With kitten season in full swing, you might see “Free
Kittens” being given away at flea markets, in newspaper ads, or on social
media. Or maybe you even stumbled upon
your own stray little ball of fluff when she wandered into your back yard or
you found her stranded alongside a busy road.
It may have cost you nothing to bring your new companion home, but this
is a friendly reminder that, unfortunately, there is no such thing as a free kitten.
As a vet clinic, we often hear surprised comments about how
much their “free” kitten is actually costing them. It’s easy to forget about the financial
responsibility that comes along with caring for another living being when it’s
love at first sight and you impulsively decide to give that sweet, adorable,
innocent, helpless, tiny creature a loving home. However, you also must remember that this
sweet, adorable, innocent, helpless, tiny creature is a 15+ year commitment and
will require regular preventative veterinary care in addition to any treatments
needed when they get sick. Add in
non-veterinary related costs, such as food, litter, and toys, and the dollars
will add up quickly. Let’s break
everything down.
NEW KITTY
SUPPLIES: $250
Including a cat bed,
scratching post, litter boxes, litter scooper, cat carrier, food and water
dishes, cat tree, collar with ID tag, and toys.
FIRST
YEAR OF ROUTINE VETERINARY CARE: $513-$622
Including wellness
examinations, vaccinations, testing for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency
viruses, fecal analysis for intestinal parasites and deworming, spay/neuter
with preanesthetic blood work, and microchipping.
YEAR
SUPPLY OF PARASITE PREVENTATIVE: $170
Topical medication applied
monthly to prevent fleas, ear mites, heartworm, roundworm, and hookworm.
RECURRING
MONTHLY PURCHASES: $50-$100/month ($600-$1200/year)
Dry food, canned food,
treats, cat litter, pet insurance, new toys, etc…
GRAND TOTAL FOR
KITTY’S FIRST YEAR:
$1533-$2242
That’s a pretty hefty price tag for your free kitten. It doesn’t include care for any illnesses,
injuries, or emergencies, which, depending on the problem, can cost a few
hundred to a few thousand dollars to treat.
You can expect to spend another $1000-$1500 per year throughout the life
of your kitty, assuming she is healthy and doesn’t develop any chronic
illnesses. Of course, the love, comfort,
and companionship that your furry friend provides is priceless.
So what if you bring a furry friend home but you’re on a
tight budget? A few options are available
to help keep costs to a minimum:
-Some Humane Societies, who work with donations and grant
money, are able to run low cost clinics for routine vaccinations and spaying or
neutering. Speaking of Humane Societies,
adopting a cat through a shelter can be a huge money saver. Though some adoption fees may seem expensive,
if the kitty is already vaccinated, dewormed, spayed/neutered, and microchipped,
in the long run you will be saving a significant amount of money.
-Pet insurance may seem contrary if you are trying to be
frugal, but investing in the monthly premium can help defer costs associated
with veterinary care later down the road.
-Care Credit is a charge card that can be used at
participating medical facilities and offers interest free financing, allowing
you several months to pay off big veterinary bills instead of paying a large
balance all up front.
We don’t mean to try to discourage anyone from pet ownership. Having a pet brings so much joy, increases
our quality of life, and has proven health benefits, like lowering blood
pressure; having a pet is well worth the money.
We just want everyone to be informed and to have realistic expectations
in order for your little kitty to have the proper care and to help keep her
healthy and happy.
