A cat can sometimes suddenly come into your life.
A street cat, a cat of a family member or acquaintance that for whatever reason suddenly needs a new home. A neighbour who has a litter and is going to hand out kittens.
Although there are also people who consciously buy or adopt a cat and do not consider that this is a commitment that you enter into. A maintenance obligation and a duty of care. Morally at least.
This is not to discourage you from getting a cat, but to be aware of this.
Be aware that the average lifespan of a cat ranges from 13 to 20 years. The oldest cat ever, corrected by Guinness World Records, turned 38 years old.
A cat is something you take for life. No matter how short or long it is.
Purchase costs – Adoption
At Safe Haven Egypt (SHE), the adoption fee is £195 (+/- €235). For all cats, all destinations. – Other similar organisations may charge more, sometimes with differences between gender, age, destination and type of cat.
Adoption at a local shelter can be cheaper. Sometimes it is not. Some are cheaper but you have to become a 'member' for a certain period. – Sometimes it is more complicated than comparing prices. Also look at the conditions.
Since you are on this website you are more likely to think about adoption than buying from a cat farm. Adoption is definitely the better choice financially.
Often there is a distinction based on age where a kitten is the most expensive. With a reduced price from e.g. 1 year and an even lower adoption price for older cats. Real 'senior cats' are sometimes offered for a very symbolic adoption contribution or without a request for a free gift.
For example; a Sacred Birman kitten with pedigree will certainly cost between €1000 and… whatever the buyer is willing to pay for it and the seller dares to ask for it.
There are also many options to get a cat from private individuals. Real private individuals who exceptionally have a litter. And from people who apparently have permanent cats but claim not to be a kitten mill or animal dealer.
Getting an animal there is a gamble. You don’t know what you’re going to get. Has it undergone medical treatment? If they claim so, is it true? Is the age of the animal correct? – It can be perfectly healthy. It can also be very medically burdened. – An animal from a shelter can also have hidden defects, but never deliberately.
In the Netherlands, a kitten must be at least 7 weeks old to be separated from its mother. In Belgium, 12 weeks. A mother cat will consider her kittens to be self-sufficient and will be rejected after about 16 weeks.
Basic vaccination, chipping, sterilization
Basic vaccinations can cost between €50 and €75 per year. Sterilization/castration can cost between €100 and €200 once.
The chipping is something like €25 to €55.
You see; at a shelter/cat shelter this is already included. An 'adoption contribution' is also literally that, a contribution to the much higher real healthcare costs.
Also keep in mind that unexpected medical costs can arise. And they can be considerable. For example, a CT scan with lab will quickly cost you €800.
There are pet health insurances available. These can cost anywhere from €10 to €30 per month. With significant differences between insurers as to what exactly is covered, which can be much broader than just 'medical expenses'.
Food
A quality cat food can cost between $20 and $50 per month, depending on the brand and the size of your cat.
Don't buy the cheapest cat food available. The difference in quality between 'cheapest' and 'department store brand' is huge.
Before you get a cat, take a look at the prices of cat food. Zooplus has a wider collection and is competitive in price. Via this link https://vermeir.org/zooplus a literal % goes to this project.
Cat litter
There are many types of cat litter available. Price will depend on what type of litter, what brand and how sparingly you use it. The type of litter box can also make a difference.
This costs an average of €10 to €20 per month.
Also look at the prices of cat litter at Zooplus to get an idea. See https://vermeir.org/kattenbakvulling
Toys and accessories
One-time costs for toys, scratching posts, cat beds, etc. can range from €50 to €200 or more. A cat doesn’t need much to play with. The classic of a cardboard box. A cork stopper. A small plastic bottle with some pebbles in it.
There are Facebook groups where people give things away for free. Every now and then a scratching post or other cat stuff will come along.
Care
If you have a cat with a long coat, professional grooming sessions may be necessary, which can cost $30 to $70 per session.
Cat hotel
If you travel frequently, you may need cattery, which can cost between $10 and $20 per day.
Conclusion
The purchase price of a cat is largely secondary to the long-term cost of keeping a cat.
In total, you can expect to spend an average of around €500 to €1,200 annually for a healthy cat without any serious medical problems.
It is important to remember that these are estimates and actual costs may vary. It is always a good idea to plan a budget and build an emergency fund for unexpected expenses.
It may seem a bit crazy, but opening an additional savings account is most likely done without any additional costs and with a few clicks in your banking app. Just like people open a savings account for children, you can do the same for your cat. And thus build up a pot for when there is suddenly an unexpected medical expense.
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