Should I get a cat?

BenEvans

Hi everyone, i wonder if anyone can help me! i really want a cat, but have never had one before.

My main concern is the costs involved, as i am a keen money saver and have tried to strip back my expenditure as much as possible. Do you have any tips for keeping food, insurance etc costs low?

Also, not really MSE i know, but i live in the innercity although i do have a small garden. Is this an ok enviroment to keep a cat?

thanks for all help :beer:

rita-rabbit

Things to consider:

1 Would it just be you & one cat?
2 Do you work full time?
3 Are you aware of ongoing costs such as litter, flea & worming treatments, vets fees etc?
4 Are you aware of potential for mess: fur, etc
5 most cats live up to double figures - such as 20yrs

I love my two and wouldn't be without them

viktory

Yes, cats are brilliant.

Mine costs me about £7 a week in food and roughly £10 a month in insurance. She has been spayed (can't remember how much that cost) and micro chipped (£11). She has her injections once a year (about £20). Of course, if you rescue a cat these costs should be covered although you will need to make a donation. We don't pay for litter as she toilets outside, flea treatment is rare. She makes no mess.

Other than that, the running costs are remarkably low. She has no posh bed, preferring to sleep on our big cushions. I get a lot of pleasure from our and would always recommend a cat as a pet. NB, we all work full time - the cat generally stays in during the day sleeping somewhere.

Chinkle

Foodcosts vary depending on how fussy your cat is. I would say between £5 (for a cheapy brand dry food) to about £50 for gourmet meals.

Shop around for insurance. Other than this there are a few up front costs (travel basket, cat litter tray, litter and scoop) as you'll need to keep it in at first. After that the cost of fitting a catflap. Don't worry about the size of your garden, your cat won't understand boundaries like this and will explore as far and wide as they choose.

Cats aren't hugely expensive but if you are on a really tight budget then do seriously think about it, as you shouldn't see it as anything other than a long term commitment

MrsE_2

viktory wrote: »

Yes, cats are brilliant.

Mine costs me about £7 a week in food and roughly £10 a month in insurance. She has been spayed (can't remember how much that cost) and micro chipped (£11). She has her injections once a year (about £20). Of course, if you rescue a cat these costs should be covered although you will need to make a donation. We don't pay for litter as she toilets outside, flea treatment is rare. She makes no mess.

Other than that, the running costs are remarkably low. She has no posh bed, preferring to sleep on our big cushions. I get a lot of pleasure from our and would always recommend a cat as a pet. NB, we all work full time - the cat generally stays in during the day sleeping somewhere.

I feed Royal Canin (one of the most expensive dried foods) & it only works out about £12 pm per cat - so dried is the way to go:money:

Two cats are FAR FAR Better than one.

viktory

MrsE wrote: »

I feed Royal Canin (one of the most expensive dried foods) & it only works out about £12 pm per cat - so dried is the way to go:money:

Two cats are FAR FAR Better than one.

My cat is a spoilt brat and has dried, complete food on demand and wet food a couple of times a day. She has Purina One and Sheba (or another wet food the name of which escapes me, but it comes in teeny tiny tins which she can demolish in one hit - at about 50p each!) :eek:

I might try her on Royal Canin.

rita-rabbit

there are other threads here so if you run a search `costs of keeping a cat' you will find LOADS of info already listed.

one thing I forgot - provision for when you are on holiday - consider it & bear it in mind

If you get a rescue cat it will already have been neurtered & vaccinated (saves £s) but most will want you to take more than one or one with ongoing medical condition - which could mean less mess & a cat that is less likely to destroy your houseplants etc than a kitten when left alone!

MrsE_2

viktory wrote: »

My cat is a spoilt brat and has dried, complete food on demand and wet food a couple of times a day. She has Purina One and Sheba (or another wet food the name of which escapes me, but it comes in teeny tiny tins which she can demolish in one hit - at about 50p each!) :eek:

I might try her on Royal Canin.

Royal Canin Exigent 35/30 for fussy eaters

Fire_Fox

BenEvans wrote: »

Hi everyone, i wonder if anyone can help me! i really want a cat, but have never had one before.

My main concern is the costs involved, as i am a keen money saver and have tried to strip back my expenditure as much as possible. Do you have any tips for keeping food, insurance etc costs low?

Also, not really MSE i know, but i live in the innercity although i do have a small garden. Is this an ok enviroment to keep a cat?

thanks for all help :beer:

Don't skimp on insurance - there are around four providers that offer full cover for an expensive lifelong medical condition. These are usually only a few pounds more than the cheaper insurers; there is at least one insurer that is known to require a battle to get a payout - so not moneysaving. The sticky on the main Pets board explains which are good insurers and why.

If you are close to a busy road you would be better suited to an indoor only cat (FIV, FeLV, deaf, partially sighted, elderly) or catproofing your outside space. No reputable rescue will home an outdoor cat near a busy road nor a kitten if you work full time. If you adopt an indoor cat it is better to have two than one for company but this has cost implications, a solo indoor cat will need a lot more toys and playtime. Some rescues have a policy against indoor only homes so be prepared to 'shop around' - Purrsinourhearts website will be able to match you with the right rescue and cat. :A

There have been loads of threads debating which foods are best value and which are best for health (could save on vets bills :money:). Your basic options are wet commercial, dry commercial, raw or a mixed diet - each have their pros and cons. My own experience is that a high meat content cat food massively reduces poop-output and virtually eliminates smell which, in a flat, is pretty important!!

Noah is an indoor cat and costs me £7.50 a month insurance (AXA), £5 a month litter (Cats Best), £15 a month in quality foods (mix of wet, dry and raw) plus a small fortune in toys! :rotfl: I don't need to flea treat and rarely worm as he is indoor which saves money. Instead of making a large donation to Cats Protection when I got Noah I asked to donate on a monthly basis which they were very happy with, this helped with cashflow but will probably cost me more long term!!

Rummer

If you are thinking of keeping your cat indoors it would be nice to get two so that they can keep each other company when you are out. The cats protection league will be able to match you with a cat that will suit your home and lifestyle.

hellokitty08

you can have mine, she is evil! lol