Humans are thought to have kept cats as pets for over 10,000 years, with the first domesticated felines evolving from African wildcats.
Since then they have become the world’s second most popular pet, just behind dogs when it comes to the animals we most like to welcome in to our homes and our hearts.
In the UK alone there are more than 10 million feline friends in households.
And there are a huge range of types of cat to choose from - according to The International Cat Association there are 73 ‘standardised breeds’, along with a bewildering number of crosses.
Of course, there’s no need to shell out a fortune on a cat, with many pets available for adoption from one of the many cat rescue and rehoming centres across the UK.
But if you are looking to buy a pedigree cat then you should know that some cost far more than others - with high demand driving prices up in recent years.
A new report by Pets4Homes has taken data from thousands of cat sales over the course of 2025 to come up with the 10 breeds that have seen their price rise quickest.
So, here are the 10 breeds of adorable cat that are subject to the highest ‘kittenflation’.
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1. Oriental Shorthair
The Oriental Shorthair cat is the breed that has risen most in cost - up 10.8 per cent on 2025. They now cost an average of £688. | AFP via Getty Images
2. Exotic Shorthair
The Exotic Shorthair cat is the second biggest riser - up 7.3 per cent to an average price of £607. | AFP via Getty Images
3. British Shorthair
British Shorthair takes the bronze medal postion when it comes to increasing kitten prices. They now cost an average of £524 - up 7.1 per cent year-on-year. | AFP via Getty Images
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4. Russian Blue
By the end of 2025 the average price of a Russian Blue had risen to £573. That was a 6.1 per cent rise on 2024. | AFP via Getty Images