The real cost of having pets

gettingready · 6 March 2012 at 1:08PM

As I am due to start a new job (next week hopefully) I have sat down and calculated the REAL cost of my furries......

NOt sure I can cut anywhere and it will be a struggle - but also perhaps an eye opener for people who think of getting/keeping pets?

Zara's food 40 per month (Orijen, works pout at 40 per month but of course can not buy 40 worth of orijen , have to get the 13.5 kg bags...)
Zara's insurance 47 per month
Zara's dog walker 230 per month
Zara worming/flea treatment etc 10 per month (rough estimate)
Cats dry food 30 per month
Cats wet food 30 per month
Cats insurance 35 per month
Cats litter 40 per month
Cats worming/flea treatment 20 per month (rough estimate)

£482? If I am correct?

Zara also gets fish oil and ester C tablets.... so just over £500 per month.

That is 4 cats and a GS (almost) dog......

Can not change Zara's food, tried and nothing really agrees with her stomach, she gets runs etc and with a long haired bum it is not fun to have to deal with.

Cats are already on cheap Classic and Go Cat mixed with Taste of the Wild just to make it a bit better.

Dog walker not negotiable as will be out of the house most days.

Insuranece non negotiable with Zara's hips and George's knees (both got pre existing now, can not move insurers).

I am not moaning, I knew pets are expensive before I decided to have them all, they bring me much more than £500 per month or so joy so.... will have to skimp and save on things for myself...

Makes me laugh when I see adds "cat/dog wanted - can not afford to buy one/pay for one but offer a great home" - yeah right.......

So made the list above as an informational warning.....

missmontana · 6 March 2012 at 1:29PM

Only thing that's possible to really change is the dog walker bit, how much is it per walk, per day?

gettingready · 6 March 2012 at 1:37PM

Dog walkers around here are pretty much static with their prices £10 per hour.

I am going back to the one I was using before as I know she can be trusted to walk the dog and not sit in the car/bench on her mobile while the dogs run arround or are tied up to a tree (yup, seen that happen)....

I am not really looking to cut anywhere as I do not think I can.....perhaps will try Zara again on Skinners but tried before and she did not like it at all. Perhaps if she is hungry enough?

Just spoke to Skinner's nutritionist, was told they will send me samples and Zara at her 41kg weight should be fed only 350 gram of Skinners per day to get her down to her ideal 35kg (and cats should be fed in a locked room so she cant get to THEIR food) LOL

I looked at Skinners prices and the cheapest I can find (with delivery) is around £28.00 for Salmon and Rice 15kg bag - that would last her 42 days so works out at £21 per month rather than £40 (Orijen). The pain in the neck with Orijen is that one has to order a 13.5 kg bag and fish one costs £75.......

Ok, will try her on Skinners again.... wish me luck

EDIT - ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo like that price:

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-food-cat-food-skinners-dog-food-c-62_420/skinners-field-and-trial-salmon-rice-dog-food-15kg-p-2433

That works out at £18.50 per month to feed 350 gram per day with just under £25 per 15k bag.......

Will definitely try that and persevere this time hehehe

Dollardog · 6 March 2012 at 1:41PM

I'm really glad that when I am going to be out of the house for any real length of time, my dog goes across the road to a neighbour where he can also stay the night if necessary, she loves having him and often asks to keep him a bit longer, we call him 'rent a dog'. She doesn't charge me anything for having him, in fact, I think she would pay to 'borrow' him. lol
Some weeks it seems as though she has him more than I do!!

krlyr · 6 March 2012 at 1:47PM

What about trying half Skinners, half Orijen? If you stored them together, the Skinners may take up the smell of the Orijen and be more appealing to her. You'd still save a little without having to worry about her eating a food she doesn't enjoy. Mix a few kilos in a tub first incase she doesn't fall for the trick, but if she does then over time you can slowly increase the proportion of Skinners to the amount of Orijen.
Also bear in mind that the 350g is only a guideline, every dog will vary so if you need to feed more it may not be so cost-effective.

gettingready · 6 March 2012 at 1:49PM

Dollardog - you are very lucky

On a brighter ote - Zara loves that particular dog walker, knows all the other dogs walked and is really happy to go out with them so to me this is money well spent.

I could nto go to work and worry if my dog is treated well by whoever walks her.

The girl does it as a full time job, she has Pets First Aid training, studied/studies for various dog behaviourist accreditations, has full control of dogs in her care, lives localy so knows all local walking places (she has 2 dogs of her own) and other peple walking about (and their dogs), I know Zara is as safe with her as a dog can be.. so.. this is good...

gettingready · 6 March 2012 at 1:51PM

Krlyr - that is what I am planning to do, mix the 2 to start with.

350 g was recommended by nutritionist at Skinners when I spoke to her few min ago as Zara needs to loose weight, she is 41kg and should really be 35kg so should feed as if she is 35kg

Artytarty · 6 March 2012 at 1:58PM

Crikey! It reallu is quite scar when you see it all laid out like that.
£40 for litter seems pretty high. I use the wood pellets and scoop out the solids and the wet patches daily. Then I chuck it all out and wash the tray about 3 times a week. ( know it should probably be done daily) The two cats seem happy enough with the arrangement. I cant remember what it costs but it is considerably less than £40 per month.
Dried food costs me £45 per month for two cats. No insurance for cats but have it for doggy.

gettingready · 6 March 2012 at 2:02PM

I got 4 cats - it makes a difference....

Used the wood based one before but worked out more expensive and the smell (4 cats remember) was out of this world.....

I use clumping Grey Master or Biocat (zooplu) and those are the ones that work the best for my 4 indoor furies....

missmontana · 6 March 2012 at 2:12PM

Would the dog walker be able to let the cats in and out? or at least Teddy.

Artytarty · 6 March 2012 at 2:13PM

I see, well that would make a big difference. Also mine have access to the garden when they wish so some business gets conducted out there.
It seems then that you have tweaked the variables as much as you can, I'm sure lots of us will be shocked to see the true cost of pet ownership.
Add in the replacement costs of ruined furnishings and the extra expense of home hair dye for all the greys they give us with worry! Of course you cant put a price on the joy:)
Good luck with the new job next week.

The real cost of having pets

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