Cats might be a bit more expensive than you think. They can actually be equally expensive as their canine friends. Owners can bet on spending up to $1,000 each year on them, with that amount being higher for those who travel frequently or if the animal becomes sick orinjured.
Let’s take a look at some of the things you’ll need to budget for when you decide to get a cat.
Litter
Once you shell out the initial money for the animal, having it medically examined, spayed, or neutered, and getting basic supplies (costing as much as $1,145 altogether), you’ll need to stock up on a silica cat litter so that the animal has somewhere to do its business. The unfortunate thing is that it isn’t always a good idea to try and cut your costs in this area. Consider this – if the new animal enjoys the carpet over the smell or feel of the litter, it can end up costing you a lot of money.
Food
Cats have to eat, and you should make sure that you don’t forget this line item in your budget. Whether you feed the animal wet food, dry food, or even both, it’ll cost you about $115 each year. Wet food can be a bit more costly, but it’s also a critical component of the diet for the cat. UTIs are common with this animal, and often, they can develop as the result of them being fed too much of the dry food. Have a conversation with your vet regarding the diet the animal should have.
Toys
When you adopt a cat, you should already be aware of their habits as a species. They were born to hunt and need to do so, even if their ‘prey’ is a toy mouse or stuffed rabbit. This means spending a few bucks (around $25) each year on toys. These toys don’t need to be uber-expensive either. If you have a paper bag or a cardboard box just lying around, those things can entertain felines for hours on end. You should also budget some of your time to spend with the animal so that trust can develop between the two of you. Find a few interactive toys that you both can be entertained with, like a mouse attached to a wand or even a laser pointer.
Routine Vet
Another thing you’ll need to reckon on when you have a cat is vet bills. Your cat will need to have routine annual physical examinations, and these can include things like being treated for fleas and ticks, heartworm prevention, and vaccinations. If you’d like to save a bit on these costs, find out if there are any vet schools local to you because often, they’ll offer discounts.
Emergency Vet
Just like humans have emergency health issues, so do cats. An emergency that requires surgery might be as costly as $5,000. UTIs and trauma are some of the more common health issues that cats suffer from. If you want to keep your cat safe from being eaten by coyotes or other wild animals and from being hit by cars, keep them indoors. To budget for emergency visits to the vet, you might want to set aside a little money each month. You might also get pet insurance to help with medical costs.
Overall, cats might be a bit less expensive than having dogs. Costs won’t be the same for everyone either, so expect a bit of leeway in the numbers listed above as well as for the things that will need to be budgeted for.