How much does a cat cost you a month?

Question

How often do they get shots? How much is food? I just got a cat and want to know what the expense of owning one is.

Answer 1

Put aside $100 for yearly vet bills, figure $11 for food a month and one 25 pound bag of litter per month. I get the cheap stuff.

Thing is, our four cats are on prescription food so between that and the canned I get, it's running about $70 a month for four cats, and $10 a month for litter. There were two vet emergencies this year (they're all older cats) and the vet does bloodwork on the oldest ones, so my vet costs have been over $1,800 so far this year. The emergencies pushed it way up, a pancreatitis attack and diabetic stabalization. Oh, and we had a cat sitter for 14 days, that cost us $180 because she gave insulun shots to two of them on a regular schedule for that time.

Checkups are usually $35 per cat plus $15 for rabies shot, $18 for the 3-in-1 shot.

No 'free' cat is actually free. Plan for emergencies and keep some cash to the side for them just in case.

Answer 2

Excluding vet bills, $50 a month could work for maybe two cats if you're careful. Pine pellets cost less than $10 a 40 pound bag and can be used for litter. A good quality dry cat food can be had for $20 for a 5 pound bag. Add some grain-free canned food to that for another $20 and it's certainly possible.

Answer 3

1st shots will be around $40. They need boosters a couple of months later for about $30. You'll need Frontline for fleas ($30 for 3 month supply). Food abut $20 a month. Scratching posts or a cat tree $30-150. Cat litter $20 a month. Rabies shot is $10 and spay neuter is $45-90 depending on whether you have male or female (spay is more than neuter). Cat toys are whatever you spend. Most cats like cardboard boxes and paper bags. You can make balls out of paper or buy them for $3 for a big bag of them. Shots are repeated annually. Have access to $200 for emergency vet care. Enjoy your kitty! It's not as expensive as it seems...you'll have weeks you don't spend much at all and your feet will always be warm!

Answer 4

the initial costs of neutering/spaying and first shots are about $100. after that, they only need to go back to the vet once a year, unless they get sick. the follow-up visits are around $50 or so, depending on which shots they need renewed.

You'll need to get a litter box ($20), a scratching post ($15), nail clippers ($5) and a brush ($5). You'll probably leave the pet store with a bunch of toys and catnip, too!

A large bag of food (about $15) lasts a month or so (for two cats). Cat litter is the biggest expense; about $10+ for a 20 lb. container, which we have to replace every 2 weeks (we have two cats, so you might be able to stretch this to last a month).


All in all, our montly expenses are about $35. But, it's so worth it!

Answer 5

Well, when my cats were kittens I fed the kitten chow, now I feed the cat chow, I have 2 cats. I spend about $30 a month. Thats for food, treats and litter, scoopaway is one of the best clomping litter you can buy. I am a member of JB's hole sale, and I get a 12 pound bag of cat chow for $10 and 2 bucket of scopaway for about $7 each so about $24 a month. But I always tell people if your going to get a kitten or cat get 2, they dont have to be from the same mother, you can even get them different times. they may not get along at first but they will end up being best of friends...
good luck,

Captain, Chris W T
ATP- Lear 45, B747- A318 - A380
CFI

Answer 6

I have two cats and spend about $50/month on food. They split two cans of high quality wet food a day.

A tub of litter per month is about $12.

$16 for two doses of Revolution per month (I actually buy a years supply upfront so there is really one very large cost that leads to the discounted $8 per dose) It is a monthy heartworm/flea/whatever preventative. Talk with your vet to see if a heartworm prevention medication is needed in your area and if you need it all year long. Heartworms are nearly impossible to treat in cats, and are almost always fatal.

$10-$12 for cardboard scratcher refills per month. It really works out to be a bit long since I have many scratchers, but that is a good estimate.

$10 every couple of months for a new bed for the princess.

A vet visit will run me about $45 for just the visit plus any medicines or tests needed.

You need to have an annual exam yearly at which time any vaccines that are needed are down. Depending on the state, you HAVE to have yearly or every 3 year rabies. Now that my cats are 3years or older, they only need vaccines every 3 years, but they still get their yearly exam. As your cats get older, they need an exam every 6 months. I would have to say that honestly my cats go to the vet at least 3 times a year for various reasons, only one of them being their planned yearly exam.

Remember, you can always call the vet if you have any questions for free, but they may suggest you bring the cat in on some issues.

Looking back through this, I am surprise I can ever eat and shop as much as I do :)

Good luck!

Answer 7

60 dollers a month.

Answer 8

A crapload less than a child costs... I can tell you that for sure!

Answer 9

US$ 0,50 a day!