How Much Does It Cost To Keep A Cat?

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

Several years ago, a married couple contacted me for a thoroughbred kitten. They wanted to have a Siamese cat, with a good pedigree and show ambitions.

There was such a kitten, and everything seemed to be going well, do not ask the head of the family one question: how much does it cost to keep one cat per day? That is, how much is "cat-day" now? At that time I could not answer this question articulately and we parted with potential buyers, completely dissatisfied with each other.

For a long time, remembering this episode, I experienced acute irritation: we are not on a cat farm! This is not a productive animal that is kept for profit. In this context, a cat is a pet, almost a member of the family. They turn her on solely because they want and can afford it. And who cares how much it costs!

I adhered to this position until I began to work seriously in one of the largest cat lovers' clubs in the country. The usual way for most serious, enthusiastic breeders: first, you develop your own cattery, gain experience and knowledge. Then there is a desire to share the accumulated, to be useful to other cat lovers. If you are ready for this, and most importantly, if your recommendations are useful and easy to use, then perhaps the proud word "FELINOLOG", in Russian "KOTOVED", will appear in your business cards.

I still consider the question of the cost of "cat-day" to be incorrect! If you, having conceived to have a cat, are not ready to take on ALL (planned and unforeseen) expenses, then let the pet in the house remain a wonderful dream for you until the situation changes. From the standpoint of a "responsible cat expert" I consider the following to be more important:

- How to optimize the costs of keeping a cat, avoiding unnecessary expenses?

- How to maintain an adequate level of hygiene in the premises where animals are kept with a minimum of time and effort?

- How to provide your pets with quality food without turning the kitchen into a chemical laboratory?

- How to reduce the risk of infectious diseases?

- How to ensure the best relationship with the new owners for a baby kitten?

The well-being of those whom we have tamed often depends on the effective solution of everyday problems.

What are the costs for a happy cat owner?

1. One-time expenses

These include spending on the purchase of the animal itself (if you want to have a purebred kitten) and the purchase of the things it needs, such as a carrier, a litter tray, dishes, a bed, toys, care products, and so on. Everyone knows that a miser pays twice, a stupid three times, and a "sucker" always pays. Let's not be like the latter, let's get serious about the issue of long-term investments. How to acquire the kitten and "cat property", read in the following issues of your favorite magazine.

2. Recurring expenses

First of all, the cost of veterinary services. If your cat is healthy, then they boil down to an annual vaccination against rabies and viral diseases, a preventive examination twice a year and deworming every three months. Moreover, the veterinary services for the "Champion of the Galaxy and Surroundings" and the "motley noble" are about the same. (But for some reason, proud owners of expensive animals turn to professionals for treatment much more often than owners of "free" ones.)

3. Expenses for exhibitions

Participation in exhibitions and breeding shows is not at all a question of the owner's vanity. Cat Shows are special events that attract with a festive atmosphere, an opportunity to chat with like-minded people, showcase your pets and compare them with other cats. An exhibition with expertise of any rank serves to identify the best animals and increase their rating. Cats and cats occupying high places are more in demand as producers, their offspring are more valued. At exhibitions, trends in the development of breeds, priorities for breeders are determined. If an animal cannot take part in at least one show due to weakness of the nervous system, aggressiveness, poor condition, health or other reasons, its breeding use should be recognized as inappropriate.

4. Unforeseen expenses

Most often this is the cost of treatment. Nobody is safe from them. You just have to be prepared for the unexpected. There is no insurance medicine for pets in our country yet. Any practicing veterinarian can tell many heartbreaking stories about how well-to-do owners sent to death (we hypocritically call it "lulling") their not at all hopeless pets just because they considered treatment too expensive.

5. Daily expenses

Perhaps the most basic expense item. FEED. It is on it (no matter how blasphemous it may sound from the lips of a person who calls himself a professional) that you can save! How? After all, any animal should receive proper care and healthy nutrition that satisfies its needs as much as possible in accordance with age, size and physiological characteristics. If the food is not chosen correctly, the cat looks bad and is likely to get sick. Costs increase automatically. Therefore, be smart owners, pay money for the quality of the feed, not for advertising! Choose the best professional food developed by leading experts!

The ideal solution is a super premium ready-to-eat diet. Such as ROYAL CANIN FELINE HEALTH NUTRITION. This is a complete cat nutrition program. You will be able to choose the optimal diet for your pet that will improve health and prolong life. Feeding your cat correctly is not expensive at all, given the high nutritional value of ROYAL CANIN products and, accordingly, low consumption. Your pet is well fed and healthy for only 12-15 rubles a day. (To the question of "cat-day"!) No additional costs for vitamins, means for removing hairballs and brushing teeth. Only dry food and clean water. Plus, you can spend less time and effort cleaning your cat. (Interesting,For what money would you agree to clean the litter box of a strange cat with upset digestion?) Thanks to the exclusive development of the company - high-quality LIP proteins, digestible by more than 90%, and other innovations, the volume and smell of feces is reduced.

Of course, like any modern high-tech product, food from ROYAL CANIN requires competent and rational use. We will talk about this and much more in the following issues.