another seller's listing, and the Check a phone number tool shows how long the seller's number has been known and whether it has complaints.
• A mixed-breed cat sold as "purebred". Without a pedigree a "purebred" claim can't be verified; judge the price accordingly.
• A sick kitten. A kitten far cheaper than the market plus pressure to "hurry, take it today" are warning signs.

More: online buy-and-sell scam schemes.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a kitten cost in Azerbaijan?

On 27 September 2026 the median price of the latest 300 cat listings on Prayk was 100 AZN, with half between 53 and 200 AZN. The median is 100 AZN for Scottish kittens and 150 AZN for British ones.

What's the difference between Scottish and British cats?

Some Scottish cats have folded ears, a trait linked to cartilage and joint problems; British cats have upright ears and a large, solid body. On Prayk the median for British listings (150 AZN) is higher than for Scottish ones (100 AZN).

How much is a Sphynx cat?

On 27 September 2026 there were only 11 Sphynx listings on Prayk, priced from 70 to 800 AZN, most at 400–600 AZN. There are too few listings to calculate a median.

Which vaccinations does a cat need?

Under the Rules, a pet must be examined by a vet once a year, and preventive measures against rabies must be carried out. The vet decides the specific vaccines and schedule based on the kitten's age.

How many cats can I keep in a flat?

Under clause 2.1 of the Rules for keeping domestic animals, a family living in a separate flat in a multi-storey building may keep one dog and two cats, provided the neighbours are not disturbed. This is general information — check the current text on e-qanun.az.

Sources and methodology

Prices come from Prayk's public catalogue API on 27 September 2026. The "Animals → Cats" section held 2,812 listings; statistics are based on the 300 most recent (published 19–27 September 2026, 299 priced in AZN). The breed was identified by searching the title for the breed name (Scottish/Fold, British, chinchilla); one listing can fall into two groups. For Sphynx and Maine Coon, a separate search was run within the section (all published listings). The median and 25th–75th percentiles were calculated from listings priced in AZN; we don't publish a median for groups with fewer than 15 listings. Pet supply figures were grouped by title from the 200 most recent results of a "pişik" search in the "Pet supplies" section. Legal information: "Rules for keeping dogs, cats and other domestic animals in settlements of the Republic of Azerbaijan", approved by Cabinet of Ministers decision No. 38 of 9 March 2011, clauses 2.1, 4.3, 5.1.3 and 5.1.4 — check the current version in the e-qanun.az legal database. Breed descriptions are general information and do not replace advice from a vet.