The True Cost of Pets

watna

Someone at work sent me this interesting article about the costs of pets.

http://money.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=548586&showcomments=true

The figures are in Aus/NZ dollars but the percentages are quite interesting. I think a lot of people get a cute kitten or puppy and just don't realise the cost.

We got our cat last April and I reckon, in those 9 months he's cost us about $3000. That's mainle because he's been to the vet lots as he got attacked by another cat and needed surgery and he has feline asthma too. We do spend a lot on food though and he still uses cat litter and we buy the crystal kind.

Luckily, we could afford it and I would have paid anything to make him better when he was ill.

What do you think? Do you pets cost you a lot? Is it worth it?

star-pants

I would agree, an awful lot of people get a pet because they want one but honestly don't realise the amount of time and money you spend on them.

We have two dogs, both bought, both insured, both indoor dogs.
We would spend money on insurance, food, bedding, toys, grooming, brushes, harnesses/leads, vet bills etc
You have to look after them as you would a child (my room looks like a play room! lol) as they're dependent on you (dogs are anyway, I know some cats adopt other owners for titbits ) and so you have to provide for them.

Recently I had to get fox mange treatments for both my dogs, I've been to the vets over sprained paws, jolted shoulders, coughs, sick tummies and other things.

Their health and welfare come first to me, and I honestly wouldn't want a world without them. They're worth every cent, every frozen finger for a walk, all for an excited wag and a kiss

Lollymcd

I'd pay any amount of vet bills for our two kitties, I love them.

Aside: for indoor cats do you think pet insurance is worth it?

6th

Lollymcd wrote: »

Aside: for indoor cats do you think pet insurance is worth it?

Yep.

star-pants

Lollymcd wrote: »

Aside: for indoor cats do you think pet insurance is worth it?

Are they indoor 24/7 and not let out at all?
although, even then if they fell or something fell on them or one of them got a genetic illness, you could still end up in the vets.
My dogs are mostly indoor dogs, actually most of the damage they've done has been indoors playing lol. So insurance might just be worth your while.

watna

6th wrote: »

Yep.

Me too. Pet insurance is worth it not matter what.

Unfortuantely, we got it AFTER our cat was badly injured (my OH's fault!) and now cat bites and abcesses,a s well as his asthma are excluded from his policy. Do it before something happens to them!

Lollymcd

They are indoors 24/7 no exceptions ever!!! I never considered genetic illness, one is 8 months the other is 14 months so who knows what's ahead of me. I've only heard of Alliance, does anyone else have any good experiences with any other firm?

star-pants

Best to ring around and see which place covers best for the money you're paying. We're with allianz but that's dogs we have.