Selecting a cat - Costs of Cat Ownership

A cat is one of the lowest priced pets to own, considerably less costly than having even a small dog around the house. Typically cats eat much less than dogs, tend to have far less health problems, and have less additional expenses than those that dog owners may face. That doesn't mean that there aren't deluxe items for cats, but most owners don't need to go to those extremes to keep their cats happy.

Depending on the type of cat or kitten that you choose the actual cost of the animal can range from a free kitten or cat up to a purebred that may cost several hundred pounds. When calculating the amount of money that you wish to spend on a cat it is important to understand that unless you plan to show or breed the cat an identical looking mixed breed kitten could probably be found for virtually any purebred cat at a mere fraction of the cost of a purebred. Mixed breed cats should be spayed or neutered which will add to their cost, but also will prevent many different health issues from arising and will also eliminate most of the hormonally driven behaviour that an intact male or female cat will exhibit.

In addition to the cost of the kitten most owners will need to invest in some basic supplies for their cat. They will need to have a good quality stainless steel, ceramic or plastic food and water dish, which can usually be purchased for less than £10 for the set. It is important to get heavy dishes that cannot be overturned by hungry kittens as well as dishes that have an anti-tip and skid bottom. Some cat lovers get designer dishes with their cat's name on the dish or specially made dishes that match the décor in the home.

Some owners also choose to by one of the many styles of pet fountains that are ideal for providing fresh, filtered water to the cats on a continuous basis. These fountains are relatively inexpensive, starting at around £30 for a small model. In addition there are free access feeders that regulate the amount of food that is accessible by the cats per day. Unless the cat has a weight problem or is a breed that is prone to putting on weight most cats do very well with free access to dry food or kibble. More information on feeding cats will be found in the Nutrition and Feeding section under "Food Types".

Besides dishes most cats also have their own bed, pillow or sleeping area. Typically a soft, formed cat bed/pillow will cost under £20 and is washable in a home washing machine. Highly stylised and custom designed raised cat beds with moulded sides or head and foot rails can be more expensive, often selling for starting prices of £60. These true cat beds are for those felines that have to have the best. Most cats will still find a favourite spot to sleep in the house, often on a window ledge, the end of the bed or on your favourite pillow in the living room.

Cats will also require a variety of toys to keep them entertained. Soft bouncy balls, stuffed mice, catnip toys and other fabric and plastic toys will keep cats busy both when owners are home and when they are away. Typically these toys will be about £1 to £3, depending on the size and type of the toy. Most cats love balls and balls with bells or other noise makers inside of them are usually a popular item for cats and kittens alike.

In addition to the cost of supplies for cats and kittens there will also be food costs. Typically most cats will eat approximately £8 to £10 per month in food if the owners choose to feed using dry kibble. If the owners use canned or pouch types of cat food the cost will be slightly higher. Some cats may also require individualised diets for weight loss or gain or if they are pregnant or nursing. These cats will require slightly more food during these periods of time so the cost may change accordingly.

If the cats are to be kept indoors they will require clean kitty litter and a litter box. In addition a scoop for removing waste material from the box is an easy way to complete the litter box clean up. The newer clumping litter is ideal to trap waste and allow multiple uses of the litter as only the litter in the clumps will need to be discarded. Most of this litter also has deodorising properties which prevents the strong cat odour that used to be associated with indoor litter boxes. An alternative to the clumping litter is wood-based litter that is flushable so it is ideal for easy disposal of soiled litter. Typically all the litter box supplies will cost less than £20, which is a one time cost as these items will almost never need to be replaced. Litter generally costs about £5 to £7 per month for one cat and one litter box. Owners with multiple cats will have a higher monthly cost for the litter, plus they may also wish to consider having more than one litter box for the cats.

There are wonderful play centres or cat condos available for your cat or cats. These multilevel, highly interesting structures provide spaces to hide and sleep as well as scratching posts, hanging toys and even ladders and multi-level platforms for cats to run and jump to and through. Cats will use these centres as both bed areas as well as entertainment areas, often preventing cats from scratching on furniture or climbing up the back of chairs and chesterfields and damaging fabric. A deluxe cat condo or cat play area can range in price from £30 to more than £80, depending on the size and items that are included in the centre. While these are certainly not a required supply for cats they can be very entertaining and an ideal way to keep your cat active and exercising even if they are strictly an inside cat.

Cat collars, leashes and even electronic fencing to keep cats within a certain area of the garden can be purchased. These items can be easily used with most cats but do require that the owners work with the cats until they understand how to walk on the lead or the restrictions of the invisible electronic fence area in the yard. Cat kennels or outdoor cages may also be a great way to allow your cat some freedom outdoors while not having to worry that they may get out of the garden. These items will range in price based on the size and materials they are made of. A portable and collapsible cat cage, similar to a covered playpen will average about £35, whereas a permanent outdoor enclosed area may cost considerable more to build but can be highly customised for the cat.

If you travel or holiday throughout the year and wish to leave your cat at a boarding facility or cattery most locations charge approximately £6 per day, with some facilities charging extra for additional services. There are also pet sitters that will mind your cat within your own home, coming by every day to feed, water and spend time with the cat in the comfort of his or her own home. This is often an ideal situation for nervous or timid cats that may become stressed if they are moved to a new location while you are away.

Cats, being much smaller than most dogs, generally have fewer health related costs provided that owners keep regularly scheduled veterinarian appointments and have the cats vaccinated according to the prescribed vaccination schedule recommended by the vet. After the kitten vaccination routine most cats will average about £25 per year in vaccinations and an annual check-up by the vet.

Spaying and neutering is recommended for all but purebred breeding stock, and this process is usually included if you obtain or adopt a rehomed cat from a shelter or rescue. Vets will usually charge a reduced price, especially if the owner has a voucher or qualifies for a special program. These programs can reduce the cost of spaying or neutering to under £30 per animal. Full price spay and neutering will average approximately £65 with spaying being slightly more expensive than neutering.

In addition the cat should be microchipped, which will be a one time fee of £20 will register your cat with PetLog for life, including any changes required to personal information. More on microchipping can be found in the article on "Identification".

The flea medication that is recommended for cats is usually sold in packages of three or four pre-measured liquid pipettes that are simply snapped and applied to the skin on the back of the neck. Cat owners can easily complete this at home, and a three or four month supply will average about £11 or just over £3 per month. Worming will only need to be completed as needed, and if the cats are strictly house cats this will only be a few times a year. Worming supplies from the vet are the most effective and will be only a few pounds per treatment.

Of course there are also additional conditions and diseases that may develop that may be much more costly to treat or manage. It is always advisable to get pet insurance to help with these unforeseen expenses and prevent you from being unable to treat your pet in the event of an accident or serious illness.

Pet insurance for a normally healthy cat is approximately £100 per year, although some cats may be slightly higher and some schemes may offer reduced rates based on the age of the cat when the policy is started. Prices will vary in cost per year as the amount of coverage for vet fees, third party liability, boarding fees and recovery fees for lost or stolen cats. As the amount of insurance or benefits increase the average cost of the policy per year or per month will increase.

The age of the cat or kitten as well as they type or breed of cat or kitten will also affect the cost of the insurance policy. The location in which you live can dramatically change the cost of the insurance policies with larger cities and areas generally having a higher insurance rate than smaller communities and areas.

Pet insurance is a product that cat owners should consider getting. Not only does it provide assistance with costly vet bills if your pet should be hurt or become ill, but most insurance policies also help with costs to locate or find lost or stolen cats. This can be very important, especially with intact male and female cats that are show quality and may be very difficulty to replace. Some policies also offer a death benefit and although this is a difficult discussion it is important for owners to consider the costs of replacing a championship cat should it pass away due to accident or illness.

Many cats every year have to be put down because the owners are unable to pay the high costs of vet bills needed to treat the animals. If the owners had pet insurance, which can cost as little as £5 per month, there would be no need to make this extremely difficult decision. In addition many insurance policies offer additional options that include insuring your pet when they are being boarded or even protecting you from any issues with third party liability with regards to your cat.

Information on cat pet insurance can be located on the internet and there are many sites that offer easy side by side comparison of the various policies. If you are unsure of what policy will best suit your needs consider talking to the breeder of the kitten or asking your vet or local cat fanciers group. These individuals are usually very willing to provide guidance and assistance in making sure that your cat will be well cared for should the need arise.