Pets
Owning A Cat - The Responsibilities by Kate Tilmouth
[May 21, 2008]
Giving a cat a home holds far more responsibilities than giving them their food and the occasional cuddle. It is a commitment that could last for 20 years in some cases, although the average life span for a cat is around 15 years. By understanding what is actually involved in caring for a cat will enable perspective cat owners to make an informed decision and will prevent unhappy future re-homing situations.
The initial costs of homing a cat depends very much on where you get the cat from and whether or not it is a pure breed which could cost as much as £1000. Most animal shelters will charge a fee of around $100 to $150 but this fee often includes vaccinations and neutering, whereas a pet store will charge less but will require you to pay for initial vet treatments yourself.
As a cat owner it will be your responsibility to provide proper medical care for your cat throughout its lifetime. Investing in a cat insurance policy is often a wise move and will help you pay for any unforeseen expensive medical procedures. However initially you will have to pay for their first vets treatments and this could be as much as $250 including vaccinations and de-sexing.
Making your cat comfortable at home is also an essential cat owner responsibility. Making sure that each cat have their own litter trays, beds, toys and feeding bowls is only the basic requirements, on top of these you will have to consider buying a cat carrier, grooming brushes, climbing posts and scratching posts, depending on your cats personal requirements.