How expensive is it to own a kitten/cat?

Question

i'm considering it but am slightly worried about the expenses. how much do you spend on vets bills, food, litter etc etc? any other things i need to consider? any good resources online?

Answer 1

the whiskas site is really good and if you get a kitten you can send for a kitten pack.

as for vet fees, i have two kittens and they cost me about £120 for both sets of shots total. i haven't had them done yet as they aren't old enuf but i hear its about £70 each as they are both girls (boys are cheaper). also i pay out £28 for a 6 month supply of flea stuff (which lasts 3 months as there are two cats).

Food prices depend on what you feed them.

But the love they give back is well worth it! I love my Cosmo and Wanda!

Answer 2

I just added two new kittens to my cat household, so I have current expenses. The adoption fee will be considered separately, as it all depends so I will not list that. You need to have your new addition checked by the vet, and it more likely than not will have ear mites, fleas and worms. Then, you will need vaccinations and in many places, a rabies shot is required by law. Figure about $150. Then, there will be spay or neutering, although sometimes that has already been done, or is covered by the adoption fee. That can run from $50-$150, with spaying more expensive.

From thereafter, normal routine vet visits and follow up will be less than $100/yr.

For those who think it is better to let them run loose, and catch their own food, well there will be worm infestations that will have to be treated. Then, there may be the emergency vet visit when your cat comes home all beat up and bleeding due to getting into a fight.

A decent sized bag of dry food should last perhaps two to three months for a 20 pound size. Food will only run a couple of dollars a day at the most. Litter is really not all that expensive.

So the real bottom line is that starting out for the first six months can easily run around $500, and then the cost drops off substantially.

And what do you get for your money? Unconditional love, and as one of the credit card commercials states, that is priceless.

What you do not need are expensive cat toys, expensive treats, fancy furniture for your kitty. Your cat might be just as excited about the box it came in, rather than that fancy cat bed.

Answer 3

Food-about 7$ a month for el-cheapo stuff, not too bad really.. cats don't eat that much, only about 3/4 cup per day.

Vets- This is the biggest thing to plan for. If you get a kitten, you will spend about $100 in initial shots within the first 3 months. (some shots at 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 15 weeks) After that, they only need shots once a year (Not as many or as expensive, either) Also speying/neutering (a one time thing that MUST be done) cost around $80. Plan for that when the kitten is 5 or 6 months old. So if you plan on spending around $200 in initial vet fees, your cat won't cost you anything more than chicken feed for many many years.

You can adopt adult cats from shelters that are already speyed/neutered and have all their shots. BUt you have to pay around $100 for the cat. (To cover the cost of all this)

I am on a very ver VERY low budget. I find that my TWO cats are not a drain on me financially at all. THey really cost me next to nothing. They're the least of my money problems.

Hope you do get one. They're a joy. Just plan on ponying up $200 up front, and you'll find the rest very very manageable.

Keeping the cat strictly indoors can save you money. Less risk of injury or sickness (unexpected vet bills), and you can kinda-sorta get away without keeping ALL the vaccines up-to-date, and fleas aren't a problem for a strictly indoor cats (if not strictly indoors, the flea medicine that actually WORKS can cost almost $20 a month.

Answer 4

Adoption fees are usually about $100.00. A litter box is $15.00. Regular clay litter is cheap, but the fancier litters can be $7 - $8 per litter change. Decent dry cat food is about $5.00 per small bag, and you will go through one a week or so. There is no need to give your cat wet food daily - I use it as a treat only. They will eat and drink out of regular bowls, you don't have to buy pet bowls. All in all, about $30.00 a month. You can spend even less over all if you buy bulk.

Toys aren't necessary. Cats will play with anything from walnuts to your shoes. A good scratching post is a must, though - about $25.00.

Kittens have alot of "start up" vet costs - figure about $1,000.00 for check ups, shots and neutering in the first two years. After that, count on about $200.00 a year for vet checkups and updated vaccinations. If you want to avoid the start up costs, adopt an adult cat. Adult cats are easier to care for, anyway.

Of course, serious health problems will cost more. If you are not prepared to stretch your finances to pay for the vet if your kitty gets sick, do not get a cat until you are a little more financially secure.

Answer 5

Actually, you'd be surprised, but cats are very low maintenence! Apart from the shots (which is probably the most expensive part of owning a cat), they're very inexpensinve. And unless a cat needs a special food or litter, just go with a generic litter, but go with a good food brand, such as Iams or Purina Cat Chow.
If you're going to get a kitten, make sure and invest in these items....Toys, a squirt bottle (to scold them if it does something naughty..they hate misting water in their face), a bed, and a ticking clock or metronome (it simulates its mother's heartbeat if you're getting a kitten that has been with its mother since birth...not all kittens get that luxery either).....Kittens are just a little more high maintenence only because they're still babies and they're learning what to do and what not to do, but in the end, if you raise a cat right, you will have a life long friend and companion. Not sure I really helped....but good luck!

Answer 6

If you keep the cat indoors there Will be a
lot less illness so less vet. bills. Feed the cat
dry food which helps keep their teeth in good
shape. Figure $8. for a bag of dry food which
will last 2 months for one cat. Use clumping
cat litter at about $5. a month. Should you
ever need to take the cat to the vet. figure
$100. per visit which includes common
medicines. If the cat has serious illness
vet bills become expensive.
Hope this helps.

Answer 7

If you get the cat/kitten from a rescue centre chances are they will already have it neutered if its old enough and had its shots also if its old enough. How much you spend depends on how healthy a cat you want, you could give it the cheapest cat food you can find, not let it indoors so it wont need a litter tray, dont give it its annual booster and you have a very cheap but unhealthy cat that is likely to get hit by a car. You could give it nutritious (and usually more expensive) cat food, keep it indoors with a litter tray and give it its annual booster and give it numerous toys and beds and you have a reasonably more expensive pet but a happier and healthy one!

Answer 8

My wife and I have a cat that we've had for 2 year. We probably spend $100 a year on vet bills for shot, check-ups, exc. Food and litter are probably another $30 a month. I would recommend getting a kitten from an animal shelter that is already fixed, litter trained and is current on shots.

Answer 9

The most expensive thing will be getting it spayed/neutered, which you need to do especially if you'll be letting it out or might get another opposite sex cat one day. It's usually around $150 depending on the vet. The food is about $100 a year, and shots start at 6 weeks of age and they need a vet check up yearly (not counting if they get sick, which it will one day like any animal).

Answer 10

It depends how lucky you are, mostly my 3 cats are fit and healthy but some people arent so lucky and have cats that always get in scraps and need medical attention. you can get insurance from £5 a month incase they get poorly but you need to keep up with their innoculations to keep the insurance plan valid.
cat food insnt very expensive, and nor is cat litter which hopefully you wouldnt require for too long. also if you are thinking about a kitten you need to consider the cost of neutering or speying.
having a cat is like having an additional family member.

hope you get one xx

Answer 11

Our cats average out to about $60 each in vet costs per year for standard checkups and the vaccinations.

With 5 cats we go through 4 bags of litter that weigh 25 pounds each per month. I get the cheap stuff at $2.50 a bag.

Each is on a different food due to age related problems we've got under control (thyroid, diabetes, kidneys, overweight). But if it's one cat, figure one bag of good food, about 8 pounds in the bag, per month. Go with a good food for keeping the cat healthy and active.

As they age, things will show up. Hershey is on methimazole for a thyroid that was going out of kilter, it costs $35 a month.

Dax has had two blockages of urinary stones (sand really) and she's on $17 a bag food.

Hudson was the biggest cost, he turned diabetic and had to be regulated which isn't cheap. Now he's on Lantus twice a day, the syringes are $16 for a box of 100, and the lantus is $30for a month and a half at a time.

Any vet bills for emergencies will cost, but if you put $500 in a savings for them per year, you'll feel easier about it.

Make your own toys. Get a nice brush for the cat. Glass or metal water/food bowls for easier cleaning.