How much does it cost to keep a cat?

you_wicked_gay

Agree with sandy2 - please go to your local animal shelter and rehome a cat from there. There are so many unwanted kitties sitting waiting for forever homes in shelters.

I worked for Cats Protection for a while as a shelter assistant - so give your local shelter a call and ask them about their cats

ncrossland

I guess ours are fairly typical cats, they cost:

Injections: About £50/year each
Insurance: £6 / month each (well worth having)
Food: £5 / week each (apparently the cheap food is full of cr*p)

Plus sending them to a cattery when we go on holiday is a big expense.

Dani85

My cats only cost me £4 a week extra. They also like porridge and scrambled eggs which vet said was okay for them

Mr_P_5

cheers guys thanks.

thinking of getting one from a shelter! - do you have to pay for them?

milkydrink

Mr_P wrote: »

cheers guys thanks.

thinking of getting one from a shelter! - do you have to pay for them?

You have to make a donation in excess of £40 - £50.

But they will usually be netured, microchipped, wormed, flea-ed & be in good heath having been checked over by a vet.

Edited to add I also help the CPL, blimey do we all work for them, LOL

you_wicked_gay

Mr_P wrote: »

cheers guys thanks.

thinking of getting one from a shelter! - do you have to pay for them?

Animal shelters will ask for a donation to rehome a cat of around £40 (possibly a little more).

However I have worked at the Cats Protection and know this is well worth it as your cat will be only homed to you in tip top condition, having been given a health check by the vet, microchipped with your details, vaccinated up to date and neutered - all of which exceed the £40 donation if you were to pay for these at your local vets.

SnowyOwl_2

If you go for an older cat rather than a kitten you won't have the prospect of a neutering operation to arrange. I know some/most of the shelters provide help with this if you do choose a kitten though. An older cat will of course have been toilet trained, be less destructive than a kitten (think running up curtains etc!!), and its likes and dislikes should hopefully be known.

Argos does a "starter" set for around £24.99. You get a cat carrier, a litter tray, a litter scoop, a two hole food/water bowl and a scratching post. See here:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/8700704.htm

It's worth keeping an eye on Lidl's specials as every now and again they have pet related items available. I got my cats a fabulous two tier wicker sleeper which they love!

You can improvise with toys - rolled up bits of paper, found golf balls, a bit of string - so not a big expenditure.

Food isn't that expensive - if you're going to feed wet (ie canned) it's about 50p per day, allowing a tin a day for an adult cat. You may prefer to provide dry food only. The costs of that vary, as does the quality. My kitties get one of the best which is Hill's, and which is only available from pet shops. It's £12.99 (or so) for a two kilo bag and which lasts about three to four weeks for two adults. You can get cheaper from the supermarket (supermarket own brands, and the usual big name brands) but that's like you converting your own diet to processed food only, so not really the best in terms of long term health.

Vaccinations aren't too bad - a once a year expenditure really. Phone around for quotes as the cost can vary. Also ask what they are vaccinating against. The is one which is optional (think it's feline leukaemia, but check with the experts).

Then you have worm tablets and flea treatments. Again there is a range of options to choose from. Worm tablets - lol if you've never given a cat a tablet before you are in for a challenge! Maybe get someone at the cat rescue place to show you how before you take moggy home. Worm tablets are cheap though, can't remember how much but pennies really.

Flea treatments - the best is Frontline which is v.v.easy to use. Just a few little drops on the back of the neck, though it's quite expensive. However you can shop around for it and get it off the internet. I'm a lazy cow and get it from the vet - got two single doses for two cats along with two worm tablets and the vet relieved me of £10. I was ripped off, I know I was - get the Frontline from the internet.

When you go on hols you may like to place kitty in a cattery during your absence. Roughly these cost about £3.50 or £4.00 per night including food. Phone around and visit before booking. I made the awful mistake of putting my cats into a cattery without having inspected it first - the cattery consisted of a pile of cat carriers in their garage, my two cats shoved in one and it also contained their litter tray and their food and their water. I actually cried, considered not going on holiday - I was on the way to the airport so what could I do? For the same price for the next holiday the cats went to another cattery, large runs with an inside area, heating for my poor old 17 year old dear's old bones, immaculately clean, sufficient space between runs to prevent cross infections between inmates and very very secure to prevent escapees.

I hope I haven't bored you too much. You are about to embark on a wonderful experience.

walwin

SnowyOwl said:


Worm tablets - lol if you've never given a cat a tablet before you are in for a challenge! Maybe get someone at the cat rescue place to show you how before you take moggy home. Worm tablets are cheap though, can't remember how much but pennies really.


Yes, it really is a challenge. You can now buy spot-on wormers from the vet. They're applied in a similar way to Frontline. They aren't cheap but they were an answer to my prayers when they were developed :rotfl:

angel

Cats Protection don't and can't charge for cats, they ask for a donation. All cats homed from them should be microchipped, de-flead, wormed and neutered. If they haven't been then arrangements should have been made for you to get this done at their vets. This is what the donation is for. Maybe you should check back with the branch that you got them from as they may have forgotten to let you know, we are all volunteers after all and some are more thorough than others!

rita-rabbit

Best idea is to get two from a rescue centre - as they have the cats welfare at heart. Also may have given injections/flea & worm treatments/reduced neutering/micro-chipping etc. Some even give you carriers to take them away in!

Dry food is cheapest & best for the cat. I did feed my 2 wet before but it runs out/they go of it/expensive/additives in the food etc/ storage at a premium in my flat. Buy a plastic storage container & use Burns http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/ - . Get a measuring cup from the vets (say yr deciding which food 2 give & walk away with cup) & costs will b v low.
zoo plus and pets at home are too v good sites for pets stuff. In fact I have noticed that the vast majority of stuff for pets is much cheaper online than in shops inc meds. Exception is litterbox (covered) from Argos & toys & scratching posts from Liddles/Aldie.

Do not bother with worming stuff or flea collars from Supermarkets - generally they do not work well.

I have never put my cats in a cattery. I get some1 (a friend) to come & catsit or take them to my parents! I don't think they would like unfamiliar surroundings & it would add too much to the cost of my holiday. Local vets usually have details of people who could visit & feed cats (Pets & plants) clean litter etc - may suit you v well (& cats prefer their own homes).