Welcome a cat is surely a good option if we value the company, affection and unforgettable moments that these felines provide us. However, not everything is a bed of roses, since the responsible ownership of an animal implies an essential economic expense that everyone should be aware of before making this important decision.
For this reason, in this article on our site we want to help you calculate how much it costs to keep a cat, so that without Without a doubt, you will be able to give your furry friend the care it deserves once it is part of your family.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat?
Giving a new home to those abandoned animals without a very promising future is always a very good idea. And it is that, unfortunately, today the abandonment and animal abuse at the hands of heartless people are still very present. It is for this reason that adopting a cat is a way of offering it a second life surrounded by a family that loves it and can provide it with the care it deserves. However, adoption in most cases is not free, since the shelters that take in these animals also need to pay the maintenance costs of all the animals they collect, as well as veterinary care. It is for this reason that, as a guide, the price of adopting a cat through a shelter can range between 50 and 150 €, although it is very difficult to set a price range, since this will depend on many causes such as the age of the cat. You should also know that the cost of adopting a cat through a shelter generally includes the pertinent veterinary examination, the first vaccinations, internal and external deworming, microchipping and sterilization in the case of adults.
Finally, there is also free adoption in case of fostering a cat through individuals, such as friends, relatives or neighbors, who have had a litter of kittens and do not know what to do with them or They have picked up an abandoned pregnant cat. But in this case, it will clearly be necessary to take the furry to the vet and pay the aforementioned costs.
If you don't know whether to adopt a kitten or an adult cat, check out these articles:
- Advantages of adopting a puppy cat
- Advantages of adopting an adult cat
Cat tools and accessories
When calculating how much it costs to keep a cat, it is also important to take into account all the accessories you will need to see all your needs covered.
- Beds and Shelters: cats love the comfort of sleeping in a well sheltered place, it is for this reason that in the There are multiple cave-shaped beds on the market, houses, cushions, mattresses…, and even designer cat beds to decorate your home. This implies that we can find cheap cat beds, from about €15, simpler, and more expensive beds, as well as kennels, that exceed €100.
- Feeders: the price of a simple feeder can be around €2-10, depending on the material (if it is plastic, stainless steel, ceramic…) or the structure (if it is a plate or a hopper). But there are also anti-voracity feeders for those cats that eat too quickly, which cost between €15-20, and automatic feeders with microchip access control for unusual cases (in which there are several animals at home, for example), which cost between €100 and €150. If you opt for a simple feeder, we recommend choosing those made of stainless steel or ceramic and avoiding plastic ones. In this other article we explain why these are not convenient: "Cat bowls - Types and how to choose the best".
- Drinkers and fountains: similar to the previous case, the price of a drinker will range between €2 and €10, depending on the material or design. But there is also the possibility of acquiring a fountain because it provides fresh and moving water to your feline, and can have a minimum price of around €20 and exceed €50.
- Carrier: Acquiring a carrier will be necessary to be able to safely and comfortably move your cat, for example, if you have to carry To veterinary. These usually have a minimum price of around €15, but can reach a higher price, around €80, in the case of backpacks or bags to carry cats in a comforting way, also depending on how sophisticated the design is.
- Sandboxes: You must have at least one sandbox at home to ensure that your feline will relieve itself properly. Generally, in stores you can find uncovered hygienic trays for approximately €10, although you also have the option of purchasing a covered litter box for €15 or even €100 if it is a designer one.
- Cat litter: obviously a cat litter box requires sand and it is not particularly expensive, depending on the amount contained in the bag. Generally, the price tends to be more or less around €1 per kilo, which means, for example, that an 8 kg bag can cost between €7 and €10.
- Scratcher: scratchers are absolutely essential for your cat. They can have very varied prices depending on the structure and size they have, as some scratching posts are limited to being simple posts while others are authentic castles that include shelters and entertaining elements for your animal. This is why a small scratching post can cost approximately €10 to €15, while giant ones (up to 2 meters) can cost €150 or more. Of course, keep in mind that this is a tool that will allow you to stimulate your cat physically and mentally, as well as getting him to develop such primary instincts as scratch marking. For this reason, we recommend opting for one with various heights, even though its price is higher.
- Brush: Although cats are very clean animals who love to groom themselves, some very bushy kittens may need brushing. help them take care of their hair by brushing them often. These usually range from €5 to €20.
- Toys: toys for cats are a very wide world, and can be rods, tunnels, balls, intelligence toys… In addition, It is advisable to acquire several types of toys in order to encourage the interest of your minion as you vary the toy. The price of the simplest toys can be around €1 to €5, but, again, depending on the type of toy and how sophisticated it is, we can find toys for €15 or up to €50 on the market. A good way to save on your cat's maintenance is by making your own toys with recycled materials, like the ones we show in this video:
How much does a cat's food cost?
Getting into the price of cat food can be tricky, because while some quality feed can cost €40 a bag, other very cheap ones can cost €20, that is, the half of the previous price. Which means a cost of between 200 and 300 € per year depending on the size and daily consumption of your animal.
Be that as it may, we must always keep in mind that the fact that a feed is sold at a very low price is not really because we want to do the owners or their cats a favor, rather On the contrary, since the price usually indicates the quality of the ingredients and, therefore, lead to serious long-term he alth problems for your animal if it "feeds" on something that, most of the time, is not even food. We refer to by-products such as "flour" and residual derivatives of the food industry that are not suitable for human consumption and, in the same way, are not suitable for your cat.
In addition to all this, you must take into account the specific needs of your cat when buying a good feed, which will help you You can better indicate your trusted veterinarian. In this sense, do not miss our list of the best natural feed for cats.
On the other hand, if you opt for homemade food, always with the advice of your veterinarian, the price may vary depending on your place of residence, since meat or fish is traded at the same price. Likewise, there are companies and brands that sell frozen or dehydrated homemade cat food preparations, which have been studied to meet the nutritional needs of these animals. This food is totally natural, suitable for human consumption because we are talking about meat, fruit, vegetables, vegetables and fish. Prices can be around €10-12 per kilo.
Veterinary expenses for a cat
A very important part of caring for an animal is making sure it is he althy, which is why it is necessary to take it to the vet for two purposes: prevention and treatment. On the one hand, it is especially important that you make sure to prevent risks and the appearance of diseases, for this the expenses allocated to prevention will be approximately:
- Vacunas: 20-40 €
- Deworming: 10-20 €
- Sterilization and/or castration: €50-90 for males and €100-300 for females
- Microchip: 30-50 €
If you were wondering how much it costs to vaccinate a cat or how much it costs to neuter a cat, here is the answer. Prices may vary from one clinic to another, but, again, the important thing is to guarantee the safety of your feline and choose one that you trust. In many countries, there are also clinics associated with entities that help those without resources to pay for veterinary expenses. Thus, they carry out sterilization campaigns in which this intervention is much cheaper, they offer vaccines, deworming and microchipping and much more. Likewise, there are animal associations that also offer a lot of help.
Regarding the event that your cat suffers from any illness and/or physical injury, the treatment will have a very variable price depending on the severity and type of intervention required, in addition to the subsequent medication, so curing or alleviating a cat's pain could cost between €100 and €500, depending on many factors. In addition, if the animal's condition is unfortunately considered irremediable and euthanasia is considered, the price ranges around €40-60 depending on the clinic.
All these factors are what you should take into account when calculating how much it costs to keep a baby or adult cat and decide whether you can afford them or not. However, keep in mind that many of them are not paid for at the same time and the fact of offering an animal a second chance is so satisfying that it will seem priceless.
