Content
- How much does it cost to adopt a cat?
- Cat Utensils and Accessories
- How much does a cat's food cost?
- A cat's veterinary expenses
Welcoming a cat is certainly a good option if we value the company, affection and unforgettable moments that these cats provide us. However, not everything is a bed of roses, as the responsible ownership of an animal involves an essential economic expense that everyone should know before making this important decision.
For this reason, in this article by PeritoAnimal, we want to help you calculate how much does it cost to keep a cat, so that, without a doubt, you can give your furry friend the care he deserves once he is part of your family.
How much does it cost to adopt a cat?
Giving helpless animals without a bright future a new home is always a good idea. Unfortunately, to this day, abandonment and animal abuse at the hands of soulless people is still very present. That's why adopting a cat is a way to offer a second life surrounded by a family that loves it and can provide the care it deserves. However, adoption in some cases is not free, as the refuges that welcome these animals also need to pay maintenance costs of all animals they collect, as well as veterinary care. It is for this reason that, indicatively, the price of adopting a cat through a protector can fluctuate between 300 and 900 reais, although it is very difficult to fix a price range, as 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 refuge includes the relevant veterinary review, first vaccinations, internal and external deworming, microchipping and sterilization if they are adults.
Finally, there is also free adoption in the case of taking a cat through private individuals, such as friends, relatives or neighbors, who have had a litter of kittens and do not know what to do with them or who 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 expenses.
If you are unsure whether to adopt a kitten kitten or an adult cat, check out these articles:
- Advantages of Adopting a Kitten Cat
- Advantages of Adopting an Adult Cat
Cat Utensils and Accessories
When calculating how much it costs to keep a cat, it is also important to take into account all the accessories he will need to have all his needs met.
- Beds and Shelters: cats love the comfort of sleeping in a well-protected place, that's why there are several cave-shaped beds on the market, houses, pillows, mattresses..., and even cat beds with design to decorate the home . This implies that we can find cheap cat beds, around R$50, simpler, and more expensive beds, as well as little houses, which exceed R$400.
- feeders: the price of a simple pan can be around R$10-70 depending on the material (it is plastic, stainless steel, ceramic...) or the structure (if it is a plate or a funnel). But there are also anti-voracity feeders for those cats who eat very quickly, which cost between R$35-100, and automatic feeders with microchip access control camera for unusual cases (where there are several animals at home, for example ), which cost between R$150-800. If you choose a simple feeder, we recommend choosing stainless steel or ceramic ones and avoiding plastic ones. In this other article, we explain why they are not convenient: "Cat Feeders - Types and how to choose the best one".
- Drinking fountains and fountains:Similar to the previous case, the price of a drinking fountain will vary between R$10 and R$70, depending on the material or design. But there is also the possibility of purchasing a fountain because it provides fresh and moving water to your feline, which may have a minimum price of around R$49 and exceed R$250.
- Shipping company: Purchasing a carrier will be necessary to be able to move your cat safely and comfortably, if you need to take it to the veterinarian. They usually have a minimum price of around R$50, but they can reach a higher price, around R$300, in case they are backpacks or bags to carry cats in a comforting way, depending also on how sophisticated the design is.
- sandboxes: You should have at least one litter box at home to ensure that your feline is properly groomed. Generally, in stores you can find uncovered hygienic trays for around R$60, although you also have the option of purchasing a covered litter box for around R$130 or even R$900 if it's a designer.
- cat sand: Of course, a cat litter box needs sand and is not particularly expensive, depending on the amount in the bag. Generally, the price is usually around R$25 per kilo, which implies, for example, that an 8 kg bag can cost between R$150 and R$200.
- scratcher: Scratchers are absolutely essential for your cat. They can have very different prices depending on the structure and size they have, as some scrapers are limited to being simple posts while others are authentic castles that include shelters and entertainment elements for your pet. That's why a small scraper can cost around R$25 to R$100, while giant ones (up to 2 meters) can cost R$900 or more. Of course, keep in mind that this is a tool that will allow you to physically and mentally stimulate your cat, as well as getting you to develop instincts as primal for him as marking through scratches. Therefore, we advise you to choose one with different heights, although its price is higher.
- Brush: Although cats are very clean animals that love to groom themselves, some kittens with very dense fur may need help taking care of their fur by brushing them frequently. These typically cost around R$30 to R$100.
- Toys: cat toys are a very wide world, they can be sticks, tunnels, balls, intelligence toys... In addition, it is recommended to purchase several types of toys in order to promote your puppy's interest as it varies from toy. The price of the simplest toys can be around R$6 to R$30, but again, depending on the type of toy and its sophistication, we can find toys on the market for 90 or even R$300. A good way to save on your cat's maintenance is to make your own toys from recycled materials, like the ones shown in this video:
How much does a cat's food cost?
Entering the price field for cat food can be tricky, because while some quality rations can cost R$250 a bag, other very cheap ones can reach R$100, in other words, half of the previous price. what does a cost mean between R$1300 and R$2000 per year, depending on your pet's size and daily consumption.
In any case, we should always keep in mind that the fact that a pet food is sold at a very low price is not really because I wanted to do the owners or their cats a favor, but on the contrary, since the price usually indicates the quality. of ingredients and therefore cause serious health problems for your pet in the long run if it "feeds" on something that, most of the time, is good food. We refer to by-products such as “flours” and waste by-products from the food industry that are not fit for human consumption which, likewise, are not suitable for your cat.
For all of this, you must take into account your cat's specific needs at the time of get a good feed, which may be best indicated by your trusted veterinarian.
On the other hand, if you choose homemade food, always with the guidance of your veterinarian, the price may vary depending on your place of residence, as not in all countries meat or fish are sold at the same time. Likewise, there are companies and brands that sell homemade food for cats, frozen or dehydrated, which has been studied to meet the nutritional needs of these animals. This food is completely natural, suitable for human consumption because we are talking about meat, fruit, vegetables, vegetables and fish. Prices can be around R$60-R$75 per kilo.
A cat's veterinary expenses
A very important part of caring for an animal is making sure it is healthy, 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 to ensure that prevent risks and the onset of diseases, for this, the expenses destined to prevention will be approximately:
- Vaccines: about R$80 each
- Deworming: R$65 - R$130
- Sterilization and/or castration: R$120 - R$800 in males and R$200 - R$1000 in females
- Microchip: BRL 50 - BRL 100
If you're wondering how much it costs to vaccinate a cat or how much it costs to neuter a cat, here's the answer. Prices can vary from clinic to clinic, but again, the important thing is to ensure your feline's safety and choose one that builds trust. In many countries, there are clinics associated with entities that help those people without resources to defray 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.
In case your cat suffers 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 measurement, to cure or alleviate a cat's pain may have a price between R$600 to R$3000, depending on many factors. Furthermore, in case the animal's condition is unfortunately considered irremediable and euthanasia is evaluated, the price varies between R$250-380 depending on the clinic.
All of these factors are what you should take into account when calculating how much it costs to keep a kitten or adult cat and decide whether or not you can take them on. However, remember that many of them don't get paid right away, and giving an animal a second chance is so satisfying that it will seem priceless.
In the following video, we clarify all your doubts about a kitten's first visit to the vet: