Raising one Cat - How much does it cost?

icklemiss21 · Dec 20, 2006

Originally Posted by BarryK

Wow...

That's really cool - and I good price...what does it do, keep recycling the water in the tray through the fountain?

Man, sounds lame, but you guys are getting me excited about getting a cat!

Thanks.
Barry

Pretty much, they have filters that keep the water cleaner.

I have the CatIt fountains

abigail · Dec 20, 2006

Originally Posted by BarryK

Here's some specs:
Food: Premium
Toys: as per, many...
Vet: All shots, vacs, as necessary
Dishes: Pans, Dishes etc.
Litter: Good brands

I have used wellness and nutro, other great brands like felidae and innova are too rich for my cat's tummy, she eats 90% wet food and I use the dry for treat time.

toys: her favoites turn out to be home made things like paper knots , boxes and scrunchies. I buy small balls because she adores chasing up and down stairs and they move well. But the cat trees and snuggle dens and scratching posts cost money. ebay is a great place to find those.

shots: don't keep count. medical care is medical care, gotta do it.

dishes: always use clean ones and steer away from plastic, it can cause allergic reactions and chin acne

litter: I am a total devotee of World's Best Cat Litter- multicat. I fill the pan really deep and completely change litter every 2-3 months. I scoop several times a day.

Hope this helps Barry !!

cdubbie · Dec 20, 2006

I'm not sure I want to know how much kitty costs me a year

$200-$300 sounds conservative Barry.

The start up costs in the beginning needs to be factored in, b/c after that things will slow down.

Adoption fee: $75 (included all shots/treatment, spay, + 1 f/u visit for her broken paw)
Cat tree: $40
Perch: $20
Brush,clippers,harness leash,litter tray, bowls: $50?
Annual visit to vet w/shots: $54
(as long as she is healthy, she is on the annual only plan)
California Natural dry: $16 for 4 lbs (just switched,I don't know how long it will last)
Tidy Cat: $7/mn?
wet food: $15/mn ? (I dont keep track, and she only eats the cheap stuff, ignores the good stuff, just a teaspoon twice a day or so - lots of waste unfortunately)

I dont remember specifics...I got the startup stuff here and there.

eburgess · Dec 20, 2006

I havn't calculated it bout I'm guess with food, vet bills, litter, litter box, toys, I'm going to guess between $500 to $600 per year

zissou'smom · Dec 20, 2006

Let's see... 150$ this year for her insurance, plus about 100$ for routine vet care which will be needed again soon. 15$ for litter and maybe 40$ for food a month. Probably 200$ a year for toys and grooming and furniture.

I probably spend well over a thousand dollars a year on Zissou, and I don't have the money to buy her extravagant things like an automatic litterbox or giant cat tree and such.

The best way to avoid quite a few expensive problems is to have them spayed or neutered before sexual maturity

lionessrampant · Dec 20, 2006

I spend about $1.50 a day per cat on food, then litter is abot $40 a month.

To get a purebred, you're going to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars. To adopt (!!!) you will pay $20-100.

If you get a purebred, you'll also have to finish the initial series of shots and get the kitten spayed or neutered (which your breeder SHOULD require, if they're good they will and you'll thank them for that requirement). This will set you back a couple hundred $$ depending on your area. A GOOD shelter or rescue will include the shots and the neuter in that $50 adoption fee. A BAD shelter or rescue, much like an irresponsible breeder or BYB, won't, and won't care whether you do those things or not. A municipal shelter or traditional open-admission humane society generally can't afford to provide those services, but will give you discount voucher.

Do not get your cat declawed. A good breeder or rescue isn't going to let you anyway. But, look on the bright side...you save the couple HUNDRED $$'s from this expensive, painful and uneccessary surgery!

Every year, you'll have to update shots according to the laws where you live. If the law doesn't require shots, then you don't necessarily have to, but research cat vaccines and make your own choice. I am required by law to have rabies, so that's something like $20 a year per cat. The exam should be done twice yearly and will cost about $50. ETA: I know that in at my vet in Chicago (where things are slightly pricey), an exam and a 3-year rabies costs $100 even

I always save about $500 per cat per year for emergency vet expenses. So far, i've only had to use it once, knock on wood.

Supplies. Wow. Supplies.
A good litter box will be $20-30
Dishes shouldn't cost much, but make sure they're metal or glass. We'll say $15 for those.
Toys...well, it's up to you. You're going to need some, so I'd say plan on initially blowing $30-50 on toys. Figure out what the kitty likes and go from there. Almost every cat in the world like Da Bird, which it totally worth the $7 investment.
A cat tree will cost $100-200 and will save your furniture (you know, since your kitty will have it's claws)
I also give my cats cheap sisal doormats to scratch up. So $10 there.
I'd also say to invest $20 in some blankets or a bed for kitty.

4crazycats · Dec 20, 2006

Well it really depends on the cat. You have to take into acount food, vet bills, emergency vet bills (much higher then regular vet bills), litter and toys to name a few things.
I take good records of everything I do with the animals to see how much a spend each year on them!
Lily was a very cheap cat to raise!
For first year $500
Food $150
Vet Bills $200
Litter $100 (we also had 2 other cats)
Toys $50

Bagheera on the other hand had many health problems
His first 5 1/2 months (he died) 5,917
Food $150
Vet Bills 5,600
Litter (shared with 3 other cats) $100
Toys $67

Kittens vet bills were also higher 2,000. Her first year. So if you get a healthy kitten it should be to bad.

trouts mom · Dec 20, 2006

Hmmm, good question.. I would rather not tally up how much I spend on Trout

lookingglass · Dec 20, 2006

I've spent right around 4k for both boys this year BUT here is why. I've found out that 8-Bit is allergic to corn and that Scratch has teeth, gum, eye, and hip issues. DH and I have also gone through a cat tree this year. (Here's a tip: get a sturdy one the first time and you won't have to re-buy it. Spend the extra money it's WORTH it!) Next year we will most likely spend closer to five or six thousand because I am adopting a third, we need a second kitty tree, and Scratch is most likely going to require sugary on his back legs to ease any pain from the bowing.

All in all it's really going to depend on the cat that you adopt.

muttigreemom · Dec 20, 2006

For the two in my house right now, it goes a little something like this:

One time fees:
Adoption fee for Peewee: about $65 (included neuter)
Spay fee for Tryon: found her on the street, so no adoption fee but spent $40 on her spay
Microchip: about $60 each cat (give or take, I don't have the bill on me) and then $17.50 to register it with the chip company
Litter pans: about $8 each
Food bowls: 2 @ $4.98 - I bought larger ceramic dog dishes at target on clearance
Water bowl: I have one of those big ones that look like an office water cooler. With two large dogs and two cats drinking out of the same bowl it helps me not have to refill it every 5 minutes.. now it's every 10 minutes

. Cost me about $20. Looks like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2001+113908
Nail clippers: $5
Collar: $5 each
Cat tree: dont have one yet, but am in the middle of building one and its looking like it'll cost me about $40 in materials. The one at my mothers house was about $100.

As for the ongoing expenses:
Food: Innova Evo $20/month
Litter: Either Feline Pine or Exquisicat Pine (depending on which store I get to first) - $4.99/week @ 4.5 weeks = $22.45/month
License: $9/year each cat
Vet Bills: I spent $400 total for the year for all the furkids, so figure $100 per year per furkid. We didnt have any major catastrophies with mine, but earlier this year my mom and I dropped about $3000 on Azrael (whose staying at my moms house) because of a urinary blockage. In the past we also spent $650 on Mayhem because he ate string and a few hundred on Johnny because of a complicated neuter (undecended testicle they had ti go searching for which then got infected and then popped his stitches and gave himself a hernia) I can't stress enough how important it is to have a fund ready for when these things happen.
Toys: For me this is actually a one time fee since my kids don't like cat toys. Tryon ignores them and Peewee has a stuffed frog that he carries around in his mouth. He won't play with anything else. So $4 one time fee for the frog. But for the cats at my moms house who like cat toys, about $10/month.

So after the one time fees, I spend about $50/month per cat for two healthy cats... subject to change by quite a bit if one of them were to get sick.

abymummy · Dec 20, 2006

I would guess (since I don't live in the US) that after the initial costs, around US$75-100/cat a month (which is probably too much) + another US$100 savings per month (for disasters - medical or otherwise) would stand you in very good stead! Why I put the figure up a bit is for grooming supplies or for sending the cat to the groomer on a monthly basis.

I have 10 adults and 3 babies - approximate cost/month is about US$100 - all eat premium food and every one except the babies have their own litter box! Let's not talk about toys ok???

Annual vaccinations, deworming etc set me back about US$150-200 for all of them! I have a general savings account for the cats for disasters...but then, I'm a breeder so I HAVE to be prepared!

missymotus · Dec 20, 2006

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Hmmm, good question.. I would rather not tally up how much I spend on Trout

And you only have one

I'm too scared to add up what I spend on my lot

4crazycats · Dec 20, 2006

I just looked up what Ive spent on vet bills alone this year for all the animals. Cats, Dogs and rats. And my jaw just hit the floor!

A little over $10,000.

I could buy a car with that much money. This year hasnt been a good vet year for me. Ok I totally shouldnt have added it all up.

mskitty666 · Dec 21, 2006

Had 6 cats then 5 now as of Tuesday it's six again. My oldest is 12 1/2, my next oldest was almost 11, 2x10 years, 2x7 years and 10 weeks. This year brought some drastic changes to our family that included 2 cats with major illnesses, an adoption from the humane society and litter and food changes. Ill run down the every day and extras before and after.
Before
$40-50 month Dry food only, largest bag available about 16-20lb for 6 cats
$20 month any regular clumping litter
$200 per cat per year for exam and blood work (not usually recommended until cats reach senior status, but I am cautious)
$200 per cat for dentals as needed and recommended by vet, usually 1 per year
$200 per year for unscheduled vet care

Major Illnesses ( my definition changed of a serious illness after what happened this year)

$2500 Karina January 2006, almost 11 appeared suddenly distressed, listless, would not move, howling. Emergency vet,several days hospitalization, xrays, tests, blood work, meds, travel from and back GA to FL for specialist referral, specialists testing and meds, euthanasia, necropsy, private cremation and finally an urn. Acute Renal Failure

$3200 Chester October 2006, 7 years took to vet for possible UTI, gave meds, saw improvement, finished meds, obvious distress within days, tried to pee on everything in site, no urine, rushed to emergency vet, hospitalized for FLUTD and urinary blockage, transfer to regular vet, 2 weeks of hospitalization at my vet and emergency clinic, meds, special order meds, xrays, other tests,lost 2 lbs due to depression and not feeling well, surgery, after care and more meds for bacterial infection. Fully recovered now.

$500 Kali, 6 years, October 2005, tooth loose had scheduled vet appointment, during weekend tooth hanging from mouth, drooling, chattering and obvious distress, rushed to emergency vet, teeth pulled, diagnosis FORL lesions, follow up 5 days later at my vet with dental (not previously scheduled), more teeth pulled and one fell out, meds. Fully recovered less 5 teeth including 2 upper canines and recommended dental cleaning every year to 18 months whether appears needed or not.

As a result of Chester's FLUTD and making an attempt to increase water intake now feeding canned food for breakfast. Also switched to premium food and natural litter to avoid severe dust problems.
$40-50 dry food monthly
$60 canned food monthly and treats
$40 litter monthly
$265 pet insurance accident, illness, wellness coverage 5 cats monthly
$250-300 yearly per cat for yearly and semi-annual exams, shots, blood work
$200-300 dentals per cat

Other expenses
$75-80 month flea control
$500+ year birthdays and christmas gifts
One time special buys
$200+ different water fountains ( they have five now)
$349 each http://www.litter-robot.com/default.aspx?ac=1
$1400 http://www.angelicalcat.com/products/p10.shtml
$700 http://www.angelicalcat.com/products/p13.shtml

Just adopted Benson Floyd
$85 Humane Society adoption fee
$100 Deposit until proof of nueter is provided or performed at shelter, then refunded
$115 Free vet visit at participating vet within 10 days of adoption. My vet participates so he was seen today. Benson has a borderline URI, bacterial ear infection, had ears flushed and was prescribed meds. The office visit was free, but anything else is not.
$33-65 start pet insurance coverage. Some companies require the first 2 months premiums, others do not. We haven't decided which company yet but will do so today. Because the URI and ear infection are preexisting conditions, any further treatments will be at my expense.

A pet is a huge responsibility. I had cats for nearly 9 years with no major illnesses or heavy vet bills. In the past year that changed. Be sure to adopt from a humane society, shelter or rescue group. Take your new kitty in to a good vet as soon as possible after adopting. Early treatment of illness can make a huge difference in your costs. Consider pet insurance. Most companies offer accident only, accident and illness that can fit every budget. Some plans are as cheap as $10-20 month. Try hard to have money set aside in case of an emergency. Hope I haven't scared you. I have had more cats, so of course my chances of running into problems are greatly increased and they are getting old. One or two kitties should be easy enough. Don't rush and you can buy supplies gradually so you don't have more expense when you do find your special fur ball.

urbantigers · Dec 21, 2006

I spend £100 per month on my 2 cats (almost $200) and I think that's a fairly accurate guess that includes all those extras that it's easy to forget (such as annual cattery visit - I usually visit family at xmas so they go to the cattery at least once a year, toys etc). It also includes one routine vet visit per cat per year (in addition to vaccinations), miscellaneous items such as feliway and toothpaste, worm and flea treatment, small toys and treats plus of course food and litter. The only things it doesn't include are large unexpected vet bills (but I have insurance) and one off purchases/payments such as neutering, cat trees, carriers etc. I was surprised how much it was when I first calculated it but I decided it was no good pretending I don't buy them toys and treats etc each month and ignoring things just because I don't buy them every month.

barryk · Dec 22, 2006

Hey guys!

Wow...again, thanks...an overwhelming amount of information!

Gives me a solid understanding of how much I expect!

Thanks - it's appreciated!
Barry

lookingglass · Dec 23, 2006

Originally Posted by mskitty666

Had 6 cats then 5 now as of Tuesday it's six again. My oldest is 12 1/2, my next oldest was almost 11, 2x10 years, 2x7 years and 10 weeks. This year brought some drastic changes to our family that included 2 cats with major illnesses, an adoption from the humane society and litter and food changes. Ill run down the every day and extras before and after.
Before
$40-50 month Dry food only, largest bag available about 16-20lb for 6 cats
$20 month any regular clumping litter
$200 per cat per year for exam and blood work (not usually recommended until cats reach senior status, but I am cautious)
$200 per cat for dentals as needed and recommended by vet, usually 1 per year
$200 per year for unscheduled vet care

Major Illnesses ( my definition changed of a serious illness after what happened this year)

$2500 Karina January 2006, almost 11 appeared suddenly distressed, listless, would not move, howling. Emergency vet,several days hospitalization, xrays, tests, blood work, meds, travel from and back GA to FL for specialist referral, specialists testing and meds, euthanasia, necropsy, private cremation and finally an urn. Acute Renal Failure

$3200 Chester October 2006, 7 years took to vet for possible UTI, gave meds, saw improvement, finished meds, obvious distress within days, tried to pee on everything in site, no urine, rushed to emergency vet, hospitalized for FLUTD and urinary blockage, transfer to regular vet, 2 weeks of hospitalization at my vet and emergency clinic, meds, special order meds, xrays, other tests,lost 2 lbs due to depression and not feeling well, surgery, after care and more meds for bacterial infection. Fully recovered now.

$500 Kali, 6 years, October 2005, tooth loose had scheduled vet appointment, during weekend tooth hanging from mouth, drooling, chattering and obvious distress, rushed to emergency vet, teeth pulled, diagnosis FORL lesions, follow up 5 days later at my vet with dental (not previously scheduled), more teeth pulled and one fell out, meds. Fully recovered less 5 teeth including 2 upper canines and recommended dental cleaning every year to 18 months whether appears needed or not.

As a result of Chester's FLUTD and making an attempt to increase water intake now feeding canned food for breakfast. Also switched to premium food and natural litter to avoid severe dust problems.
$40-50 dry food monthly
$60 canned food monthly and treats
$40 litter monthly
$265 pet insurance accident, illness, wellness coverage 5 cats monthly
$250-300 yearly per cat for yearly and semi-annual exams, shots, blood work
$200-300 dentals per cat

Other expenses
$75-80 month flea control
$500+ year birthdays and christmas gifts
One time special buys
$200+ different water fountains ( they have five now)
$349 each http://www.litter-robot.com/default.aspx?ac=1
$1400 http://www.angelicalcat.com/products/p10.shtml
$700 http://www.angelicalcat.com/products/p13.shtml

Just adopted Benson Floyd
$85 Humane Society adoption fee
$100 Deposit until proof of nueter is provided or performed at shelter, then refunded
$115 Free vet visit at participating vet within 10 days of adoption. My vet participates so he was seen today. Benson has a borderline URI, bacterial ear infection, had ears flushed and was prescribed meds. The office visit was free, but anything else is not.
$33-65 start pet insurance coverage. Some companies require the first 2 months premiums, others do not. We haven't decided which company yet but will do so today. Because the URI and ear infection are preexisting conditions, any further treatments will be at my expense.

A pet is a huge responsibility. I had cats for nearly 9 years with no major illnesses or heavy vet bills. In the past year that changed. Be sure to adopt from a humane society, shelter or rescue group. Take your new kitty in to a good vet as soon as possible after adopting. Early treatment of illness can make a huge difference in your costs. Consider pet insurance. Most companies offer accident only, accident and illness that can fit every budget. Some plans are as cheap as $10-20 month. Try hard to have money set aside in case of an emergency. Hope I haven't scared you. I have had more cats, so of course my chances of running into problems are greatly increased and they are getting old. One or two kitties should be easy enough. Don't rush and you can buy supplies gradually so you don't have more expense when you do find your special fur ball.

Can I be a cat in your house?

Raising one Cat - How much does it cost?

icklemiss21

TCS Member

abigail

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cdubbie

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eburgess

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zissou'smom

TCS Member

lionessrampant

TCS Member

4crazycats

TCS Member

trouts mom

TCS Member

lookingglass

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muttigreemom

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abymummy

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missymotus

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4crazycats

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mskitty666

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urbantigers

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barryk

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Thread starter

lookingglass

TCS Member

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