The real cost of having pets

NellieNewbie

I've been watching this thread with interest and wondering whether or not to post for fear of being flamed, but I'd like to add my 10p's worth.

If money is an issue (and it is for me), unless there is a medical reason or the pet is elderly, my pets would have a choice of eating what is on offer or going without. I'm not saying they have to eat the cheapest food out there, but they would be fed budget ranges until they picked one. Fussy eaters are calling the shots imho.

Other than a collar (cheap, but effective), don't automatically use flea prevention. If a pet isn't appealing to fleas, then why bother paying for it? Only one of my dogs was a real flea magnet and if we spotted a blighter, it usually meant a collar needed changing. Our dogs are walked in fields and their tummies are close to the ground, so the spring and summer were the problem times.

I don't agree with indoor cats and think the popularity of them is a selfish fashion. I know this sounds off, but by nature cats are hunters and if they are allowed out, they can supplement their food if they are hungry (yuk I know). Cats are such independent animals, it seems a terrible shame to keep them inside. I understand that cat owners worry about their cat getting run over, etc., but that is the world we live in and heart breaking as it is, part of owning a cat these days.

Leaving dogs at home to go out to work is a real problem, but it is quite a recent thing not to leave a dog at home all day. I think it can work if they are used to it from a young age and don't know anything else - not ideal, but it can work. When I was still at home, my parents both worked full time and for years and years wouldn't let us have a dog. When I was 17 and the youngest was 14 we finally wore them down and it was agreed we could have a rescue dog. But one of the three of us had to come home from school every day at lunchtime to let the dog out into the garden to play and another had to come straight from from school rather than do after school stuff.

Our current dog is 12 years old and we got him when one of our dogs died as company for the remaining dog. Unfortunately 6 weeks later that dog died and we were left with a young and very insecure dog that wrecked the house every time we left him alone (I'm talking about real damage - door frames, curtains, etc.) We were at our wits ends when I read a magazine article about doggy day care in the USA and by chance I passed kennels on my way to work. The kennels had never heard of regular day boarders before, but agreed to take our dog for £2.50 per day. He went for about 4 years and was let out for a run twice a day and in the end the staff treated him like one of their own and he still gets a Christmas card. The kennels even changed hands and let the arrangement stand. He quite quickly settled down and we could leave him at home alone if we went out on weekends, etc. Day boarding was a life saver for us, but now that it is quite popular no doubt it costs a lot more than £2.50 a day.

My point really is not to give up hope of finding a solution and to try thinking outside the box. Maybe there is an elderly person living locally who can't cope with a dog full time, but would like a dog for company during the day? We keep ourselves to ourselves so much these day, but who knows what might be on the doorstep or just around the corner?

I think insurance is a must have and any supplements you can actually see the benefit from, rather than automatically giving them. If there is a problem and you don't see any improvement from giving an animal something, then try something else.

Just my 10p's worth (and gets off soap box).

gettingready

Thanks for your 10 p worth

My cats go out every single day. Even now when I am back at work - I let them out when I get in and "collect" them before I go bed, I do not feel they are missing out on anything really.

My dog goes out enough and sleeps for the rest of the time - she is a couch potato, always has been while indoors.

This thread was not me asking for advice to myself - just a general thoughts on the cost of keeping pets. There is not other reason for this thread, I am managing fine with my lot.

NellieNewbie

gettingready wrote: »

Thanks for your 10 p worth

My cats go out every single day. Even now when I am back at work - I let them out when I get in and "collect" them before I go bed, I do not feel they are missing out on anything really.

My dog goes out enough and sleeps for the rest of the time - she is a couch potato, always has been while indoors.

This thread was not me asking for advice to myself - just a general thoughts on the cost of keeping pets. There is not other reason for this thread, I am managing fine with my lot.

I wasn't posting in reply to anyone in particular, sorry if you read it that I was referring to you personally. I was just pointing out ways to cut costs that hadn't been fully discussed already.

gettingready

Nellie - not to worry, all fine, everyone's 10 p worth combined is a great value


Update - Zara still hates me, she only ever eats when I am asleep.. till I go to bed it is:

Zara looks at me, walks to her bowl, looks at what is inside, turns her head to look at me, walks away with ears down and that "sigh" sound, lies down.. starts again.. several times per day. Hoping of course LOL Once I am in bed - all hope is gone, Zara goes to her bowl and crunch crunch - bowl empty for the morning hehehehe

Oko Plus - still unsure.. Looks lovely, does not smell, clumps not as well as my old one and tracks a lot, more than my old one. BUT really covers the smell and when I am out at work... all day.. coming back home to 2 trays full of "deposits" by 4 cats.. will give it a chance.

Ordered 40 litres of Oko Plus, t really test it I need to have it in both litter trays as right now they go more to the tray with old litter.

Ordered Animonda, cats will have 1 tin of Clasic per day and on tin of Animonda per day between them 4 plus their dry food which I now have to keep very high up as since being intruduced to Skinners - Zara has developed a very unhealthy interest in dry cat food - never went for it before...was only interested in tinned cat food.

Wellyboots6

Poor Zara, she will get used to it I'm sure.

Could it be the texture she doesn't like?

gettingready

POssibly as the shape/texture of Skiners is completely different to Orijen....

rising_from_the_ashes

gettingready wrote: »

Update - Zara still hates me, she only ever eats when I am asleep.. till I go to bed it is:

Zara looks at me, walks to her bowl, looks at what is inside, turns her head to look at me, walks away with ears down and that "sigh" sound, lies down.. starts again.. several times per day. Hoping of course LOL Once I am in bed - all hope is gone, Zara goes to her bowl and crunch crunch - bowl empty for the morning hehehehe

:rotfl::rotfl:That sounds about right .... it can't be that bad then!

gettingready

You will soon find out as sending her majesty over to you

uk_american

Thanks for starting this thread, it has been interesting to see everyone's costs.

To add in my own...after many years of being a nomad and renting (in America, the continent), one of the first things I did after buying my flat (in Essex) was to look for a cat. Recogizing that I work full time and live on the top floor, I was seeking a very special cat, once who would need 'indoors only' protection, and who wouldn't be fussed to be alone during the day. After some searching at local rescues, I found Mrs. Slocombe, a grand old dame of 11 cat years, who ended up in the rescue as her elderly owner passed away...and who had never been outside and therefore needed to be a 'flat only' cat.

Mrs. Slocombe's daily costs:
-wet food: 2@ 85g pouches/cans =.60p max
Usually I buy Whiskas on sale, last week it came through at .15p/pouch. .30 is my average max. She does love the gourmet gold salmon which is 3/£1 at Tesco, £land, etc.

-dry food: a handful of kibble (10-15 pieces) at bedtime = .10 p
She doesn't digest this so well (lack of teeth), but enjoys it so very much in limited quantities where it doesn't upset her stomach.

-litter: Mrs. Slocombe is not particular, but I like the wood pellats, so 4 GBP/30= .13p per day (usually I get it on sale, so better than this cost, around .07p/day. Daily scooping of wet/dry output, and full tray clean out on the weekend)

-vet: .09p/day. Mrs. Slocombe is in good health, despite her 14 years, so she has an average vet cost of £35/year. She did get her teeth done this year and I sprung for the full treatment of putting her under/iv, etc. due to her age, @330 GBP. Since she doesn't go outdoors, I don't invest in insurance; instead, I set aside £20/month into a savings account just for her vet costs.

Overall normal max costs = £1.62/day, 48.87/month, 586.52/year.

That being said, I do take care in what I feed her, due to her age. If I see marked down fish, chicken, turkey, etc. and I know it will be less than .30/serving, I will buy it up and cook it for her, separating it into appropriate sizes for freezing.

A final note: I do have a secure rooftop terrance here. It's been most heartening to see Mrs. Slocombe 'discover' the outdoors, up here on her sheltered rooftop, although it's taken many months. She enjoys a daily sniff of the plants and even chomps a bit on the growing ones, like the garlic. Often, she'll just flop down in the sunshine, and even goes so far to have a wee in the plant dirt. :eek: A different world from her former flat life in Clapton, London I'd say...

Currently considering adding a second cat to the mix, to keep her company. I wanted to try one, to make sure I was ok, but now, we're ready for another. Just a matter of finding the right one...while she's lived with cats in the past, I need to search for another in a similar situation, who is indoor, older and liking other cats.

gettingready

Oh.. after such a lovely description you absolutely MUS post a photo of Mrs. Slocombe