Running costs of a cat?

[TheHouseofMirth]

DH is coming round to the idea of a family cat and if we go ahead we'll be looking at getting a year old cat from a shelter so we don't have to deal with training and more importantly we'll be able to get a cat that's likely to be happy around small children.

But money is an issue for us so we need to make sure we can afford it on an ongoing basis. Can anyone give me an idea of inital costs and what we'd be looking at monthly and yearly in terms of feeding, defleaing, worming, vets bill and insurance and anything else I may have overlooked?

hi i have 2 puddy cats who came from the cats protection league, they are 14 years old now and are both still going strong!!!

I don't have them insured but i'm sure you can insured them for about £6 per month. Their injections cost me about £80 a year, i feed them on dried food only (whiskers lamb)a large box cost £2 (at asda) and a box usually lasts me 2 weeks, my female cat is allergic to chicken!!!!!

I have had their teeth cleaned and that cost me about £80 each, only had this done twice though, do not like them being under anaesthetic too often.

Thereis a really good website called Bestpets Pharmacy you can get flea and worming tablets there alot cheaper than the vets.

Catteries charge about £63.00 per week for boarding.

I have a magnetic catflap in the back door, the cats have a magnet on their collars so they are the only cats who can come in!!!!

I love my cats and wouldn't be without them now they are always there to give me a nudge and a love and they both insist on sitting on my shoulders and purrrring very loudly in my ears lol!!!!

Do you have a preference of male or female? I have one of each and to be honest the female is a little diva and only likes affection on her terms lol, and the tomcat is so affectionate and would love you to death!!!!

Good luck with your new pet hope this helps with your decision xx

An absolute must is insurance. I had a cat that unfortunately got cancer on his lymph nodes, and at the time when we had to put him to sleep, the running vet bill was £2000.

I always have pet insurance now, and the cat I have at the moment, has been diagnosed with auto-immune anemia. This is very rare in cats (just my luck!) and costs £50 every other month for blood tests and medication. There is no way I could afford it with out insurance. Watch the small print though, as you will find most will not cover dental, which shouldn't be a problem until the cat is older.

Insurance is about £7pm with More Than. It may be less with a kitten, but my cat has an ongoing condition hence its a little more.

Food wise, I feed my cat with Sainsbury's perfectly meaty/fishy and Encore dry mix. This works out to be around £20 - £25pm on food. I also give him coley and roast chicken a couple of times a week just to break up the boredom of the same food day in day out but I am just a big softy!

Flea/worming is around £25 (i think) and you will need that every three months

Cat litter is much of a muchness tbh. You can spend a couple of quid, or several, depending on how much you can cope with the smell! (dont use paper based tho, they are crap!)

Spaying/neutering varies depending on your vet. You can get it done for nothing or at a reduced price if you meet the criteria.

I would never be without my cats. I have had them since I was 8, and I am now 36! Toms seem to be more affectionate. Females can be a little offish in my experience, but she was lovely all the same. (she disappeared one night never to be seen .. I was devastated)

Good luck in your search

Try the supermarket insurers, Argos start at about 3 a month and the highest level is cheaper then petplan.
Mine will only eat fish flavoured food and is now on IAMS so that is about 2 a week.
Litter is 6 a month.
Fleaing is 12 for 6 months worth. Luckily she has never had fleas even when we don't flea regularly.

Initial costs
Her snug cat bed was 5 from an outlet store instead of 15.
Litter trays need replacing as the wee can erode the bottom. Get a big one as they make less mess around it.about £7 but worth it.
Food trays are cheap but you can pay for a posh steel bowl.
Cat can cost from 15 from a local ad to 100 for a posh breed. Some shelters still charge upto 50 but will often have spayed first or will run a voucher scheme.

mine dont cost anything when they run. it's when they eat that they start causing a problem

ok seriously though all above posts have given good advice.