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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think having a pet is not affordable these days?

198 replies

cadburyegg · 29/05/2019 21:59

So as not to drip feed, I completely believe that once you have a pet you are 100% responsible. I grew up with pets and had many animals over the years. We don’t have pets anymore but when we had rabbits, one of them had long term health problems and we were often at the vets with her, until she died.

We had insurance, but the cost of that plus yearly vaccinations, vet check ups, other appointments that the insurance didn’t cover - it all added up. So we haven’t had animals since our last bunny died.

I think my DH would quite like a cat but I can’t see us being able to afford to pay out for everything that it would need.

So, AIBU? How do people manage the cost of a pet?

OP posts:
LouiseMiltonSpatula · 29/05/2019 22:01

It just depends on income, surely? Some people will have enough to spare and some won’t (and people have different priorities etc).

Sallyseagull · 29/05/2019 22:03

Well I have two and I don't find it a financial burden to feed, care for and insure them....... and given the number of pets there are in the UK I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.

Beamur · 29/05/2019 22:03

You do have to be realistic. It's wise to go into pet ownership with the long term costs in mind.
I pay into a scheme with my vets which covers all flea treatment and vaccination. Dental work is fixed price, other drugs are offered at a discount and the price includes two check ups a year.
I don't have insurance though but am about to set up a monthly saving pot for future costs.

ReganSomerset · 29/05/2019 22:04

Mine's very affordable for us. About £30 on insurance and vet subscriptions, about £16 on food and that's it.

BMW6 · 29/05/2019 22:06

Um..!...... lots of people are in a better financial position! Hmm

And if they can't afford a pet, how can they possibly have children!!!

Oakenbeach · 29/05/2019 22:06

How do people manage the cost of a pet?

They earn more than you do.... or don’t get their animals vaccinated and have them put down if they get sick enough to require a big vets bill.

EmmaC78 · 29/05/2019 22:08

I suppose you just have to make sacrifices in other areas. I have two horses and a cat. They all get what they need but i hardly ever get new clothes and haven't been on holiday for years.

Tiptopj · 29/05/2019 22:09

My cat costs me around £20 a month in food and cat litter and that's buying a slightly premium brand and that's it. I dont have insurance and dont actually know of anyone who does. I did all the injections and boosters when she was a kitten and had her spayed She goes the vets for a check up once every 3 or 4 years at best. Had her 8 years so far and my last cat was 17 when he died. Both have been moggies/ British short hair ive heard that makes them slightly less prone to illnesses than bred cats

ElderMillenial · 29/05/2019 22:09

Ermmm... How much were you paying for your last pet?

I have a large dog and he costs 550 to buy, 40 quid for initial vaccinations, 18 quid insurance and maybe 20 to feed him. Booster jabs are a load of bollocks so he won't get them yearly. I won't neuter him unless it becomes a medical necessity but if I do Its 140 due to his size.

If the initial outlay is too much I could have got a rescue or cheaper dog but 40 quid a month isn't much and you don't have to insure. I didn't with my last dog as insurance was extortionate so we put money aside for the day something did inevitably go wrong.

stucknoue · 29/05/2019 22:10

We pay about £40 a month for the insurance and the vet plan (for vaccinations, worming, flea & tick) plus about £20 for food for a medium sized older dog. £60 is the price of a typical chain restaurant meal for a family. Whether it's affordable is down to income and priorities

Sammy867 · 29/05/2019 22:10

It’s all relative and we budget accordingly. Our cat is covered for life insurance so should she get ill she’s always covered bar a £70 excess per year. We pay £10 a month.

she’s also vaccinated for life with our vets so that cost £70 when she was a kitten and we’ve never paid since (she’s 7). We factored this into her purchase cost more than anything. As an aside our vet didn’t recommend vaccinating an indoor only cat every year but ours is an outdoors cat and we have already paid the one off fee regardless whether we choose to vaccinate or not (ours has always been vaccinated)

Food wise she’s a fuss pot with expensive tastes and only eats applaws; the most expensive food they sell. This costs me £30 a month but I get cash back on this and points. (the dog is much less picky and her food is £13 a month!)

We also pay £9 for a prescription for flea and wormer from the vet to cover for 6 months and buy advocate online for £24 a box

So all in she costs us a total of £45 a month, just because she’s a picky eater. The dog only costs us £25 a month, wormer, flea treatment, food and insurance included.

In the grand scheme of things if she weren’t s fussy eater the cat would cost around £25 a month all in

Studentnursesos12e · 29/05/2019 22:10

My family have one rescue cat. My flat and I have 2 fish.

For Casper I’d say whilst he is a spoilt but very cute boy, he could be very affordable to keep. If it is an outdoor non-designer breed cat you get they may not use a litter tray/use it often and if have short hair don’t need loads of grooming. Cat food can be expensive but bulk buying online can be cheap. Casper has felix or whiskers and my dad bulk buys, it works out at less than £2 a week to feed him.

Toys wise he has quite a few but all couple quid or less. His bed (which he never sleeps in 😂) , a few toys, a months supply of food, food bowls and collar as well as tick/flea spray was provided from the rspca at a reduced price. My parents gave £120 in total but that included a donation.

For our fish we got everything including them and food for £8. Had them four months and no additional expenses.

Also, if you adopt from the RSPCA ‘ears’ scheme they often pay vet bills if the cat needs it (or they do round here). I imagine other cat adoption places have similar.

Xx

Lougle · 29/05/2019 22:10

I agree with EmmaC. We have a dog, 2 cats and 3 chickens. Everyone gets what they need, but we don't go on holidays, buy nice clothes, etc.

MyNewBearTotoro · 29/05/2019 22:11

I don’t find it unaffordable to keep my cat. Pet insurance is about £7 a month and then I think it’s about £50 a year for her vaccination boosters and then about £10 for six-monthly worm/ flea treatments. I spend probably around £5 a week on cat food depending on offers etc. She’s an outdoor cat so no cat litter etc and she just sleeps on the furniture so no expensive cat beds etc. Occasionally I might buy extras like cat treats or toys but I’d say I definitely spend under £50 a month, which is affordable for us. And I haven’t shopped around for best insurance deals/ food on offer etc, I’m sure it’s easy to spend much less.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 29/05/2019 22:11

Our cats, dogs and rabbits are insured and are all on a monthly plan which includes vaccinations, flea and worm treatment and all the bits in between. It might be hefty price-wise but it's far cheaper than the alternative.

It's doable for us because we have an income that can take the hit. If we didn't have the money we couldn't have the pets.

Stressedout10 · 29/05/2019 22:12

As my ddog is a double rescue I can't get pet insurance for her so I have a savings account that I pay into each month for future vet bills and she has a very reasonable pdsa plan for vaccination ect

adaline · 29/05/2019 22:14

We have three - two cats and a dog.

They probably cost me around £300 month but £120 of that is on doggy daycare (mates rates, else it would be much more). Then insurance for all three is around £50, leaving me £120 for food, treats and any new leads etc. that the dog needs, which is about right on average. The dog costs much more than the cats.

It's perfectly affordable for us, but we live in a very cheap area (so tiny mortgage), both work full time and don't have children so we can, to an extent, spend as much as we like on them.

nicky2512 · 29/05/2019 22:14

I know what you mean and it is something to take into consideration when taking on a pet. Our ddog (who we all adore) turned out to have many health problems and allergies and needing a special diet. He costs a lot more to feed and in vets bills (for trips to vet below insurance threshold which are regular) than we ever expected. We can afford it but he is an expensive wee boy!!

batvixen123 · 29/05/2019 22:16

I have no idea how much I pay for my two cats but I suspect it isn't much as I don't notice it. I pay for insurance, food and cat litter. I don't pay for yearly boosters as they are indoor cats and don't come into contact with others. Both are 15 years old and in rude health. If they did need vet treatment, I guess I have savings to cover a few grand plus the insurance.

They are pedigree so cost £800 ish when kittens. Probably amongst the best uses for that money I can think of.

Littlepond · 29/05/2019 22:18

What an odd question. Surely having a dog wouldn’t cost more per month than running a car? So how can people afford cars not dogs? People earn money and choose how to spend it. Many things are affordable if you prioritise.
Strange post!

OhMyDarling · 29/05/2019 22:18

I wanted more kids, instead I got 2 dogs
I’d like a partner to talk to in the evenings, instead I talk to my dogs
I need to lose weight, could join a gym, instead I walk the dogs
They keep me sane, they are worth what they cost me in food, insurance and monthly vet plan

OhMyDarling · 29/05/2019 22:18

No holidays/fags/posh clothes here... just tummy rubs

starzig · 29/05/2019 22:19

It always seems to be benefits people that have dogs too.

VodselForDinner · 29/05/2019 22:21

Strange questions.

Affordability of anything depends on available income.

It’s like asking how do people afford toilet paper, or jet skis.

pineapplebryanbrown · 29/05/2019 22:24

My 2 dogs are £30 pcm insurance between them and I think their food is about £10, boosters are £40 pa each. I don't really notice it because I've entered "dog world" - scruffy clothes, only meals out are cafes that dogs are allowed - therefore cheap. I just don't really do much socialising that doesn't revolve around dog walking in the park - which is free.