pet lovers: how much would it cost to own a cat?

bum · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:27

Hi all

As the title asks: how much would it cost to have a pet cat?

Me and me family never really had any pet in UK before so I am pretty unclear on the cost/need to own a pet.

My mum got ill earlier this year so she does not need to go work anymore. through out the summer she got the chance to feed and taking care of my neighbour's cat (my neighbour never seems to care about this poor little fella) and grow fond of it. Until 2 days ago my neighbour moved away with the cat.

Now I wanna get a cat with all the necessary things ready (injections..etc) before giving it to my mum as a present so any help from you pet owners would be much appreciated

squiffy · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:30

About £2 a week for food max (330g tin should last 2/3 days, box of biscuits should last a month) plus vet costs. Been a while since owning a cat, dunno how much injections cost now.

36:) · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:31

You can get a cat from a shelter for nothing, providing obviously you can prove you can provide a "home" environment for it.

All we've had done to our cats is neuter them (cost about £40) and microchipped (can't remember, but wasn't much). Food costs, about £5 max a week, probably less.

kitten_caboodle · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:36

yearly injections are around £70 irrc

Rescue cats will be either speyed already or you should get at voucher towards the full or at least part cost of speying. Also microchipping will be added into the price of the 'adoption' now - it's pretty much standard practice

Gibbs · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:37

36:) said:
neuter them .

get them neuterd for sure, my g/f has 4cats an the youngest just had 3 kittens, lovely indeed but just no room for them.

kitten_caboodle · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:44

Gibbs said:
get them neuterd for sure, my g/f has 4cats an the youngest just had 3 kittens, lovely indeed but just no room for them.

tell her this :

In one year the RSPCA were handed 97,184 cats and dogs, of which they destroyed over a third (33,409).

She needs to get them neutered or she's just adding to the problem.

penski · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:44

How much would it cost to own a cat?

I thought it was free...Just wait until they slip or fall over then scream PWWWWNNNNND!!! j00 GOT PLAYED! at it.

*n

DingleBerry · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:45

Just had another £40 vet bill....on top of £80 last time. She likes to get her eye balls scratched! Silly cat.

Moral of the story: get pet insurance

bum · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:47

I always thought that I could sell the kittens to pet store for money

LOL is that wrong?

How much would it cost to own a cat?

I thought it was free...Just wait until they slip or fall over then scream PWWWWNNNNND!!! j00 GOT PLAYED! at it.

*n

yeah I knew this is coming when I used this word...

kitten_caboodle · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:49

bun said:
I always thought that I could sell the kittens to pet store for money LOL is that wrong?

Well pretty much imo yeah. There's thousands of cats in rescue centres that are desperate for homes - anyone who breeds more for the money is being rather selfish imo, and doesn't really care about the animals - the conditions in most pet shops are terrible and most of them will end up being put to sleep anyway after they're dumped

bum · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:52

kitten_caboodle said:
Well pretty much imo yeah. There's thousands of cats in rescue centres that are desperate for homes - anyone who breeds more for the money is being rather selfish imo, and doesn't really care about the animals - the conditions in most pet shops are terrible and most of them will end up being put to sleep anyway after they're dumped

well i mean, I never considered about that. because I myself pretty much want to buy her a cat from pet shop. I guess afterall neuter the cat is the best thing to do

kitten_caboodle · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:55

bun said:
well i mean, I never considered about that. because I myself pretty much want to buy her a cat from pet shop. I guess afterall neuter the cat is the best thing to do

its your choice at the end of the day. But go to a rescue, they have lots of kittens

crystaline · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:56

We got our kitty last february from a shelter. We got half of our costs refunded when we could prove we had got him neutured. Food is very cheap, as is litter when you haven't trained him to go outside if he is young.

Vets bills aren't too much. Initial kitten shots and then some later on.

Ak!ta · 15 Sep 2006 at 17:56

Get a kitten from a rescue center, there hundreds that need a good home and if your mums at home all day im sure she will spoil it...
Make sure you get it neutered. Most councils help pay toward this now i think, and insurance is also a good idea. As for food there cheap as chips to feed.....

TripleT · 15 Sep 2006 at 18:03

As has been said kittens are free from a shelter but they're sometimes a pain and a lot are older cats which are generally boring

My sister bought one off someone for £10

Shots for kittens are about £70 in total over 6months. Getting it neutered is about £60 then yearly injections are £30-£40 per year.

Food should be £10 per max when you include biscuits and kitten / cat milk etc.

Bed and toys, well that's up to you.

We've had cats all my life and they're great

P.S - Pet insurance can be handy.

crystaline · 15 Sep 2006 at 18:08

TripleT said:
P.S - Pet insurance can be handy.

A friend of mine had her cat hit by a car once, and then again the following week, all the vet bills of the cats injuries came to over 500 quid. So she bought tesco pet insurance and its never had an accident in 5 yrs since

kitten_caboodle · 15 Sep 2006 at 18:13

TripleT said:
As has been said kittens are free from a shelter but they're sometimes a pain and a lot are older cats which are generally boring

so what the hell is the kitten going to be when it grows up?

Dr.EM · 15 Sep 2006 at 18:22

Our cat found us

We use that "science plan" food, not sure how essential it is with younger cats, but as they get older it's probably a good idea. Don't think it's too expensive anyhow.

Of course a lot of the cost depends if the cat has any accidents or catches any illnesses it cannot be vaccinated against (cat flu is the standard vaccination) and if this is the case, vets bills can be very large.

Also, although neutering cats is pretty essential, it's worth noting female cat's can get depresssed if they are neutered before they have any kittens at all. They think something is wrong with them. Ours had a litter whilst she was with us (freinds homed the kitties), but may have had more beforehand I guess.

penski · 15 Sep 2006 at 18:24

kitten_caboodle said:
so what the hell is the kitten going to be when it grows up?

A Caboodle?

*n

stoofa · 15 Sep 2006 at 18:26

Cost really isn't that high, however "cost in time" can be.
I urge you to seriously consider a "second hand" cat - there are loads of cats in shelters for whatever reason and they do so need and want a loving home.

Our current cat was from a shelter, she was an ex-stray and although she was extremely timid to start with she is just gorgeous now.
The shelter we got her from ask for a £40 donation.
However for the £50 she had a full set of injections to last her for her first year, she was microchipped, spayed and insured for 2 months.

You get a lot of love from a cat (and plenty of times being ignored of course) and they don't really cost that much to feed and keep in toys and catnip!