advice needed from cat owners / lovers

stressed_FTB

Hi there,

A gentleman I know is moving into a small flat and is faced with having to give his 1 year old cat to a rescue centre if he can't rehome him. I really want a cat but I just want to check with someone for some info. I know the cat was bred privately from this man's older cats (which he has got homes for) but I also know the cat is not neutered or vaccinated - as the cat is 1 year old what jabs would it need? Anything else that is recommended? I want to know what I need to get done and rough guide to cost.

Thanks all help appreciated

BargainHunterCat

You'll be looking at around the £200 mark but there are regional variances so I would get the phone book out and phone 2 or 3 local vets for prices & advice. They will know best.
Also bear in mind the weekly cost of cat food, wormer, pet insurance, flea treatments and jab boosters not to mention the cost of a cattery if you go away.
Probably the best flea treatment is Frontline which is quite costly.
If you are on benefits you may be eligible for help with the cost of vetinary bills from the PDSA or other charities.
Maybe some other MSEers could post a cat SOA please?!

stressed_FTB

Hiya thanks for the reply. I forgot to post that I'm not going to let the cat outside (house cat) does this make a difference to what jabs etc he will need??

lilynolife

I have 2 kittens, to have them vaccinated, including cat flu and lukemia (sp?) and micro chipped, it cost me £95 each. Frontline works out about £3.50 a go, and I only deflea every couple of months or so, my cats go outside. Also, I just had my female neutered, that is charged at my vet by weight, so she cost £67.00. My tom is due to have his nuts removed tomorrow and I'm assuming that will be about £70.00. As for cost of food, I spend somewhere in the region of £12 a week for 2 kittens (6months old), so if the cat is on wet food you'd bee looking at about £6.00+ a week.

Even though you don't intend to let the cat out, I'd definately recommend getting it neutered, it stops the male cat spraying and makes them more affectionate.

Mine drive me nuts sometimes but i'd not be without them

stressed_FTB

sloughflint wrote: »

Is he already a house cat? Might be a little cruel for a 1 year old if he's been used to freedom.

Yes he is already a house cat, I think that's why they didn't bother with jabs(?) but do you know which ones he needs?

dmg24

lilynolife, can't believe how much you have to pay for vet treatment - ouch!

As he is a house cat, he will only need one injection, can't remember what it is for but the vet will know.

As for vet costs, if you are anywhere near Nottingham I can recommend the loveliest vet who is also very reasonable. I paid as follows:

Injection £12
Neutering (do you call it that for boys?!) £40
Flea and worm all in one treatment £12 for three months supply
Food (combination of dry and wet) £6 a week
Cat litter £4 a week (the cheaper one stains my carpet, and this one doesn't need changing as much!)

lilynolife

Which vaccinations does my cat need?
The best place to go for advice on vaccinations will be your local vet, but a brief list of the key ones that you should get when your kitten is between 9 and 12 weeks old is:

* Cat flu and enteritis
* Feline Leukaemia
* Chlamydia - (this is optional)

lilynolife

dmg, I really like the vet I use, but clearly the costs reflect their ability to move into new plush accomodation... ;o)

dmg24

Sounds like it!

... and they are worth it.

My Moo is currently trying to climb the walls ... I so wish I had a videa camera right now! Wouldn't be without him for the world x

daphne_descends

Wow you all have expensive vets - £60 odd for vaccination here, and £45 for neutering - although one of ours had a problematic operation and pushed the cost up :rolleyes I think he's determined to cost us money...

But they're worth every penny.

Please don't scrimp on cat food though. Buy the best you can afford, and if you can afford speciality cat food from the vets then you WILL see a benefit in the cats later years.

wageslave

Cat protection usually offer free neutering in the form of vouchers to cat owners, contact them and ask.
I honestly dont know how 1 cat can cost 6 quid a week to feed. I feed my moggy morrisons gourmet when I feel lazy or tins of really cheap tuna. Mostly I buy salmon scrap ends from the supermarkets, microwave them and refrigerate. I think its costs me about 4 quid tops.