In recent months we lost a lovely cat – Nutmeg, who we adopted from the RSPCA. This was the first time we had ever homed a cat and Nutmeg quickly became a big love of mine. Before adopting a cat we took lots of practicalities into consideration, having the added responsibility of a pet was a big decision. A few months have passed and today we introduced a new furry friend to our home. So here’s what we considered before adopting a cat including approximate upfront, monthly and annual costs.
Adopting from the RSPCA
We adopted Nutmeg and our recent cat Meringue from the RSPCA (Oldham and Bury) who have centers across the UK. We were really impressed with the staff’s careful consideration of ours and the cat’s needs and the time they took to answer our questions and support with the adoption process. I recommend visiting your local center on a regular basis so that you can really get to know a cat before committing to bringing them home. The RSPCA were always happy to welcome us.
‘Remember, when adopting a cat don’t just go for looks. Take time to get to know the cat and make sure they are the right fit for your home.’
-Niomi, Bury and Oldham RSPCA
What you might need and costs
Up-front costs
- Adoption Fee (around £70, cats have a vet check, flea & worming, neutering, vaccinations and microchipping)
- Micro Chip Cat flap (At £40 – £80 these are expensive but ensure that only your cat can enter)
- Litter Tray
- Food Bowls
- Cat Toys
- Cat Bed
- Scratch Post
- Cat Carrier
- Brush (especially for long-haired cats)
Up-front costs: Approx £250 – £350
On-going monthly and annual costs
- Cat litter
- Food
- Injections
- Worming and flea treatment
- Pet insurance
- Holiday care
Monthly costs: approx £50 – £100
Annual costs: approx £50 – £100
Other things to consider
Is the cat the right fit for your home? We have a toddler so considered whether we could ensure a careful watch of both her and the cat together, in the house and if this added responsibility was agreeable. We met both cats several times in order to make sure they had the right temperament for a young child.
Do you have time? Our morning routine is often busy with work, family life, and other commitments. Nutmeg was often under the feet and needed to be fed, we made sure that we were happy for any extra jobs to be added to our routine.
What about the holidays? We checked that the neighbours could feed and keep the cat company when we were away. I found that Nutmeg got a bit jittery when we left for periods of time and having company, as well as food, was reassuring for him and me too!
For more detailed information on how to adopt a cat visit the RSPCA website here
Life Loves and Learning 