Pedigreed/purebred animals are not always the most expensive option, and shelter animals can be unpredictable. Buying an animal whose pedigree and breed you know–from a responsible breeder, mind–conveys somewhat of an advantage in terms of knowledge – you know who their parents were, you know if their parents had certain diseases, you know the personality of the breed and the line, and you often get a one-year health guarantee (again, from a responsible breeder).

Of course, some breeds are more inbred or have more genetic issues than others, which must be accounted for in the calculation. But from my personal experience, so far my shelter kitty that I adopted for $90 has cost me more in vet bills than my first Maine coon, who I brought home for $500.