For all those pet lovers out there thinking of getting a pet soon, this article is for you if you are considering to have a cat as a pet. Keeping a pet in the house can be a big responsibility. But other than that, it can also be quite costly.
Here's a rough budget on how much you would spend if you keep a cat for life.
1. ONE-TIME SPENDING
Some of the most basic things are the litter box, water, and food bowls and toys. This article will include the normal affordable price of these items and some prices which are a little higher but also considered affordable for some.
a) The Cat Itself
Buying a cat from the pet store has a range of prices considering the breeds.
For example, Persian-bred cats could cost about RM1000 or more while Scottish Folds can cost up to RM1500 or more. It would certainly be less costly if you adopt one from the animal shelter, an adoption center or even for free by picking one right off the streets. But I personally would suggest adopting one instead of buying one.
b) Vaccination
It is advised to vaccinate your pets. Vaccination not only boosts the cat's immunity but also prevents it from contracting diseases. Normal and proper vaccination will cost about RM55 which includes a 4-in-1 vaccination and deworming. The price will differ between different vet clinics and also the age and weight of the pet.
c) Eating Utensils
Cats also need their own set of water and food bowls to eat and drink from. The cheapest plastic pet bowl you can find online would cost less than RM5. Stainless steel pet bowls would cost about RM15. If you would like to save more, you can consider using normal plastic bowls you can find at home.
d) Litter Boxes & Cat Litter
You can find cat litter boxes for prices as low as RM20 online and cat litter at prices as low as RM10 online. It would cost more depending on the brands and the quality.
Available cat litter boxes can cost up to RM200 whereas cat litter can cost as much as RM70. There are also automated litter boxes with prices ranging from about RM200. Those with non-automated functions need a litter scoop which can be bought at less than RM3.
e) Beauty & Hygiene Maintenance
Cats are natural at cleaning themselves. But it is still advised to clean your pet occasionally for better hygiene and also to get rid of fleas on their coats. There are several ways to clean your cat's fur. You can groom it by brushing its fur or in the worst-case scenario, giving your cat a bath.
A grooming brush costs about RM8 up to RM140 and an average bottle of cat shampoo costs about RM30 up to RM65. It would be more costly if your pet needs medicated shampoo. The average medicated shampoo would cost about RM60 up to RM140. You should also consider trimming your cat's claws once in a while to prevent it from scratching your sofa and other furniture in the house. An average claw clipper would cost about RM15 up to RM50.
The following below are optional for cat owners.
f) Scratching Pad/Frame
One of the cats' natures is scratching on things to sharpen their claws.
Cat owners can consider getting a scratch pad or scratch frame for them to climb onto if you think that your home environment is no place for scratching. The cheapest scratching board can be found at RM8 online whereas a climbing and scratching tree or frame ranges from about RM90 online.
g) Cat Bed/Mattress
It's not necessary to buy a bed or mattress for your cat. But an average cat bed would cost about RM50 and up to RM200 for a cat house.
h) Toys
A lot of us like to play with our pets by using toys to tease them. However, some pet toys can be a little costly in the long run if you buy more and more. A cat toy cost around RM10 up to RM80.
Let's calculate and see how much would it cost both minimally and maximally for the one-time spendings including all items from (a) to (h) considering if you adopt a cat for free.
Lowest cost of one-time spending: 0 + 55 + 10 + 33 + 53 + 8 + 50 + 10 = RM254
Highest cost of one-time spending: 0 + 55 + 30 + 273 + 255 + 90 + 200 + 80 = RM983
Based on the calculations, one-time spendings will range from about RM250 to about RM980.
2. MONTHLY SPENDINGS
a) Food & Treats
Cats eat roughly 6.83kg per month, but this can vary based on the size of your pets. They’ll need a combination of dry food, wet food, canned food, as well as extra treats as an incentive for house training.
Monthly dry food will cost about RM40 up to RM150, wet food costs about RM65 up to RM100 whereas treats cost about RM10 up to RM30. All of the price range depends on the brand and quality of the food and also the amount your pet eats.
b) Cat Litter
Although already mentioned above, cat litter needs to be changed to maintain your cat's hygiene. Monthly expenses on cat litter could range from RM30 to RM120.
c) Vet Appointments
In order to maintain good health, it is recommended for your pet to visit the veterinarian for checkups and deworming. The average cost of those appointments ranges from RM20 depending on the weight and age or your cat.
d) Health Supplements & Vitamins
Just like humans, our pets too need their vitamins to stay healthy. The average monthly expense on cat supplements will be about RM30 to RM120.
Let's calculate to see how much you would spend monthly both minimally and maximally if you keep a cat.
Lowest monthly expense: 115 + 30 + 20 + 30 = RM195
Highest monthly expense: 280 + 120 + 20 + 120 = RM540
So based on the calculations, the average monthly spendings for your cat will be between RM195 and RM540.
An average cat's lifespan will be about 17 years (204 months) maximum. We are now going to calculate the minimum and maximum expenses that you are going to spend if you were to keep a cat for life.
Minimum spend: (RM195 x 204) + 250 = RM40,030
Maximum spend: (RM540 x 204) + 980 = RM111,140
So if you were to keep your cat for all its life, your spending will be between RM40k to RM110k.
All in all, if you are planning to keep any pet at home, be sure to calculate your budgets to prevent animal abuse or abandonment.
