Unveiling the True Expenses Involved in Cat Ownership
Cat ownership can be a rewarding experience, but it's important to consider the costs involved before bringing a feline friend into your home. Here's a breakdown of the typical expenses you might encounter.
Regular Expenses
The average monthly cost for essentials like food, treats, and insurance is approximately as follows:
- Food: $20–$40
- Treats: $10–$15
- Cat litter: $15–$25
- Routine vet preventive care savings: $20–$30
- Pet insurance: $10–$100+ per month (depending on coverage)
Unexpected Expenses and Emergency Fund
Emergency veterinary visits and treatments can be very costly, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per incident. To cater for these unpredictable expenses, many owners are advised to budget or save monthly towards an emergency fund, commonly recommended at $500–$1,000 annually, which averages about $40–$85 per month.
Pet Sitter or Boarding Fees
If you travel or need care for your cat, pet sitting can cost about $18–$28 per visit, while boarding or kenneling can be around $25 per day. Allocating approximately $20–$40 per month on average for pet sitting/boarding is reasonable.
Initial Costs
The initial costs for a cat can include items such as a carrier, collar, bed, cat tree or scratching post, food bowls, water bowls or fountains, grooming kit, toys, microchipping, neutering or spaying, vaccinations, and a litter box.
Additional Considerations
- If you struggle with cat behavioral issues, like aggression, anxiety, or litter box problems, you might have to pay for a specialist to help.
- Unprepared owners can face serious welfare implications for their cat, including untreated ailments, unwanted pregnancies, and household flea infestations.
- The cost of owning a cat can range from $33 to $290 per month, depending on the level of care and expenses.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance typically costs between $10-$20 per month for basic coverage, $25-$35 for average coverage, and $40-$70 for premium coverage.
Adoption Fees
Getting a cat from a rescue center can be free or have a small adoption fee.
Summary Table
| Expense Type | Typical Monthly Cost Range (USD) | |-----------------------|-------------------------------------| | Food | $20–$40 | | Treats | $10–$15 | | Cat litter | $15–$25 | | Routine preventive care| $20–$30 | | Pet insurance | $10–$100+ (varies by plan) | | Emergency fund (unexpected vet) | $40–$85 (saving monthly) | | Pet sitter/boarding | $20–$40 (average if occasional use) |
This framework provides a realistic budgeting framework accounting for regular and unpredictable expenses in cat ownership. Dr Rebecca MacMillan advises potential cat owners to work out a budget and determine whether they can afford all the costs involved before bringing home a new cat. Many vets offer pet health care plans to help owners budget for routine veterinary care and make savings.
[1] ASPCA. (2021). Pet Cost Helper. Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-costs
[2] PetMD. (2021). Cost of Owning a Cat. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/cost-owning-cat
[3] RSPCA. (2021). Cost of Owning a Cat. Retrieved from https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/costsofwelldesignedcatcare
[4] VCA Hospitals. (2021). Cat Care Costs. Retrieved from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/cat-care-costs
[5] Vetstreet. (2021). How Much Does It Cost to Own a Cat? Retrieved from https://www.vetstreet.com/our-policy/pet-insurance/how-much-does-it-cost-to-own-a-cat
- Cat ownership can provide a rewarding experience, but it is crucial to budget for essential costs like food, treats, cat litter, routine veterinary care, pet insurance, and an emergency fund.
- An emergency fund helps cover unexpected veterinary visits and treatments, with recommendations suggesting savings of $500 to $1,000 annually, or an average of $40 to $85 per month.
- Pet sitters or boarding facilities can cost around $18 to $28 per visit, $25 per day, or an average of $20 to $40 per month if used occasionally.
- Initial costs for a cat may include items like a carrier, collar, bed, cat tree or scratching post, food and water bowls, grooming kit, toys, microchipping, neutering or spaying, vaccinations, and a litter box.
- Owners dealing with behavioral issues like aggression, anxiety, or litter box problems might need to pay for a specialist's help.
- If unprepared, cat owners can face serious welfare implications, such as untreated ailments, unwanted pregnancies, and household flea infestations.
- The cost of owning a cat can range from $33 to $290 per month, depending on the level of care and expenses.
- Pet insurance typically costs between $10 to $20 per month for basic coverage, $25 to $35 for average coverage, and $40 to $70 for premium coverage.
- Adopting a cat from a rescue center can be cost-effective, with free or small adoption fees sometimes being offered.
