You probably know that “cat distribution system” meme that circles around out there, right? It just means that a stray cat or kitten chooses you to become its new owner (or they become your new owner if you want to think of it that way). And yes, if you have a kid, they’re obviously going to get excited once a cute little cat shows interest; they’ll understandably want to have that.
Now, there’s nothing necessarily wrong with that. Honestly, all cats deserve homes; they deserve homes forever, they deserve to be saved. The same can be said for cats at shelters waiting for their home. But while a cat might be free, there’s some things to keep in mind that can get expensive. Again, not deter anyone from having a pet, but it’s about being realistic.
Adoption Fees are Just the First Tiny Speed Bump
Well, you don’t need an adoption fee if you’re literally taking a stray off the streets, which can’t be denied here. But anyway, even if a cat comes from a shelter or rescue, the upfront part is usually the easiest to understand. There’s an adoption fee, some paperwork, maybe a quick chat about the home situation, and that’s that. Sometimes the fee includes spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and microchipping, which is honestly great because those things are not cheap on their own.
But other times it’s partial, like the cat’s had one round of vaccines and still needs boosters, or the microchip has to be registered, or parasite treatment needs sorting right away. So even in the “responsible” adoption route, there can still be a bunch of immediate costs that hit fast.
Vet Visits are Expensive
So, one big thing to hammer down right now: if you can’t afford a vet, or don’t want to take your pet to the vet, then you don’t deserve to have a pet. You absolutely shouldn’t have a pet! Yes, vet bills are expensive. But you would see your GP if you were sick, right? If you have issues with your teeth, you’d see a dentist, right? You’d do annual checkups for yourself, right? Well, the exact same rule needs to apply for pets and vets too!
There is cat insurance and just general pet insurance for different types of pets that can make pet ownership a bit more affordable, but still, your pet can’t vocalise how they’re feeling. But even so, they still need vet visits, and you can’t skip out on this. Its apart of pet ownership.
All those Monthly Costs Add Up
Food and litter, obviously, but it’s rarely just food and litter. Cats get picky, like aggressively picky, and if the cheap food doesn’t agree with them, it’s not just an “oh well,” it’s an ongoing issue that can turn into vet visits or prescription diets. Just in general, really cheap cat food is bad for cats as it is. And some cats actually need to have dietary restrictions too (like if they’re diabetic, for example). And of course theres the enzyme cleaner, cat litter, grooming, flea medicine, those sorts of things too.
