To think having a pet is not affordable these days?

[cadburyegg]

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?

we have 2 cats but they don't seem to cost that much (we earn an average wage and have 1 3ry old in FT nursery)

like £100 for vaccination top ups per year, £11 a month for insurance for them both, lets say £100 pa on cattery fees (aprox 1 wk a year) and then probably about 8ish pounds on food a week?

so that's an average of 63ish pounds a month. Suppose its a big extra cost if you cant afford it but for us its ok.

yanbu
keeping a pet well is expensive and time consuming and you need to consider that before you get one.

i'm at the £300 dental bills for a rabbit. The last time my biggest dog had a dental it was £200-ish - and that was with extractions, and the GA time for a 35kg hound.

A cat barely costs anything. I have 2 and other than sitters to pop in twice a day when we're on holiday there's little expense:
Food- usually on offer, £20/30 a month
Insurance - £9 a month for both
Annual check up/vaccinations- £58 for both

Even the sitters are £16-20 a day for 2x visits to clean, feed and fuss so not breaking the bank. It's added £160 to our upcoming holiday which is nothing compared to most holiday costs!

We are absolutely pet crazy in our house, I have 2 LO's along with 4 dogs, 4 cats, 2 hamsters and a goldfish for good measure.

We spend roughly £25 a week on food for them all, £55 on dog insurance, £60 a week for a dog walker (2 days) and of course all the annual vaccinations etc.
We also have a cat who is an absolute accident prone and have spent over £1500 on him alone in the last 3 years :(
Dog boarding is another expenditure; we tend to do one dog friendly holiday each year, and two without and the cost of putting them in boarding for a week is normally around £600 each time.

I'd estimate we spend over £4000 each year on our pets and it's absolutely worth it! :)

Cats are very self reliant and aside from insurance (minimal) and food they really are pretty resilient and won't need anything more.

No insurance here, we had four cats at one point and they racked up £450 in vets bills between them over ten years. Insurance would have cost way more.

Pets can be quite expensive. But a lot of it is down to what you choose to spend your money on. We have a dog but we never have takeaways, for example, whereas one of my friends loves to have a takeaway with her husband every Friday night. I reckon the cost is pretty much the same (once you exclude the purchase price of the dog!)

Even the sitters are £16-20 a day for 2x visits to clean, feed and fuss so not breaking the bank. It's added £160 to our upcoming holiday which is nothing compared to most holiday costs!

Even cheaper - £70/year for Trusted Sitters
Swap free accommodation for free cat sitting, and have had good experience with everyone, and a couple of them have been truly amazing and I use the same people regularly now.

I can't believe people risk not insuring their pets! Our cat ate lillies and had to spend 4 days and 3 nights at the vet; it can to £2500!! Thank god we had insurance!

Meh. If you have the cash available (or at least a 0% CC) it isn't a requirement to insure pets. You just pay as and when needed.

I wouldn't keep a pet alive that required long term, invasive treatment anyway. Not fair on cats to put them through e.g. cancer treatment.

I've never heard of trusted sitters @BlueSkiesLies I'll check them out! my cats aren't bothered where the attention comes from as long as they're getting it

@codenameduchess it is really good! I made my money back (and more) in the first time of using it.

You have to put some effort into your house and pet listing - think like an airbnb advert. The more info you give, the more people can see if it would be a suitable cat sit for them re location and expected duties.

Potential sitters have personal profiles and reviews, you put out some dates and people apply to you. You can also msg sitters directly to offer private dates.

surely this shitty comment shouldn’t be allowed to stand? It’s so sneering

Copy fail - that was directed at the person who made the comment about ‘benefits people’ having dogs

Pets are expensive and it is getting more expensive to take care of them properly. I have one cat and he is expensive to keep. Food, litter,
Flea, wormer, jab every year. I am in healthy pet club and pay a bit every month and that covers everything apart for the food and litter.
The small animals hay is ridiculous price in the shops but I buy in bulk. Rabbit food is on amazon subscription which saves a £5 note each month. Bedding is from the farm and is £8.50 lasts my lot two weeks.
The jabs for the rabbits wipes me out I have now staggered it so I do two rabbits every quarter. I have 8 rabbits.
I don’t smoke, drink, do sports. So money goes into the animals. It’s about priorities I guess but in general the op is correct. Animals are becoming more of a luxury. Couldn’t be without them so I try not to think of the cost!

I've got six cats and three large dogs. All were unwanted or feral/rescues. They do cost a lot and one 40 kg dog needs epilepsy and arthritis meds. They aren't insured as the premiums for so many would be silly money every month. I spent much more before my old horse died though!

I dont spend much on clothes, don't use a hairdresser and avoid expensive holidays. The animals are what make me happy, so its horses for courses.

I can't believe people risk not insuring their pets! Our cat ate lillies and had to spend 4 days and 3 nights at the vet; it can to £2500!! Thank god we had insurance!

In my opinion insurance isn’t worth it, if cat gets sick we will deal with it.
When he’s an old boy I believe he won’t get cover anyway and that’s when he’s likely to get sick.
Besides he’s a pampered house cat, won’t get beaten up by other cats or run over so I’m fine not having it. Healthy pet club is handy though you get a discount on some treatments.

I have cats and just had a £1400 vet bill for one. The cat was not insured as it is deaf and fiv positive so no one is willing to insure so I self insure by putting a little away each month to cover any care they need.
Many things I do myself like flea and worm treatments as you can buy the same stuff vets use over the internet.
Food tends to be whatever is on the best offer at the time and I buy in bulk as well as that reduces the cost.

Having pets is not cheap but I would rather cut back in other areas than be without my cats.

We have a dog and cat. £50 a Month covers all food and the pet health club ( covers vaccinations. Worming. Fleas. Micro chip ect) we don't bother with insurance.

We had a £9000 vet bill for our dog a couple of years ago. Luckily we were insured. However, now that the dog is old, his premium is £77 a month. And we also have to pay 20% of any claim due to his age. But we would travel a lot more if we didn't have him, so I guess we are actually saving money.

Gosh, I have a small dog and small income.
I shop around for insurance .,( it's a pain as you pay the first so much )
Dog licence inexpensive, vaccines do cost a bit ( depends on vet) I do have her done for kennel cough. Am glad as the vaccine saved her life as she picked it up from dogs who had it. But meds sorted her.
Her food,and grooming is main expense and annual vaccines, but it is not that bad.

In the beginning there was a few initial outlays including the cost of her, such as bed ,crate puppypads and the likes.

Her dog food lasts 3 weeks or more and the only weekly expense is a bit of fresh chicken or turkey ( if non left over from dinner)

I suppose it depends on the pet and the size. Vets and grooming charges vary so much.
We tend to buy the dog food many when on offer.

But lots interesting., must do a count and see what we spend.
That said my wee dog wears jumpers in autumn and winter and a coat in the rain .

Keeping a pet is a luxury, like the gym or an expensive hobby that should only be taken on if you can afford it after other outgoings.

We don't have pet insurance as our cats are indoor so I feel like I am subsidising all the outdoor cats who are more like to pick up diseases or get injured. It is very expensive to get a comprehensive policy.

So if there was ever a £2500 bill I'd justify it based on the thousands we've saved not having pet insurance over the years. I'm afraid if there was ever a treatment that cost £9000 it's not something we'd be able to cover, but presumably by the time get bills are costing that much there must be something significantly wrong with the animal.

But I think the fact vet bills get that high partly because pet insurance is quite common these days so vets can charge those kind of prices knowing the insurance will cover it, and that then pushes premiums up.

In your situation OP if you were to get a cat, get a rescue indoor one as the charity will have done vaccinations and there's less risk of illness.

I doubt anyone who thinks dog licences still exist has actually owned a dog in the last 30 years @Cryalot.

@givemesteel I disagree, I have 2 indoor cats who are insured. It costs around £9 per month for both on a lifetime/comprehensive policy. At the current rate over 15 years the total cost is £16,20. Even allowing increases as they age it's still less than £2,500 over the average life expectancy of 2 cats.
I would rather have the insurance in case something happened than have to pay out

My dogs cost me £120 per month food and insurance. Even adding up buying them and all their bits it still costs me a lot less than my children did 😂

Pets are like cars (or houses or many things) it’s all well and good until it goes wrong. My dog doesn’t cost me much month by month, but then hurt himself and that was £300 gone in a split second. Last dog needed an emergency op, nearly £1k gone. I accept that’s part and parcel and put my hand in my pocket. But so many people act like that’s a surprise and set up a go fund me which frankly pisses me off. Don’t have the pet if you can’t afford the risk.
Insurance is better than nothing but that’s not fool proof either.