During the past few days, my girlfriend and I have been determining how to buy a cat and figure out all of the expenses associated with it.
First, how to find your desired pet.
- Animal shelters
- Pet shops
- Breeders
- Online (I'm constantly amazed with what you can buy online!)
1. Animal shelters from the research I've found are typically the cheapest, they might come with microchip, de-wormed, up-to-date on their vaccinations and de-sexed and if you're lucky maybe even with a month of pet insurance and food/toys. All of these things can cost hundreds to do by yourself. This is the route if we do end up getting a pet.
2. Pet shops are nice, they typically will have the variety that you'll want but I don't see the point personally shopping here because there are
so many pets running free or killed because they don't have room in the shelter.
3. I'm not someone who is picky enough to buy a pet from a breeder unless it was given to us for free like my dog when I was a kid (she was the runt of the pack from over breeding).
4. Buying online, I feel, really limits you in interacting with the pet before and also I'd feel so incredibly sorry to have a pet possibly shipped hundreds of miles just to live with me. There is just too much stress on the animal for that and it isn't fair for him/her.
Costs:
1. Vaccines: These can range in price dramatically. Different pets have different types. Since I'm looking at a cat, lets look at those. The main ones include:
- Panleukopenia virus (distemper)
- Feline calicvirus (FCV)
- Feline herpes virus (rhinotracheitis)
- Rabies
And can extend into including:
Feline chlamydiosis—this vaccine is not necessary unless the cat is at high risk of infection due to living among other infected cats.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV)—this disease is spread through bite wounds, so only outdoor cats and cats that live with other aggressive cats are likely to be at risk. Original FIV vaccines are given 2-3 weeks apart, with annual boosters afterward. The vaccination is not always effective in preventing the disease.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
Feline chlamydiosis—this vaccine is not necessary unless the cat is at high risk of infection due to living among other infected cats.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV)—this disease is spread through bite wounds, so only outdoor cats and cats that live with other aggressive cats are likely to be at risk. Original FIV vaccines are given 2-3 weeks apart, with annual boosters afterward. The vaccination is not always effective in preventing the disease.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
Feline chlamydiosis—this vaccine is not necessary unless the cat is at high risk of infection due to living among other infected cats.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV)—this disease is spread through bite wounds, so only outdoor cats and cats that live with other aggressive cats are likely to be at risk. Original FIV vaccines are given 2-3 weeks apart, with annual boosters afterward. The vaccination is not always effective in preventing the disease.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
Feline chlamydiosis—this vaccine is not necessary unless the cat is at high risk of infection due to living among other infected cats.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV)—this disease is spread through bite wounds, so only outdoor cats and cats that live with other aggressive cats are likely to be at risk. Original FIV vaccines are given 2-3 weeks apart, with annual boosters afterward. The vaccination is not always effective in preventing the disease.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
Feline chlamydiosis—this vaccine is not necessary unless the cat is at high risk of infection due to living among other infected cats.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV)—this disease is spread through bite wounds, so only outdoor cats and cats that live with other aggressive cats are likely to be at risk. Original FIV vaccines are given 2-3 weeks apart, with annual boosters afterward. The vaccination is not always effective in preventing the disease.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) — first
- Feline chlamydiosis
- Feline immunodeficiency virus (Feline AIDS)
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
These prices are typically anywhere from $45 to $85 for the first year of the cats life and anywhere from $10 to $35 each year afterward.
2. Toys and beds.
This can, of course, range dramatically with what you are comfortable spending on.
For those who are particularly eccentric, you can have your whole house redesigned for the pet lover in you....
3. Food: Again, this can range in prices, but for cans it can be anywhere from a few cents to over a dollar for a tiny 3 ounce can. And again anywhere from $10 to $20 for a big bag of dried food.
4. Pet Rent: If you live in an apartment, like me, you might find out that man's best friend may have to cough up money and pay some rent, a fee, or both! Where we live you've got a $200 fee and a $200 refundable fee and although a $10 pet rent is written in the contract, they ignore it.
So overall the total cost of a pet can range quite a bit and can cost you a pretty penny. But I think it's worth it overall. What about you? Have you been looking into getting a pet? What are your thoughts on trying to be frugal and pay off debt but having/getting a pet?
Feline chlamydiosis—this vaccine is not necessary unless the cat is at high risk of infection due to living among other infected cats.
Feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS or FIV)—this disease is spread through bite wounds, so only outdoor cats and cats that live with other aggressive cats are likely to be at risk. Original FIV vaccines are given 2-3 weeks apart, with annual boosters afterward. The vaccination is not always effective in preventing the disease.
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your name and email will never be sold, distributed, or revealed to the public by any means.