How much does a cat costs per month? Or better yet, how much should it cost? You might think you’re looking at a cute picture of Fluffball when in fact your staring at $10,000! Cat ownership is debatablely more expensive than you think. This can also be true if you own any type of pet.
If you’re interested in adopting a cat, you’ve probably wondered how much is it going to cost me per month. This guide will provide a breakdown of the costs you’ll face with taking care of your new cat.
How much does a cat cost per month
I was born into a cat family. Both of my parents are rampant cat-lovers and have spent their entire lives caring for various creatures with pointy ears, tails that stick straight up in the air, and insatiable appetites. From a young age, I was raised to be careful around cats (they don’t like being hugged, apparently), respect their need for personal space (cats don’t like to be petted too long or too vigorously), and take responsibility for them (cleaning up messes is part of the fun). While I fully respect these feline quirks, all of this training didn’t prepare me for what life is really like when you become a cat owner. Sure, you can learn some things from books and on YouTube videos, but nothing prepares you for the true experience. Now that I’ve had a few cats under my belt as an adult, though, I feel pretty confident in saying that owning a cat isn’t just about cute kitten photos on Instagram—it’s actually a financial commitment with lots of implications for your home, budgeting strategy and lifestyle. A kitten may look adorable in the short term but what happens when that kitten grows up?
When you’re thinking about owning a cat, don’t forget to factor in the cost per month.
Owning a cat is not cheap. There are the costs of food, litter and vet visits, but there are also hidden costs that you may not consider at first. Your cat will need toys, grooming services and play time outside of their cage. The cost per month for these items can add up quickly, so it’s important to plan for each expense.
When figuring out how much owning a cat will cost each month, it’s important to consider all of these expenses in your budgeting process.
Vets’ visits can be expensive, but you should be able to budget accordingly.
Cats are generally healthy animals and don’t require much in the way of medical care, but it’s important to budget for vet visits. Even if you have an otherwise healthy kitten, he or she will need a visit to the vet within a few weeks of arrival. Vaccinations are recommended at eight weeks old, then again at 12 weeks and 16 weeks old. The cost of these visits can add up quickly, so it’s important to be prepared.
You may also want to consider pet insurance if you’re planning on getting your cat spayed or neutered before they reach full maturity (around six months) or plan on having them live indoors exclusively (as outdoor cats tend not to live as long). The average annual cost is $115 per cat
It’s important to take your new kitten for a visit to the vet right away.
It’s important to take your new kitten for a visit to the vet right away. Your vet will perform a physical exam, make sure that your cat is healthy and clean, test for parasites, and test for feline leukemia (a viral disease). The vet may also want to test your cat for feline AIDS or immunodeficiency virus as well.
In addition to getting its vaccinations at this appointment, it’s helpful if you can bring along any personal information about where the kitten came from so that they can make sure it doesn’t have any diseases or parasites that could affect other animals in your house. It’s also important that you ask whether there are any other vaccinations or tests needed before bringing home this new member of the family!
Kittens need to have their vaccines done in a certain order and at certain times.
Your kitten will need to be vaccinated against a number of diseases, including distemper, hepatitis, and feline leukemia. You should also make sure that your kitten is vaccinated against rabies.
The reason for this is that there are two different types of vaccines for these diseases: modified live (ML) and killed (K). The ML vaccines are given as part of the core vaccine series but not repeated at later dates; they need to be boosted every 1-2 years with a booster shot. On the other hand, K vaccines must be given yearly otherwise they become ineffective after four weeks.
Your cat will also need vaccinations yearly.
Your cat will also need vaccinations yearly. Vaccinations are important, as they protect your cat from disease and keep it healthy. They’re required by law in many countries and states; however, they aren’t expensive—usually under $20 per shot.
You should give your cat its first vaccination at around 8 weeks old; this is especially important if you got your kitten from a shelter or pet store that didn’t vaccinate the animal before bringing it home to you. After that initial vaccine, your veterinarian will recommend giving annual boosters for their protection against rabies, feline leukemia virus (FeLV), calicivirus (a common upper respiratory infection), panleukopenia virus (another common upper respiratory infection), and corona virus (a less serious but still very unpleasant intestinal infection).
It’s also important to note that there are different types of vaccines available for these illnesses, so consult with your vet about which type would be best for your specific situation.
Spaying or neutering your cat is probably going to be one of the biggest expenses up front.
Spaying or neutering your cat is probably going to be one of the biggest expenses up front. A lot of people don’t realize this, but spaying and neutering are surgical procedures that cost money. If you’re not sure whether or not your cat needs them yet, ask your vet about it! There are lots of benefits from spaying or neutering cats (like health benefits), but here are some other reasons that might convince you:
- Behavioural reasons—spayed and neutered cats tend to be calmer than their intact counterparts.
- Population control—if there were no spays/neuters, there would be too many kittens in the world! It’s important that they’re all taken care of properly before they’re allowed out into the wild 🙂
But this expense is minor compared with what it would cost if your cat had kittens unexpectedly!
When it comes to feline expenses, the best way to keep them down is to spay or neuter your cat. You can do this as soon as they reach six months of age, but it’s best if you wait until they are at least one year old. Since cats can have up to three litters per year, spaying or neutering will prevent unwanted kittens from entering your life. Spaying a female cat costs around $200-$300; neutering a male cat is slightly less expensive at $175-$250. But this expense is minor compared with what it would cost if your cat had kittens unexpectedly!
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of finding homes for all those kittens, then you will have other costs: food and litter for each kitty that needs feeding; veterinary visits for any sickly kittens; vaccinations (which cost about $50); even treats like toys and scratching posts! These expenses can add up quickly!
It’s also important for health reasons.
Spaying and neutering are important for many reasons, including health. It’s important to remember that cats are not like dogs-they don’t need to be walked or taken on long runs. While you might be tempted to get a cat for the same reasons you would get a dog, they’re very different animals and require different care. Cats are not naturally territorial with each other nor do they need the same amount of exercise as dogs do.
Spaying or neutering your cat will help prevent diseases such as cancer, feline leukemia and diabetes mellitus in both sexes. In males it also prevents testicular cancer (commonly known as “testicular cancer”) which is one of the most common cancers found in male cats over the age of ten years old; it can affect both unneutered male cats and female cats who have not been spayed yet but are at risk if they remain intact because of their breeding capabilities despite being used commercially instead of being kept exclusively by private owners like yourself who only want what’s best
Some cats will live long, healthy lives without ever having a major health problem, and their owners only end up paying for routine visits.
Some cats will live long, healthy lives without ever having a major health problem, and their owners only end up paying for routine visits. For these cats (and their owners), the costs associated with owning a cat are much lower than they’d be if the cat had chronic health issues.
However, there are others whose pets have chronic diseases that require frequent visits to the vet. These cats may need additional treatments beyond what’s covered by insurance or routine care – and those costs can add up quickly!
It’s important to stay current on your pet’s parasite control medication and flea treatments.
It’s important to stay current on your pet’s parasite control medication and flea treatments. Parasites and fleas are a serious problem for cats, but they’re also an expensive one: the average monthly cost of deworming a cat is $30 per month, while the average monthly cost of flea treatments ranges from $15-$40 depending on the type used.
Parasite treatments are not a one-time cost either; you’ll need to keep your cat on them until she dies or otherwise stops being your responsibility.
Your cat requires some basic costs per month that you should factor into your budget.
Your cat requires some basic costs per month that you should factor into your budget.
- Food – Your cat will need food to meet its nutritional needs, so make sure you’ve got enough in your budget to cover this expense. If you’re feeding a brand name pet food, it can be pretty expensive; consider buying a store brand or even making your own cat food instead of purchasing pre-made cans or bags.
- Litter – Unless you want to provide outdoor litter boxes for your cat, you’ll need some type of litter box and litter for it to do its business in. You may also want the occasional toy or treat for your feline friend as well!
- Vet visits – Cats often require veterinary care throughout their lives because they’re prone to various health problems like ear infections, arthritis and diabetes just like humans are likely more likely than other pets (dogs) if left alone without proper care taken on behalf of owners such as yourself regarding these issues – so make sure there’s always enough money available within each monthly paycheck if needed when faced with an unexpected medical emergency requiring immediate attention at best case scenario scenario worst case scenario scenario situations…
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a companion to keep you company in your old age, a dog will most certainly do the job better than any cat – even if it does cost more.