I want to adopt

I've wanted a kitten for a long, long time and it's looking like I may finally be in a position to where I can get one.

I just wanted to ask those of you who have/have had kittens, about how much do they end up costing you a month?  How often do you take them to the vet for checkups?  What are things that someone might overlook while considering adopting a kitten?  I've been through a few articles on what to consider before adopting so I think I'm pretty certain of most things...but yes I know there are lots of CCers with furbabies here who could offer some more info ;D

Here are some pictures of the kitten I WANT (in case you wanna see a super adorable kitty =P the 2nd pic is the cutest, I think)...I bet she will be gone by time I get everything straightened out though =( And I haven't actually gotten to see her or spend time with her so I don't know the personality, which I know is important..but I've just been looking at pictures since it's too late to go anywhere tonight!

Thank you!!

Man I wish you lived near me.  My co-worker is trying to find a home for an adorable white kitty with big, blue eyes.  He's only about four months old and she's worried he'll get out some day and a fox will eat it.

Right now, Whiskey's costing me about four hundred dollars a month getting over this staph infection.  Vodka, however, is only costing me the usual ten dollars for cat food every two months (ten dollars) and seven dollars for kitty litter every month (seven dollars).  Granted, she's also getting her shots this month so there's an extra thirty dollars every two weeks, but I think she's getting her last series today so tack on another ninety bucks to this month's bill.

Aww I'd love a little kitty like that!

How long has Whiskey had a staph infection?  Do you know how she got it? 

I was really hoping that a kitten wouldn't cost too much per month..I mean I'm willing to spend money on a furbaby, but it's going to be so darned expensive to even get one in the first place (the deposit because we rent, adoption fees, neutering, shots, etc.)

I've been waiting until I had a good amount of money saved and money coming in to look into getting a kitten because I had no idea how much it would cost!

Cost per month?  I spend about $30 a month on a high grade cat food.   The extra money spent is for preventive measures.  Less vet bills down the road.  And litter for the box.

Vet visits?  About once a year for shots.  appr. $80/100.00
Kittens are a bit different.  Shots and then the six month old visit to get S/N. about $300.00 unles you get a coupon when adopting the kitten.

Overlooked?  Kittens do not look the same as a full grown cat.
Kitten and cats need scratching post.  They love to scratch up furniture and rugs.
Who is going to take care of kitty when you go on vacation?
Does everyone in you household want a cat?  Many kitties are in shelters because of people allergies or the scratching issues.

Where do you plan on being in 15 years?  A cat's lifespan is 12 to 20 years.

That said having a furbaby to come to after work is a great thing most of the time.  I have come home to a house that has been TP'd many times.

Good luck.

We're guessing Whiskey has had it since December of last year, when I lost my job and couldn't afford to take her to a vet.  When I got my new job in May I demanded we re-arrange our bills to find money to take her in, and we've been shelling out about four hundred (or more at times) each month since then.

Had we took her to the vet in December, like I begged and pleaded with Alex, it probably wouldn't have gotten as bad as it did.  The medication and constant ear flushes are what's running the vet bill so high every other week.  She's finally starting to look better, bright eyes, playful, gaining weight.  We're hoping she'll be out of the bonnet today and this will be the last round of medications.

Before we had this whole staph issue, our cats cost us maybe twenty bucks a month for three of them, which I thought was very reasonable.  Our vet costs eight dollars an office visit, and once she's done getting her first series of shots, she'll only be going to the vet for a check up once a year. 

I say adopt a kitty.  They're easily amused and don't need all these fancy toys.  I'm sure mollymouser will talk you into getting a kitty once she wakes up and finds this thread, too.

Haha thanks for your replies =D  Those are all very good things to consider!

I'm sorry Whiskey is having such a tough time =(  But I'm glad to hear she is getting better!  It's tough hearing about (and even worse seeing) an animal struggle with stuff like that. 

I would really love a kitty though.  I've realized lately how lonely I really do get sometimes and I think having a furry critter to play with or just have around would help a great deal! 

Hamsters are cheap and easy to maintain if you don't have forgetful husbands around.  And they won't get pissed if you don't play with them every single day. :D

I don't regret getting my kitties.  If you're lounging on the sofa or at the computer one of them will hop on your chest and take a nap.  And if you tie something fuzzy to your ankle they'll chase you all over the house, and that's all the entertainment they need if that's all you can give them.  For the most part, Whiskey and Vodka play by themselves (currently in my work room, which is under construction and there's an awesome ladder they like to climb on), but you can really tell they're excited when you crawl around and play with them.

Definitely look in to it. :D

Oh yeah..that's another thing.  I wouldn't be able to get more than one cat so it might be a little lonely when I have to go to work. 

Now, I only work about 20 hours a week (and my mom would be home during those times, sometimes) and at the end of the month I will be going to school 2 days a week for about 3 hours each time...but other than that I can spend lots of time with the kitty.  Is that enough, do you think?  Or does that totally depend on the kitten?

I keep reading you have to give it lots of attention, but they can't seriously expect that you're going to spend every minute, or hour, of every day sitting at home with your cat, can they? 

Cats tend to not care as much about how much time you can spend with them-- they just want you to spend time with them when they DEMAND it.  They are a bit funny that way...

In general, when you arent going to be home everyday at the same time or have a lot of time, a cat is the animal for you.  They still need love, lots of it, and some cats need more attention than others.

Speaking of, I wonder where my bad cat is?  He is mad at me right now...

 

Cats are affectionate, but they're not as needy as dogs when it comes to attention.  Besides, most kitties will demand love when they want it, and ignore you if they don't.  So you'll know when they want you to spend more time with them.

Start-up costs for a cat, particularly a kitten, are on the high side.  There is their first round of vet appointments and shots, a litterbox, litter, food, bowls, collars, tags, microchip (if you decide to go that route, which I highly recommend), toys, scratching post, treats (for training), etc.  (If you need some extra help, however, you can take your adoption papers into a PETCO and we'll give you a coupon booklet for all the start-up stuff, like free bowls, and that sort of thing.  Just FYI.)

The regular maintenance costs on a kitty aren't too bad.  Litter runs me about $20 a month for my three kitties, and their food (which is a premium brand) works out to about $30 a month for the three of them.  A good trick to saving money is to get one of those big plastic sealable food containers and buy the food in bulk and store it in there.  Buying smaller bags of food constantly adds up to spending a lot more in the long run.

Medications are in there, too.  About $20 a month for Frontline or Advantix (or whatever brand you use), and about another $10 for Heartgard.

Cats aren't quite so destructive as dogs, so their toys are rarely anywhere near as expensive, and you don't have to replace them so frequently.  Besides, kitties are normally pretty easily satisfied with something as simple as a cheap ball to roll around and chase.

A further thing to consider is grooming tools, if you're getting a longer-haired cat.  To prevent matting, a long-haired cat needs to be brushed out at least once or twice a week, if not more frequently.  Again, this is one of those preventative measures you can take to save money, as the grooming cost for a matted cat is around $60.

And even with the best prevention, incidentals may come up.  One of my babies has had about $1,800 worth of medical treatment due to an unforeseen bladder condition.  He's fine now, but that was a big blow to our budget when it happened.

Of course, the people you would be adopting her from will probably be able to answer more questions about her specific needs, and they might be able to give you a rundown about how much her care costs will be.

I hope that helps, and that the kitty works out for you.  She is very adorable.

Awww...kitties are so great. I have two...1 of them came from the humane society and the other was a stray that climbed inside my fiancees engine compartment in the winter. I prefer my urban kitties over pet shop kitties..more likely to save a life that way.

Anyway, I spend about $20-$30 a month between Purina One food and litter. I buy the larger bags of food and dump it into a plastic container instead of buying those little bags of food every week. Also, I stock up on litter whenever it's on sale.

My vet bill for the kitty startup costs were about $300. I got her spayed and declawed. (Sorry for those who don't believe in de-clawing..) But anyway, later I found out that once a month my city will spay/neuter and vaccinate for about $30. I wish I knew ahead of time. Also, I found a non-profit clinic that I haven't been to yet that also charges $30 to be fixed. Take a look around for stuff like that. Have fun with your new little furball.

aww yay for kitties! My girls (who happen to be my profile pic) were both adult adoptions from humane societies. I found through trial and error with my parent's cats that a kitten will not always look like it does - the color can change drastically as it grows and a playful kitten will not necessarily become a friendly adult cat. Hence opting for adult cats to adopt. Personality of a cat makes a huge difference, and I liked the idea of knowing what I was getting into when I got my girls.

As far as cost goes, Wanda- the tabby - has crystals in her urine that had something to do with the way her body processed phosphorous so she's on perscription cat food for life now that costs a good $20 for a 4 lbs bag from the vet (which lasts about 2 weeks)- but it works to keep her from being uncomfortable and peeing on all my furniture. There's no way you can be sure your cat or kitten won't have that kind of a problem, but if it does the cost to treat it can be pretty high. Not to scare you or anything, it's just a possibility. Actually, I've heard a lot of good things about getting pet insurance, too. Just in case.

So for cost, I actually end up spending $60/ month on food (both dry and wet) and somewhere between $10 and $20 on litter plus normal vet bills of about $100 per cat per year since they're both young adults.

I have my two boys Grizzel and Greedigut, black DLH and DSH respectively. I buy them canned food (a much healthier option than dry food... think about it, do cats eat greasy grain based kibble in the wild?), either PetGuard or Wellness. Fortunately I work at a natural foods store so I can buy their food by the case and get an extra 10% discount on top of my customary 20% employee discount. That immensely helps with feeding them such good food. I believe many stores give case discounts when you buy in bulk as such. So that's about $40 on their food per month for both kittehs combined. Cheaper than feeding a human dependent, that's for sure!

For litter (I keep three boxes, it is in your best interest to have one per cat plus one when you have 2 or more kitties) I use Swheat Scoop multi cat formula which has many advantages over clay litter, for your cat's health and for the environment. I scoop the boxes at least once a day, sometimes twice and usually can go 10-14 days between entirely changing out the litter. We go through 1-2 boxes or bags of Shweat Scoop each month.

I have toys and a scratching post for them, but they really go crazy over just string and sometimes feathers... and couches and carpets. They also play with each other a lot which is really entertaining to watch! I'm glad they have each other, because I work 32 hours/week, go to school 6 hours/week, and babysit 26 hours/week so I'm sadly not around nearly as much as I used to be (my partner will be here for them more, though). They both like being combed, but it is especially important that I groom my long haired one with this comb every other day.

Grizzel cost me a pretty penny with resolving a stubborn case of FLUTD, which is fairly common especially in overweight male cats. It took two vet visits, an ultrasound, a urinalysis, subcutaneous fluids, two rounds of antibiotics, and some supplements and distilled water before he was peeing normally. He was very round and sluggish (but sooo sweet) when I brought him home from the shelter in June but I have adjusted him down to a healthier weight and the difference in his condition is astounding. His coat is so much shinier and softer, eyes brighter, and his activity level and coordination has increased 100%. He is a little mischievous at times but still an unbelievable sweetheart. He is healthy but it is possible that he could "relapse" at any time if I'm not consistent in preventive measures. Greedigut has had no health problems since I've had him.

Kittens are notoriously more expensive in the beginning than cats. With some looking you can usually find affordable vets or clinics/organizations and even sometimes free spay/neuter opportunities and reduced cost vaccinations. Have you thought about rescuing a nice older cat that may have more trouble finding a home than a cute widdle kitten? With mature cats, you already can tell what their personalities are like... you don't really know what you're going to end up with as far as kittens are concerned :P  I also feel that an extra special, deep bond forms between a rescued cat and rescuer.

Also, if an unexpected emergency or tragedy pops up, you'll need to have the means to cover it. My cat Arys was hit by a car on April 15th (I did not intentionally let him out) and the extent of his injuries were so severe that I had to have him put to sleep, and then I opted to pay for an individual cremation. It really destroyed my world for a couple of months, yes I took it that hard... I lost a best friend. So please, please keep your kitty indoors.

My cats are my babies and I would not feel good about caring for them with poor quality products just to save a few dollars. There are other areas in my budget which I could tighten if need be in order not to compromise my cats' well being. I expect that they will live long and happy lives with little to no health complications. I could not confidently say the same thing if I was feeding them any old crap from the supermarket and pouring cheap, dusty clay in their boxes.

I've just adopted a cat, she's about 8 years old and appears to have been abandoned.  She started coming around our house quite a lot, I refused to feed her for about 4 weeks because I dodn't want to encourage her, then she got all skinny so I started feeding her, then she had flees, and worms, I monitored her for 2 weeks and there was no change so I guessed no one was treating her so i did it myself.

I've looked in all the local shops for lost pet advert but noone seems to be loking for her, so now she is healthy, has put on weight, is very friendly, comes on when I get in from work, has dinner, stays in for the night, has breakfast and is then out during the day.

I spoke to that cat protection people last week who agreed to come and collect her for rehoming but me and the OH are too attached to let her go now.  :o)

Cost wise - litter about £2 a month, food £3 a week, a few initial costs, bed, cradle, food bowel, litter tray etc, and then of course any vets bills that come up.

Thank you all for your help =D  I have been reading these and doing a little research...

I have found that my deposit to have a pet where I live is about $400, and the adoption fees for that specific kitten (or others from the same adoption center) is $125.  The adoption fee includes spaying/neutering, FeLV and FIV testing, AVID microchip and registration, FVRCP and FeLV vaccinations, treatment for parasites, food sample, litter, pet health insurance, and a cat care booklet (not too bad, eh?)

I have emailed her foster mommy to see about going for a visit!  I'm super nervous though because I realize this is such a huge responsibility..

I would just make sure you're really ready for the responsibility. If you're just starting university you're going to be really busy. 

I really only have school Tues from 9 am-12 pm and 6 pm-9 pm, and then Thurs from 9 am-12 pm  (about)

I can give attention to a cat while I do homework, and I'm not moving out yet so I won't be busy with anything like that.  I work, but only part time.  I'm really trying to think of everything I need to be ready for..which is why I posted this too ;) 

I'm always nervous I'm forgetting something but I've been thinking about this for a very long time..I just REALLY want to be sure!

I got an email back from the foster mommy and that furbaby has been adopted =(

BUT her sister is available and is just as adorable!  Just thought I'd update =)

I just want to chime in with my three cents.

This is 2nd hand advice as it comes to me from a friend of mine (who has 5 cats with her family) with a bit of kitty experience. Choose a cat that has an attraction to you. What her and her family do when they are looking for a cat they will go to their breeder (you could just got to a home for strays) and they'll spend a bit of time there with the new litter once it is old enough and see if any of the cats are taken with them.

In case you're not sure what I mean by taken then I'll explain an experience I had. I went to a pet shop one saturday and they had some puppies there. They were really cute and when I walked up one of the puppies came over to me and was trying to get to me. I put my hand in and she started licking me and looking for attention. I played with her a bit and then moved down a bit further and when I walked around the pen she followed me and kept wanting more of my attention and to play with me. I walked away after some more kisses and pets and then came back. She left the people she was near and came back over to me when I returned. She was taken with me. You will have a MUCH better relationship with your cat when he/she likes you to begin with. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of the mean kitties out there are a result of a bad match between owner and kitty. Can't prove it though.

I just wanted to second the prior post recommending Wellness as a really great food.  It's made with human-grade ingredients, and you really can't do much better for your pets than it.

As far as cat expenses go,

Ki-lin came with a sinus infection that lasted about for about the first year of her life.  Needless to say, she was a very expensive baby (at least $1500 in vet bills for just that), but she's worth it.  Our biggest problem now is that she's so headshy, you can't medicate her without a real fight.  Fortunately she's doesn't bite or use her claws, she just rolls like a crocodile.

My Shadow just got diagnosted with Diabetes.  That's fun.  So he's cost us about $300 for the initial vet check, 2 $250 blood curves (at least I can do that at home now), $120 worth of needles and insuln, and now is eating a prescription (I don't understand prescription cat food) dry food that's ~$50 for a medium bag.  It's a hassle, and expensive, but what else are you going to do?  He's my buddy.

 

In my experience, cats do do better with another cat.  There are just cat things that cats can only do with other cats.  I know that's not an option for you, but it's something to keep in mind. 

She's really going to need something to climb on, and a scratching post.  Cats like being up high.  For scratching posts, don't spend a lot of money, just get one that's heavy enough so the cat can't move easily, uses sisel rope (not carpet), and is set up so that you can see how to replace the rope once it wears out.  She may also like a hidey-hole, which you can make for cheap out of a cardboard box. 

It's also helpful to leave their carriers out where they can get to them.  It's much better to have a cat that sees a carrier as a safe nice place to be rather than something evil.

Try a different toys.  Some cats are just very partial to certain toys.  Wheelin loves her mylar pom-poms, she came with one and has never stopped loving them.  Laser lights are also very popular with my two.

I'm not completely sold on the advantix/revolution stuff.  It works but Shadow's allergic to it, and honestly, I have yet to see a flea in years.  They are both inside though, and I don't, as a general rule, walk through grass, so that could be helping too.

If at all possible, keep the cat indoors.  They'll be healthier, and it'll be cheaper in the long run. 

 

You really need to get to know the cat rather than just getting it because it's cute.  Cats don't generally have the breed specific personality differences that dogs do, but it's not going to be fun for either of you if you're not a match.  Since the kittens you're looking at are being fostered, you can probably get a good idea about what sort of personallities they have from the fosterer.

For example, Ki-lin is extremely intelligent (I'd say she's easily the smartest cat I've ever seen), and she gets bored and destructive if she's not being entertained.  It's really tough sometimes when she's breaking everything you own looking for something to do.  I wouldn't want to change the choice to get her, but I a lot of times I think she would probably have been returned if somebody who wasn't really devoted to her had got her.

This is probably obvious, but if the kitten's long haired, make sure you can handle brushing and grooming her.  Long hairs don't take care of their fur very well, and will mat without routine brushing.  Also, unless you already have experience, have the fosterer show/let you clip the kitten's claws.  You need to know if you can do it.  Of course you could always get somebody else to do it, but that's a hassle.