Purchasing a cat should be carefully considered, after all, it can live up to 20 years. Consider carefully in advance whether it is possible to take care of the animal for its entire life. Because that costs time – and money. We have calculated for you how the maintenance costs are made up in detail.
In Germany there are over six million pet owners who have a cat. This is from a recent Statista survey (Status 2020) out. Due to the ongoing corona pandemic, it can be assumed that the number has increased in recent months and will continue to increase. Much to the chagrin of local animal shelters who have to take in many cats after they are no longer cute kittens. And it has become clear to the owners that they are not doing the animals justice.
Our appeal to all people who want to get a cat is all the more urgent: Please think carefully about whether you can get involved with a velvet paw for the next 15 to 20 years. A good help is the following cost statement from the German Animal Welfare Association. If you’re still ready to adopt a pet, our kit for a cat is designed to help you prepare.
How high are the maintenance costs for a cat?
According to the German Animal Welfare Association (Deutscher Tierschutzbund eV), the total cost for a cat that lives to be 16 years old on average is almost 11,500 euros. These consist of the following points:
One-time costs
- Purchase: Depending on whether you get a cat from an animal shelter or visit a breeder, the cost of an animal can be between 100 and up to 2,000 euros.
- Basic equipment: In order for your cat to get used to its new home as quickly as possible, a bowl and a basket, a scratching post and a litter box as well as some toys are among the most important utensils. Calculate between 150 and 200 euros for the initial equipment.
Annual costs
- Prevention and care: Recurring expenses for cat food and litter accumulate every year. There are also additional costs for the veterinarian who has to deworm and vaccinate your cat several times – or treat parasites. The total costs are therefore estimated to be up to 700 euros per year.
special editions
- Vet: If your cat needs to be spayed or neutered, unexpectedly falls ill or is injured, you may incur additional costs. Depending on the severity and duration of the treatment, you have to reckon with high additional expenses.
Initial equipment for the cat: what is included?
Pet crate
On the day of the handover (whether at the animal shelter or at the dealer) you need a safe one Pet crate for the cat – so that the car journey is as pleasant as possible for humans and animals. And the velvet paw has less stress. Apart from that, you will need a crate at the latest when you have to take the cat to the vet. Depending on the size of the animal, you should make sure that it can lie down in the box. And the weight of the bag should also be taken into account so that it fits well in the hand and is easy to carry. Consider this: wicker baskets are beautiful to look at, but difficult to clean. Cloth, on the other hand, is lighter than plastic, but plastic is easier to clean. Consider individually which transport box is best for your cat.
litter box
Regardless of whether your cat goes outside or not, it needs a litter box inside the home – if you have several house tigers, you should set up more than one litter box. The animals have a sensitive nose and (in some cases) do not do their business where the legacies of their fellow species have already been buried. When you bring in a cub, one is Low rim litter box recommended for an easier start. Later, you should choose a model that is big enough for the adult animal to turn around in it easily. When it comes to cat litter, it is important in the beginning to use the same that was used in the animal shelter or at the dealer. You will also need one to clean up the debris perforated shovel.
feeding place
Every cat needs two bowls, preferably made of stainless steel or ceramic, then they are easier to clean: one for the food and one for fresh water. Make sure there is enough space between the bowls so that no leftovers end up in the drinking bowl and contaminate it. Place the two bowls on one document, protect the floor from falling cat food. It is best to use the same varieties that the animal was fed at the home or at the breeder’s. Alternatively, there are also special varieties for young animals, which should provide them with all the important nutrients in the first months of life. In any case, make sure that your cat has a species-appropriate and balanced diet so that it stays healthy. It can also make sense to purchase one drinking fountain be for the pet, as some velvet paws like to drink running water from the tap.
retreat
Especially in the first few weeks after moving in, cats should have the opportunity to withdraw. Apart from the fact that they can sleep up to 16 hours a day, they need enough rest to get used to their new home. Since the animals prefer to choose their sleeping places themselves, you should bring a cozy blanket, a pillow or sleeping basket lie down where the velvet paw prefers to sleep. Alternatively, there is also a scratch tree because it has several advantages: It is a place of retreat, a place to sleep and a vantage point all in one. That being said, indoor cats in particular can use it (instead of your furniture) to sharpen and sharpen their claws – or just climb on it. For this reason it is important that it stands securely and cannot tip over.
security
If you have a balcony, you should also make it available to your cat. The animals love being out in the fresh air and observing the area. However, caution is also required here: You should use a safety net attach. Clarify in advance with your landlord whether you will get permission to do so. Alternatively, there are also special ones protective grid for windows that are tilted – in case your cat runs the risk of squeezing itself in or running away. However, weigh up whether the purchase is really necessary. Attachment makes sense depending on which floor you live on and how much your pet likes to go out. For free runners one can cat flap be useful, again you need the permission of your landlord.
toy
Cats love to play no matter how old they are. For this reason, the right toy should not be missing from the initial equipment. Especially when the animal is not allowed to go outside, it is all the more important that it is kept in a good mood. Make sure there is enough variety that demands a cat physically – and also mentally. If cat rod or feather feathers, balls or furry mice: there is a whole arsenal of toys on the Internet that you can buy both individually and in groups set able to buy. Make sure you get a balanced mixture that satisfies the animal’s hunting instinct and trains small kittens. But it is also important that you do not offer everything to the house cat at once, otherwise it could quickly lose interest.
grooming
Last but not least, grooming is also on the agenda. A cat will do most of this on its own, but there’s no harm in brushing the animal regularly – if you don’t want all of the hair (especially when it’s time for a change of fur) to end up on your furniture. Apart from that, cats enjoy the regular massage, for example if you have a special one Grooming Glove use with rubber knobs. For upholstered furniture, however, there is lint rollers for removing animal hair.
Source: German Animal Welfare Association
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