The Costs of Responsible Cat Ownership

Being a responsible owner of a cat carries with it certain financial obligations. If you are not in a position or are not willing to meet these costs it may be better not to take in a cat. If your budget is tight but you are willing to make certain sacrifices for the sake of having the pleasures of a cat in your life then you may be able to accomplish that dream.
It is difficult to resist that cute kitten in the free to a good home box or that friendly stray on the street who begs to come home with you but if you cant afford to give it the bare necessities you are probably doing the cat or kitten no favor. Fortunately you have options if your love for cats far outweighs your means to properly care for them.

Basic Cat Needs
Cats have certain basic needs which often divide the difference between a stray on the street and a cat in a home with a responsible caregiver. These needs include
Food of the highest quality you can afford
A safe indooronly environment with a few exceptions
Spay or neutering provided by a veterinarian
Core vaccinations provided by a veterinarian
An annual veterinary examination
Emergency veterinary care when a cat is sick
If you are not prepared to pay for these you cant afford to own a cat.
Costs of Cat Care
These costs vary by location size age and health of your cat and are just general estimates but they will give you a sense of the costs you would incur
Quality food Good quality cat food can be between 15 to 30 a month. Consider that youd spend more for one dinner at a restaurant.
Litter box and litter You can obtain a litter box for 6 to 500 for a deluxe selfcleaning box. A 14pound bag of Worlds Best

Cat Litter costs around 17 and regular scooping should make it last almost two months for one cat. You might pay more for one lunch for yourself.
Spay or neutering There are many lowcost spay and neuter clinics in the United States that might provide the service for under 50 for neuter and under 70 for a spay. A private veterinarian might charge in the neighborhood of 200 for neuter and over 400 for a spay. This cost is minuscule compared with the cost of treating an abscess caused by fighting in an unneutered male or aborting or treating mom cat