Cat adoption

diet cola · Aug 5, 2012

Has anyone UK based done this before?

Does it cost much? I would like a little cat for a pet but I don't know if I can afford one. It's unlikely anyway as I live with my parents and I don't think they want one, I could probably talk them around it though.

Just interested to hear from anyone who could give any advice. Thanks guys.

Willowy · Aug 5, 2012

Prices depend on the agency, and sometimes the age of the cat. Usually adopting a fully vetted cat from a shelter is much less expensive than getting a "free" kitten and paying to have all the vet work done yourself. They may have special half-price adoption days sometimes. Just call and ask your local shelter how much they charge. Also make sure your parents agree to it, as it's not fair to for a kitty to live in a house where most of the people don't want him/her.

One problem though---if you think you'll have a hard time affording an adoption fee, can you afford vet care? If the kitty gets sick, he or she will absolutely need vet care, and a check-up every year is a good idea, too. I understand that there are some very good pet insurance programs in the UK, so maybe look into that. But if you won't be able to afford basic vet care, it's best not to take on the responsibility of a pet

. They depend on us to keep them healthy.

diet cola · Aug 5, 2012

Willowy said:
Prices depend on the agency, and sometimes the age of the cat. Usually adopting a fully vetted cat from a shelter is much less expensive than getting a "free" kitten and paying to have all the vet work done yourself. They may have special half-price adoption days sometimes. Just call and ask your local shelter how much they charge. Also make sure your parents agree to it, as it's not fair to for a kitty to live in a house where most of the people don't want him/her.
One problem though---if you think you'll have a hard time affording an adoption fee, can you afford vet care? If the kitty gets sick, he or she will absolutely need vet care, and a check-up every year is a good idea, too. I understand that there are some very good pet insurance programs in the UK, so maybe look into that. But if you won't be able to afford basic vet care, it's best not to take on the responsibility of a pet

. They depend on us to keep them healthy.

Yeah I've considered that, I think pet insurance is about £2 a month, or so I have been told. My parents were gonna get a cat from a home for my birthday so I know they're not totally against it anyway and I could talk them round it I think.

Yeah I understand

I can afford the adoption fee no problem. I could afford a small amount each week for food/insurance too. How much would you say weekly it would cost for a cat?

Willowy · Aug 5, 2012

I don't know how much the insurance costs there. From what I can find, in the U.S. a basic insurance plan is around $10-$12 a month or so, for a young cat. More for better plans, of course.

Food. . .again, I don't know how much cat food costs there. Canned food is better than dry, and most adult cats eat 1 average-sized can a day of most foods (you'd have to check the calorie count, though). If you paid a dollar a can, that would be 7 dollars a week. Dry food is cheaper but a cat who only eats dry food is usually chronically dehydrated, and this can lead to high vet bills. So you really wouldn't be saving anything. I wouldn't feed more than 50% dry food, preferably less.

Litter is another expense, and this depends on what kind of litter you use and how well you manage it (hint: the more often you scoop, the less often you have to change it). But I find that litter expenses are approximately equal to food expenses.

So. . .I dunno, around $20 a week? Not sure what that comes to in pounds, sorry.

feralvr · Aug 5, 2012

Not sure how adoption works in the UK. If I were you, I would start making calls to local cat rescues and they will be able to answer those specific questions. The vet care could be expensive if your cat were to get sick. Insurance is a good idea if you can. I pay about $15.00 per month for pet insurance. But that is with a low deductible. A higher deductible would be less. Food and litter can vary depending on what you buy. You can go with a very inexpensive food and litter if that is all you can afford and there are many choices. I am sure any kitty you rescue will be well loved and appreciative of any extras you can offer.

. Good luck with your research on adopting a kitty. Hope it comes true for you, :clap:

runningwolf · Sep 11, 2012

Willowy said:
Prices depend on the agency, and sometimes the age of the cat. Usually adopting a fully vetted cat from a shelter is much less expensive than getting a "free" kitten and paying to have all the vet work done yourself. They may have special half-price adoption days sometimes. Just call and ask your local shelter how much they charge. Also make sure your parents agree to it, as it's not fair to for a kitty to live in a house where most of the people don't want him/her.
One problem though---if you think you'll have a hard time affording an adoption fee, can you afford vet care? If the kitty gets sick, he or she will absolutely need vet care, and a check-up every year is a good idea, too. I understand that there are some very good pet insurance programs in the UK, so maybe look into that. But if you won't be able to afford basic vet care, it's best not to take on the responsibility of a pet

. They depend on us to keep them healthy.

I was going to say the same thing about cost. We have some people complain about the price of our animals at the shelter. But on the same turn what we charge is a lot less than getting an animal fixed.

A strictly indoor cat might go for a while without need for a vet visit (but check ups are always important). A vet visit is a once in a while (hopefully) expense. Moreover look at the day to day cost for things like litter and food. Depending on what food and litter it can be upwards of $25 a week, and that is for the cheap stuff.

diet cola · Jun 22, 2013

I've got a cat now

jcat · Jun 22, 2013

Congratulations! :clap:

We'd love to hear more about her/him and see some pictures.

diet cola · Jun 22, 2013

jcat said:
Thank you

This is him. His name is Leo, he's a British longhair and is 3 years old and really shy. He has been hiding under the sofa for the past 4 hours or so. He is originally my sister's cat but she has had to move house so we have him for what will likely be quite a while, I've knelt by the sofa and meowed a few times and he responds and meows back haha but I think he's just scared of his new surroundings. He is a really lovely and well behaved cat. He did venture out from the sofa once but was very cautious and kept watching me from behind the table.

I'll try to post some more pics when he comes out.

diet cola · Jul 1, 2013

f53adg.jpg

diet cola
Jul 1, 2013

Here he is sleeping.

He's very comfortable around the house now and walks around freely. He will just plonk himself in your lap and give you a head bonk. He is great. He is obsessed with licking me though.

feralvr · Jul 1, 2013

Diet Cola said:
f53adg.jpg

diet cola

Jul 1, 2013

Here he is sleeping.

He's very comfortable around the house now and walks around freely. He will just plonk himself in your lap and give you a head bonk. He is great. He is obsessed with licking me though.

Fantastic news on your new cat, Leo!! :rub: :clap:

Look how nicely he settled in and it only took about nine days!!! AWWWW he is really beautiful. Congratulations!!! :clap:

Cat adoption

diet cola

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