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Before You Adopt: Cost of a New Kitten
ODDS & ENDS 
Tags: cat, kitten, adopt, animal shelter, costs, price, vet, shots, necessities
Before you run out and find a new life companion, you need to set a budget for your new kitty's needs. Here are the necessities cats require when finding a new owner.
| | One Time Costs: |
| | KITTEN SHOTS. If you have a kitten, it will require at least a couple of sets of shots until its immune system is fully developed. Once it matures it need only go to the vet once a year for a booster. |
| | COLLAR, LEASH, & HARNESS. It's a good idea to have both a collar and a harness, collar for identification, harness for when you put her on a leash and she uses her cat skills to slip out of a collar. |
| | LITTER BOX & SCOOP. It's time to face facts, you're gonna have to clean a box of smelly delights. |
| | FOOD & WATER BOWLS. |
| | SCRATCHING POST. Not a necessity, but if you're having torn appolstry issues, this is a solution. |
| | KENNEL. Good for car rides (although your cat is bound to hate this experience), vacations, moving day, etc. |
| | BRUSH/COMB & NAIL CLIPPERS. With cats, scissors will work for nail trimming, if you feel the need. |
| | SPAY / NEUTER SURGERY. The days following the surgery may be the only time your kitten is lazy. |
| | PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION. Have your pet tattooed or microchipped just in case he or she gets lost. Tattooing can be done at the same time as the spay/neuter surgery, and microchipping is a quick and painless process done by injection. This may be expensive. |
| | CAT BED. Not a necessity, but if you'd rather your feline not use YOUR bed, this is a good option. |
| | Recurring Costs: |
| | FOOD. Try to find your cat primarily dry food; it's better for her teeth. You can also mix in a little canned food or provide canned food as an occasional treat. Seek kitten food for the first year of life. |
| | TREATS. Not a necessity and some treats are not recommended for kittens (I learned this the hard way as my kitten was pudgy before fully grown!), but if you love your cat, you'll like rewarding her. |
| | KITTY LITTER. Look for high-quality kitty litter; lower-quality litter tends to produce a lot of dust, which kitty can breathe in when she's doing her business. I recommends something that clumps...makes life easier. |
| | ANNUAL VET VISIT. Adult cats need an annual booster shot. The vet can do a check-up at the same time. |
| | FURBALL MEDICATION. May not be necessary for all cats, but self-grooming leads to swallowed fur, which can result in a buildup in their stomachs and the dreaded furball. Medication can help to alleviate furballs in your feline. |
| | GROOMING. Optional. Cats might need their claws trimmed periodically; you can ask your vet to show you how to do this yourself, or you can take your cat to the groomers to get it done. |
| | TOYS. Keep your cat indoors and provide it with a toys to keep it entertained and happy. I find string to be my cat's favorite...and it's free! |
| | BOARDING. Most people prefer not to take their cats on vacations. Check with some local kennels to determine the cost of a night's stay. |
| | Other Costs: |
| | UNFORESEEN MEDICAL COSTS, DENTAL CARE. Like people, your cat may sometimes get sick or require dental care. Pet insurance is available if you fear frequent vet visits. |
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Getting a cat can be expensive, but it's worth the love.
Comment by: buccicone.2 This is a good quick-reference if you're considering the adoption of a kitten. It's fairly thorough while remaining brief. It might be more helpful if there were estimated base costs (i.e. price of inexpensive water/food bowl: $5).
Comment by: stormdancer753
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