Pets

How Much Does a Cat Cost

Is Your Pet a Cat?

Cats are fun, loving, and cuddly creatures that make great pets for families and individuals. There are many breeds of cats available from breeders at high costs but there are also many cats that can be adopted for next to nothing. Cats come in many color combinations such as white, black, orange, brown, calico, and even hairless! A lot of their personality has to do with their upbringing as this can make them very cuddly or skittish. Cats are fairly simple to take care of as their main needs are food, water, and toys, but there are also many additional costs that come hand in hand with owning a cat that you may not have thought of.

Factors of Cost

The first cost you will have when owning a cat is the actual purchase of the cat. Believe it or not, many people give away kittens for free, especially in the spring time when kittens are in abundance. If you cannot find one for free or would rather adopt, the cost of a kitten from a shelter or a pet store typically ranges from between $50 and $100. These cats will come vaccinated and dewormed to assure their health before adoption. Specialty breeds such as Savannah cats will be much pricier, in the $2,000 to $23,000 range. Himalayan cats are slightly cheaper, ranging from $300 to $1,200 for a kitten.

After the cost of the initial kitten, there will be some small veterinarian bills. If you got your cat from an unreliable source, the first thing you should do after you bring your new friend home is take him for a first visit to the vet. Here you cat will have a general check-up, get dewormed, as well as get a rabies shot and it’s vaccinations.

• Deworming can cost as little as $9 up to as high as $180 depending on the method of deworming as well as the clinic you go to. There are many low cost clinics who can also deworm cats for free.
• Rabies shots are not necessary but they are highly advised at the low price of $5 to $20. For such a low cost, there really is no reason not to get it as a precaution.
• Vaccinations at the first visit could be as high as $120. After the first year, vaccinations for your feline friend should be less expensive to maintain at only around $30 to $50.

Additional Fees

Any time you take your cat to the vet for a check-up or vaccinations, there will be a fee besides the cost of medications. This fee usually runs anywhere between $25 and $100 depending on where you’re located and the clinic.

There are also maintenance costs for owning a cat such as grooming and boarding if necessary along with the obvious food costs. A 16 pound bag of food is usually around $10-$15. Grooming is not always necessary for cats due to the fact that most groom themselves, but depending on the type of fur your cat has, it can range from $50 up to $100. Lastly, cat declawing is a one-time fee that some owners choose and others don’t. Depending on the vet and your location, the price can be anywhere from $40 up to $400.

Ways to Save

Adopting a cat is the best way to save some money along with saving a life. If it weren’t for adoptive parents, kittens would sit in shelters their entire life and never be able to experience what it’s like to have a family. When you adopt a cat, you are also saving yourself the cost of the initial vaccinations, rabies shot, deworming, and the visit costs which would have cost well over $200.