The True Cost of Owning a Cat

There are certain financial responsibilities that come with being a responsible cat owner. It might be best to avoid adopting a cat if you are unable or unwilling to cover these expenses. You might be able to fulfill your dream if you have a limited budget but are prepared to give up some things in order to enjoy the companionship of a cat.

Even though it can be hard to say no to a cute kitten in a “free to a good home” box or a friendly stray who begs to come home with you, you are probably doing the cat or kitten no favors if you can’t afford to provide for its basic needs. If your passion for cats exceeds your ability to provide them with the care they require, you do, thankfully, have choices.

Essential Cat Requirements

A cat’s basic needs can often determine whether it is a stray on the streets or a home with a responsible caregiver. Among these needs are:

• Eat the best possible food that you can afford.
• A secure indoor-only setting, with a few notable exceptions
• Veterinary-provided spaying or neutering
• A veterinarian administers the necessary vaccinations.
•  A yearly veterinary check-up
• When a cat becomes ill, emergency veterinarian care

You cannot afford to own a cat if you are not willing to pay for these.

Cat Care Expenses

These are only rough estimates that change depending on your cat’s location, size, age, and health, but they should give you an idea of what to expect:

1. Food quality: The cost of high-quality cat food can range from $15 to $30 per month. Think about how much more you would pay for a single restaurant dinner.
2. Litter box and litter: A premium self-cleaning litter box can cost anywhere from $6 to $500. Approximately $17 can be spent on a 14-pound bag of World’s Best Cat Litter, which can be used for nearly two months for a single cat with regular scooping. A single lunch for you could cost more.
3. Spaying or neutering: In the US, there are a lot of affordable spay and neuter clinics that may perform the procedure for less than $50 for a neuter and less than $70 for a spay. A private veterinarian could bill about $200 for a spay and more than $400 for a neuter. This is nothing in comparison to the expense of treating an unneutered male cat’s abscess from fighting, or of treating a mother cat and her unexpectedly born kittens.
4. Core vaccinations: The price will change based on your cat’s risk factor and local rabies regulations. Similar to spay and neuter, there are lots of affordable immunization clinics out there. For the whole first-year series, budget $80-160.
5. Annual veterinary examination: This will cost between $100 and $200 for a comprehensive exam that includes a blood profile and dental work.
6. Emergency veterinary care: Since these expenses depend on the cat’s age, general health, and accident history, it is impossible to accurately estimate them. Insurance for pets can help to some extent with these expenses. If not, consider creating a “vet emergency fund” with a minimum of $10 per week each month, or obtain a credit card worth $1,000 to $2,000 and store it in a drawer specifically designated for cat emergencies.

A difficult period

There will be times when you are unable to provide your cat with the kind of care they need due to illness, a spouse passing away, or an unexpected drop in income. Examine the following areas where cat care expenses can be compromised:

1. Expenses associated with cat food: Until finances improve, food choices can be made with some compromise. For example, larger bags of dry food can be purchased, or premium cat food can be supplemented with grocery store brands.
2. Save on cat litter: “Chicken crumble,” like the $10–$20 per 50-pound bag Purina’s Layena brand, works well as a temporary litter replacement. Investing in the largest bag available is another way to reduce litter costs.
3. Find out from the vet what the terms of payment are. Some will let you pay for an emergency visit in weekly or monthly installments. Even offering to write post-dated checks is an option (just make sure they clear first).
4. Borrow: If at all possible, borrow from friends, family, or your neighborhood bank. Request a temporary increase in your credit card limit from your issuer, but make sure you pay the minimum amount due the next month. Loans are available from Care Credit (US and Canada) for veterinary emergencies.
5. Pawn or sell belongings: Evaluate what you can afford to part with from your home, and then either have a yard sale or sell your stuff online.
6. Veterinary costs: For younger, healthy cats, some owners have extended the interval between yearly well-care exams. Note: When it comes to veterinary care, it’s always best to heed your veterinarian’s advice. Planning for your pet’s care can go more smoothly if you have a history of working with your veterinary team and have been upfront and honest about your budgetary constraints. This emphasizes how crucial it is to provide care responsibly in every manner. You owe the same to your cat.

The Deadly Cost of Carelessness

According to estimates from the Humane Society of the United States, 1.5 million dogs and cats are put to death in shelters nationwide each year.Millions of other cats suffer terrible early deaths while living a meager existence on the streets. Even those with the best of intentions can be held directly accountable for these avoidable tragedies if they acted irresponsibly.

Offering Assistance Instead of Purchasing

If you are a cat lover but lack the financial means to give a cat a proper home, consider volunteering at a shelter rather than adopting a new pet. Volunteers are essential to the operation of most shelters as they gain firsthand knowledge of the hardships faced by companion animals as well as the repercussions of careless pet ownership. It would be mutually beneficial. The shelter cats would gain from your tender care, and you could indulge in your usual feline fix guilt-free.