Cat Costs?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Be gentle with me... :)

DP and I are thinking about getting 1 or 2 cats (lots of rescue cats seem to come in pairs). We are trying to figure out if we can afford them, I have knocked up a quick spreadsheet using premium bits as worst case scenarios - it'd be great if someone who knows could have a look and critique?

INITIAL COST - £350ish
Adoption fees £80, Beds £20, Scratchpost tree £35, Grooming £10, Toys £10, Microchip cat flap £70, Collars £10, Food balls £10, crates £30

MONTHLY COST - £270ish - ouch!
PAy monthly vet plan for vaccs etc £60, Insurance £42 (based on average, haven't got quotes yet), Cat litter £40, Food £60, Boarding £27

Do those figures look at all realistic - we want to be very sure we can afford these cats (going by this we cant ) - is there anything major we've missed?

Made me think of this

boyfriend is allergic to new kitten so can't keep him :( any takers?
He's ginger & named Tom. Friendly. Comes when called. 28yrs-old & works in IT.

Mother

ohidoliketobe you can take the cat food back.& exchange it without a receipt. Ive done this in Pets at home & Tesco.

I've taken food back because he won't eat it.

I don't think cats need beds but they love the security of some where high, could be a shelf though rather than an expensive cat tree.

You are definitely over-estimating.

I used to supplement fussy cat's diet with cheapo tinned tuna, which was less expensive than his favorite Sheba and gave him a lovely coat. Best advice is to start them on affordable food!

And I cured DH's cat allergy by years of prolonged exposure. (Buy an air purifier if you're feeling generous!)

(Forgot to say - make sure they get taurine if you do that, which is in normal dry and wet cat food).

Oh of course I can take it back, but then the furry little bastard has won hasn't he!? He's playing mind games with me, who's going to be the first to crack? Not me, no way. Offered 3 pouches a day and whatever's uneaten is binned before the next pouch is put in his bowl. I will not crack.

But.... I will worry obsessively and give him tuna / chicken / ham until he decides to eat

Today his highness has decided he WILL eat the pouches I have bulk bought.

A cat booster costs about £40 so don't pay £100 for totally unnecessary check ups or claw clipping.
Any cat costs as much as you're willing to pay. You could do it for £5 a week if using the cheapest food, no insurance, vaccinations or flea prevention. That' s how my neighbour manages to keep 5 cats. No boarding costs either as I feed them while they're away.

Your neighbour sounds irresponsible orangeyellowgreen.