How much does your cat cost you per month?

[ATownCalledGallus]

And what does that all cover? Trying to budget sensibly here ...

Can't believe all the money people are paying for insurance and vets bills! I don't have cat at the moment, but have had several in the past. Much as I loved them, I wouldn't dream of paying for an MRI or expensive medical treatment for an animal. If they require treatment that's going to cost enough to justify having insurance I'd think it kinder to euthanase them.

Wow, didn’t know cats cost so much. I thought it was food, and possibly insurance, and that’s it.

Sunshine49 In regards to food, we feed him 'Josera' cat food biscuits, as that's what we were told he liked and to be fair, he's a long haired Persian but never gets hairballs and self regulates his own biscuits.

In regards to wet food - Applaws / Cannagan are the two main ones - However he's exceptionally fussy... Loves tuna and seaweed / sea bass / anchovy, but won't touch 'just tuna'... We tend to buy it from Zooplus so it's slightly cheaper than if we bought individual packets, but it's still really quite pricey.

He's 3 in March, so he's expensive for a young cat - However we've claimed once on insurance (which they paid out) and we're going to have to claim again very soon as it looks like he needs his nose cavities widening :( So whilst he is expensive, we are 'Double income, no kids' at the moment and therefore want to make sure we've done everything we can for him :)

If they require treatment that's going to cost enough to justify having insurance I'd think it kinder to euthanase them

Really? You'd just put your pet to sleep?

Mine had a blocked urethra. Easily treatable but required a drip and several overnight stays at the vet. It cost just over £1000 all-in. He's absolutely fine now and has an excellent quality of life. There would have been absolutely no need to put him to sleep

Lots of vets now offer a scheme where you pay one lump sum per month and that covers you for all of the above. That's what I do for mine. I think it costs me about £12 per month but it's great because that includes insurance, flea and worming treatments, vaccinations etc. It also includes two check ups annually.

It's great because it's a flat fee and covers everything necessary. I received an auto email a week ago telling me that he's due a booster shot. He's been booked straight in - won't be charged a consultation fee or medicine fee. All covered. Perfect.

My dog is on the scheme too and it's even better value for him because they clip his claws and sort out his glands (she says delicately) too, as part of the service. Ask your vet if they do this.

@LynetteScavo
Could you tell me what insurance company you use that's the same as PetPlan's cover please?

I haven't got access to the paperwork now re insurance....I think it's something like Pet Insurance.

I'm happy to have any difference pointed out to me re the insurance....I took it out a while ago and have never had the need to claim so can't say how efficient they are at processing claims.

petplan insurance £17 p month
Worming and flea £13 p month (also inc booster injections and 2 yearly check up) via vets
Food £40 -50 p month- he’s a fusspot and will only eat a certain brand that I can only get at pets at home, it’s very high meat content and I’m happy to pay more for him to have decent food

Thanks, I will look into it.

Mine's one that lasts for the life-time, so any new illnesses get covered for life, rather than just for the first year. That's a pretty important distinction. I also got the middle level of cover (£7000/year) as that's what my vet friends recommended to me privately.

Yep, I've also got lifetime cover...there was a choice I think .

About £270 per month for 3 cats

Forgot to add, that covers insurance, monthly plan with the vet for flea treatments etc and food.

£5 for insurance
£10 for health plan (Inc boosters, flea and worming)
£25 on litter
£30 food.
So around £70 per month.
She's a young indoor cat who refuses to go to litter box unless it's cleaned v v often.

If they require treatment that's going to cost enough to justify having insurance I'd think it kinder to euthanase them.

Wow. We've claimed £5500 for Harry over the last two years. I wouldn't dream of euthanising him for any of the illnesses and injuries he's had as it certainly wasn't in his best interests. He has whatever treatment he needs.

I wouldn't dream of paying £5500 for medical treatment for an animal. It's bonkers.

That’s your opinion and one I completely disagree with. I think it’s disgusting to treat animals as though they are something that can be disposed of just because they are poorly.

Are you saying I should have had him put to sleep when he broke his jaw? Nothing wrong with him apart from that and he’s made an almost full recovery. Shouldn’t he have had a dental? Should I have not bothered treating his kidney disease?

Anyway, I personally haven’t paid out £5500, the insurance has covered most of it and that’s why I have it.

I certainly wouldn't put a cat through treatment that was long and protracted and took anything away from their quality of life. I have had previous cats pts in such a situation. But this was fixable. Cat home tonight on cage rest. She's happy to be home. Vets deal with insurance company direct

I agree @Pardalis. The only thing that comes into it for us is if it’s in Harry’s best interests, anything fixable or easily treatable is sorted, it’s part of being a pet owner. His first operation on his jaw was nearly £2k and we didn’t know if the insurance would pay but I wasn’t having him put to sleep for something that could be fixed.

Your girl is gorgeous! What happened to her? I hope she’s feeling better soon.

I wouldn't dream of paying £5500 for medical treatment for an animal. It's bonkers.

If they were insured you wouldn't have to

Personally I think it's bonkers to get a pet and then have it PTS because you're not organised enough to get insurance for it. I think it's cruel to put an innocent creature to sleep when they could easily make a full recovery and go on to live a perfectly good life after basic treatment.

As I said, its been quite a while since I had a cat, but certainly in the past I've never paid more than £150 to a vet. I suspect if basic treatment is now costing £1000's its because the increasing numbers of petowners taking out insurance is inflating vet's bills. I wouldn't take out insurance for a pet, not because I'm not organised, but because I wouldn't be prepared to spend that much money on an animal.

You seem to be missing the point of insurance. I pay my monthly premium so when something happens the insurance will pay out. I have had more from the insurance company than I’ve ever paid in (although I’d obviously rather he hadn’t been ill and injured).

Don’t forget medicine for animals has improved a lot. A few years ago my cat’s kidney disease would have just got worse but now he’s being treated and has improved.

Are you saying you wouldn’t have an animal x rayed if they hurt a leg and you’d just have the poor thing put to sleep? Never mind, easy come easy go.

I’m glad you don’t have cats and I hope you don’t decide to get one as God help the poor thing if it was ill or injured.

Pardalis - Kitty says 'It wasn't me, I didn't done it, can I come out now?'.

She's definitely not liking the cage rest that much!!! Yep - looks like she's in jail. I've allowed her a few short trips outside to hop around.

She was hit by a car. Fortunately not too badly but had a pelvis injury. So lovely to have her home. She's a real sweetie

Poor little baby. I hope that she recovers fast. It must have been an awful time for all of you . [considers lobbying MNHQ for a Dreamies emoticon].

For 2

£24 on for VetPlan (covers all flea/worm treatments, jags, 6mthly check up, 10% discount on any meds, 4x nail clippings annually, plus a couple other things)

£10-14ish on Iams dry food depending on if it's on offer or not

£15ish on wet food (we get 3 multipacks from Farmfoods for £22 every 6wks or so)

We spent £60 for 1 in Feb for urine infection so antibiotics/pain med and consult then £70 last week for the other who was bitten by another cat and had to get a gross lump lanced/antibiotics/pain meds and consult.