Cats can be incredibly affectionate and playful little things, and their unique personalities are often what makes us fall in love with them. However, before you decide you would like to bring a pet home, it’s important that you are aware of the financial commitment that comes with owning one.
It’s estimated by Battersea dog and cats' home (in May 2023) that it will cost at least £1500 per year to care for a cat. This is on top of initial starting costs such as bed, toys, food bowls and vet care. This could be more than £30,000 over their lifetime. Remember, this is the bare minimum cost so if you decide to spend a bit more on your cat’s care – either with a change of food or litter material, new toys, treats, or more than one bed – then this number can be significantly higher. Similarly, if your cat is one of the lucky ones who live longer than average then your cat’s total lifetime cost will be higher than the above estimate.
The minimum cost also does not include any emergency or veterinary fees that are not covered by your insurance. Insurance itself has been factored into the cost above.
There is a difference between the bare minimum that a cat needs versus a luxurious lifestyle. There’s also a range in between the two extremes and it’s up to you to find what fits best for your lifestyle and circumstances.
At a minimum, a cat should have their 5 welfare needs met. The five welfare needs are listed below:
- Health - protection from, and treatment of, any illness, suffering, disease, or pain. This includes preventative care such a neutering and vaccinations and care in the event of illness or injury
- Behaviour - the ability to perform their natural behaviours, in a cat’s case this includes playing, running, jumping etc.
- Mental wellbeing - allowing your cat appropriate companionship. To be housed with (or apart from) other animals as appropriate. For cats, this means ensuring if they have the company of other pets within the home, they also have opportunities to be alone and rest
- Nutrition - cats must be given a suitable diet for their life stage, including quality and quantity of food to protect them from obesity, malnourishment, and starvation. They should also have access to fresh, clean drinking water
- Environment - your cat must have the right type of home, with a comfortable place to rest and hide as well as space to exercise and explore
In terms of requirements of material items, the first few things you’ll need to purchase are below:
- A comfortable bed
- Food and water bowl
- Microchip
- Initial vaccinations (if not already completed)
- Neutering (if not already completed)
- Scratching post / cat tower
- Two litter trays, litter, scoops. (one more litter tray than number of cats in household)
- Toys
- Brush or comb for grooming
- Cat carrier
There are a few monthly items to keep in mind for your cat. These are as follows:
- Yearly health checks and booster vaccinations
- Flea and worming treatments
- Insurance
- Complete cat food
- Toys
- Cat litter
The cost of your monthly supply of cat food can vary depending on the size of your cat and the type of food you’re buying. If you have a kitten, your first year will be spent buying specific kitten food, whereas senior cats may need a specific medical diet (such as a kidney or liver diet) and these diets are often more expensive than the average ones. We stock a wide range of cat food so you’re sure to find what you need, and our store colleagues are always happy to help!
Prices will differ between veterinary practices, however our Vets for Pets practices have health plans that spread the cost over the year, while also supplying a discount for other services. Your cat will need to have vaccinations on a yearly basis to keep them protected from diseases during their lifetime.
If you're thinking about bringing a cat into your home, make sure you do plenty of research and prepare yourself for the long-term commitment – there's nothing more important than the welfare of the animal in your care.
Before making the decision to buy a kitten from a local breeder, why not visit your nearest animal shelter to see the wonderful animals they have in their care? While adopting an abandoned cat or kitten may initially seem like an intimidating thing to do, nothing compares to the love and appreciation you’ll be receiving in return for granting them a new lease on life and the shelter staff will make sure to find the perfect match for you.