How much does a cat cost a year (all in)

hello007007

Hi
I am thinking of getting a cat. I wanted to know how much will it cost me a year, all in, including food, litter tray and litter, milk, vets, insurance, toys, gifts, large cat tree, grooming etc...
I have a budget of £300 to buy it so it will be a indoor cat, as I dont want it getting lost or hurt by a car etc... I dont want to buy the basic cat litter, food etc... I want to go for a medium quailty brand.
How much does your furry friend cost you?

DKLS

My two cost me 1k last year.

Am sure it could be done cheaper, we don't have children so the cats get spoilt and currently they have 9 cat beds to choose from.

missbiggles1

It costs me around £500pa for 4, but personally I don't agree with cats living totally indoors unless for medical reasons.

HappyMJ

hello007007 wrote: »

Hi
I am thinking of getting a cat. I wanted to know how much will it cost me a year, all in, including food, litter tray and litter, milk, vets, insurance, toys, gifts, large cat tree, grooming etc...
I have a budget of £300 to buy it so it will be a indoor cat, as I dont want it getting lost or hurt buy a car etc... I dont want to buy the basic cat litter food, I want to go for a medium quailty brand.
How much does your furry friend cost you?

You can get insurance for the first few years if you're worried about losing £300. You do not have to continue with insurance for the whole of the cat's life.

I would budget £10 per week for a cat for every expense that is needed. It's not that expensive.

You don't give milk to cats. You can give them lactose free cat milk but it's a rare treat something you might only give once a month and only a tiny amount. You don't specifically budget for it.

Forget grooming they do that one themselves.

Toys and gifts are something you buy when you see something you like you can give them a free cardboard box and they'll have just as much fun. I wouldn't budget for that either but yes do buy some things if you see something you like.

fairy_lights

hello007007 wrote: »

Hi
I am thinking of getting a cat. I wanted to know how much will it cost me a year, all in, including food, litter tray and litter, milk, vets, insurance, toys, gifts, large cat tree, grooming etc...

I wouldn't bother with gifts, they never bother to get you anything in return :rotfl:
Are you getting an adult cat or a kitten?

bellaboo86

I wouldn't even say a cat bed is needed. Have bought a few in the past but my cat much prefers my bed or the sofa.

helcat26

I spend a fortune and my efforts are treated with scorn by the cat.


cat bed- no thanks
cat food- whatever you do not have in
cat treats- your dinner
cat entertainment- trying to kill you on the stairs


biggest expense is decent vacuum cleaner

missbiggles1

hello007007 wrote: »

Hi
I am thinking of getting a cat. I wanted to know how much will it cost me a year, all in, including food, litter tray and litter, milk, vets, insurance, toys, gifts, large cat tree, grooming etc...
I have a budget of £300 to buy it so it will be a indoor cat, as I dont want it getting lost or hurt buy a car etc... I dont want to buy the basic cat litter food, I want to go for a medium quailty brand.
How much does your furry friend cost you?

I missed this.

Why are you spending £300 on a cat when the shelters are overflowing with cats and kittens looking for a home? Don't encourage more cats being brought into the world by buying one.

GwylimT

Food is around £120 a year (we raw feed)
Insurance £180
Flea/wormer £60
Vaccines £0 (we have vaccines for life vets 4 pets offer)
Litter £40
Pet sitter when we go away £7 per day, so obviously a variable cost
Toys £20 at most

Redacted

My cat had CKD. He cost me the following monthly:
£40-£50 on prescription cat food.
£10 vet plan for vaccinations, flea and worming treatments and nurse visits.
£5 on litter
£30-£40 savings to cover vet bills. (I paid around £180 a year on blood tests alone.)

I probably spent somewhere between £2000 - £3000 over the course of nearly 6 years on vet bills on top of that. (I would have to check old bills to get a more exact figure).

He was a senior rescue when I got him, and insurance wasn't really a viable option.

My parents on the other hand maybe spend £30-£40 a month on their two healthy cats, and have never had any additional vet bills.

Deep_In_Debt

Agree with Missbiggles...get one from a shelter. Won't cost anything like £300 either.

I have 2 elderly cats who are 14 now and I've had them for 13 years - they are both rescues.

I've been lucky healthwise with them and paid yearly for their jabs and health checks and fed on Felix. Both are still in good health for their age and go outside.

I've never bought cat beds as my cats sleep where they fancy sleeping and as for toys - mine have always been happy with plastic bags, tissue paper, packaging, wrapping paper and boxes - hours of fun for them but a mess for me!