Cats

Cats
By Haley Wittenburg
Reuter A2

      Although it is not equivalent to a car loan or mortgage, the cost of getting and maintaining pets is very expensive. For families with a promising income or stable financial situation, this is a mere expense that doesn’t even dent their annual budget. But for less fortunate families that struggle just to bring groceries home, having a cat or dog seems like a luxury they can’t afford. In an economic perspective, pets bring capital to a variety of people and companies and can impact the economy through different markets.

      The first expense that a pet owner needs to bring forward is the adoption fee, which can vary depending on the species and breed. According to petfinder.com, adoption fees for kittens can range from $0 to $200. The large gap in prices is because the cost depends completely on the supplier and what exactly they are selling. If a farm gives a kitten away for free, the adoption costs nothing, but how expensive will the medical bills be? All animals need shots and vaccinations to keep them and your family safe and healthy. The average cost ranges from $20­$40 for an individual pet vaccination (luvmypet.com, 2014) and the average pet requires 2­5 vaccinations, plus regular booster shots (petsmart.com, 2008). These prices can add up quickly, but the marginal benefits are much greater than the marginal cost.

      Along with the adoption fee is the countless supplies needed when you bring your pet home. Animals need the basic food and water, but most pet owners go well out of their way to give their companions the best life they can offer. Toys and treats are just a start, but they can be costly after numerous and repeated purchases. Cat supplies cost less than dogs, but cat food costs an average of $220 and treats average $41 each year. Considering cats live about 15 to 20 years that would total $3,300­$4,400 for food and $615­$820 for treats (bankrate.com, 2014). There’s also a need for a litter box which costs $15 to $20 and should be replaced every few months. Cat litter is also a major priority, costing $7­$15 for 1 box and requiring at least 2 purchases a month. These fees average out to $60 or more for litter boxes and about $240 for litter each year ­ that’s almost 2 months of grocery money for the average 4­person family.

      Another thing to consider is that a family’s home affects their pet or even prevents them from having one. In most situations, the size of your house will depend on how big your pet is or what animal you want. Older couples would more likely lean toward a cat or small dog to accompany them in their apartment, while a young family with a nice house would feel more inclined to adopt a large dog or two. Also, some apartment owners charge a monthly fee and initial deposit to residences due to the responsibility and possible damages associated with a pet. Some buildings don’t allow pets at all, preventing those families from adopting their companion. These restrictions appear on three quarters of listed apartments and can add $1,000 or more to the annual cost of housing (Aho, 2009).


      Overall, many families are financially fortunate enough to enjoy a pet’s company without fretting over the numerous expenses involved, but the costs remain high and therefore benefit the people and companies receiving the money being spent. This could be the groomers, landlords, veterinarians, breeders, shelters, sitters, and various companies producing the many supplies needed to keep our pets happy and healthy. Below is a chart depicting the average expenses for the most popular animal choices in America; cats and dogs.
 Bibliography:


­ Petfinder. "Annual Cat Care Costs - Petfinder." Petfinder. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May
 2014.
<http://www.petfinder.com/pet-adoption/cat-adoption/annual-cat-care-costs/>.


­ Luvmypet. "Pet Vaccination Prices & Pet Meds." Luvmypet. N.p., 29 Apr. 2014.
 Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://www.luvmypet.com/prices.html>.


­ PetsHotel. "Vaccinations." Petsmart. N.p., 9 June 2008. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://pets.petsmart.com/services/petshotel/reservation-information/vaccinations/>.


­ Kay, Liz F.. "How Much Does Owning A Pet Cost In A Year?." Bankrate. N.p., 3
 Feb. 2012. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://www.bankrate.com/finance/personal-finance/how-much-does-owning-pet-cost.aspx>.


­ Keyt, Richard. "Caring For Fido and Fluffy After You're Gone." Keyt Law LLC
 Attorneys. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014.
<http://www.keytlaw.com/arizonawills/pet-trusts/>.


­ Aho, Karen. "Renting with a pet? 10 tips to get Buddy in the door - MSN R