I regret getting a cat

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It is too expensive. Annual vaccinations, insurance, flea and worming. I wish I hadn’t got her to be honest. How do poor people afford pets?

I guess they don't have insurance, vaccinations and buy flea and worm treatment from supermarket as and when needed.

They don’t, people take their pets to a shelter if they can’t afford them. Pet ownership is definitely expensive, mine has to have special food which is really stretching my budget but my cat has to come first. If you really can’t afford it and haven’t bonded with the cat yet then it might be better to surrender her

You don’t really need insurance or boosters. Previous cats had this but my current cat who’s 12 (she adopted me over covid) doesn’t get these now and she’s fine. Tabby white colour.

Fleas and worming just do tablets.

our vet said he would never vaccinate his own cats which was interesting.

pets are expensive and I think people really underestimate the cost of them

That’s interesting re what your vet says. The amount of money and insurance I spent on the previous cats was ridiculous.

What reason did the vet give for not vaccinating?

Two cats and one dog here. Wait till you want to go on holidays 😉

Still not a patch on the two kids though.

We’ve signed up to the vets care plan so get a reduction in worming and flea treatments as well as any treatment. Insurance goes out on monthly payments so I don’t really feel that either. £800 for boarding fees isn’t funny though.

We’re ok off - not minted by any means. We do it because they bring us a lot of happiness.

We’ve always found those to be a complete waste of time - tried for years to find one that worked.

It would be cheaper to get someone to live at your house as a pet sitter

Why did you get her then? I note you haven't mentioned any positives from having her at all.
If you aren't prepared to make any sacrifices for your pet then rehome her.

We pay £20 a month for insurance and £20 a month for our vets pet plan that includes vaccinations and monthly flea/worm treatment. So doesn't seem unmanageable but I guess it depends on your income.

I have the pet plan for my dogs at the vets, £20 a month covers them getting flea and worm treatment and all their jabs, plus 6 month check ups and a 10% discount of any treatments they need and their nails clipped.

It's worth a look to see of your vet does similar. I think at my vet dogs are 20 a month and cats are 16.

None of my animals are vaccinated. 14 year old dog whos top health, 13 year old cat similarly, 7 year old cat the same.. I only flea if I see evidence of fleas - maybe once a year, worming gets done the same time once a year unless evidence. Only big expense is oldest 2 on special diets due to allergies.

Is rehoming an option?

Pet ownership has become so expensive in the last decade. I used to have several pets, now I'd think twice about getting a second.

Don't you love your cat though? It must bring more to your life than bills

We have insurance and buy decent food but don't do the vaccinations and only flea and worm as needed and he's a happy, healthy lil chap.

I find the money I spent on him per month is well worth the enjoyment I get from having him around. I love coming home from work and he's there to greet me instead of an empty house.

My cat hasn't been vaccinated, i do the fleaing and worming and she eats supermarket food and mine. She's worth every penny.
She's not insured, but she's unlikely to be ill.

Me too. Not just the cost, but it turns out I'm really really not a cat person.

Oh well. I guess I just put up with it for the next twenty years.

My cats don't have insurance and I only treat for fleas if they catch them. I've not given them any vaccines since they were kittens and they are perfectly healthy? Only ever been to vets for fight related abscesses and a couple of skin issues. As one of mine has sensitive skin.

I'd hope he brings you plenty of pleasure?

Poor person who had three cats (and still have two).

I don't have insurance as I qualify for PDSA treatment.

I only give them flea or worming treatments when they actually need it it (I brush them 2-3 times a week as they love it and check the comb every time). On average they picked up fleas about once every 18 months or so and have never caught worms.

As for vaccinations, I bought a package with a vet when they were kittens that was £100 and they'd get free boosters and a healthy check for life as long as I never missed an appointment, so I had damn sure I never missed an appointment. They are 13 now and have had free vaccinations their whole lives.

One died a year ago of a brain tumour, one is perfectly healthy, and one now has Kidney Disease. His special food is quite a bit more expensive than his old food but I shop around and use every voucher / cash back / deal I can find so he doesn't go without.

On average they cost me around £15 a week, but I put that aside and buy in bulk when things run out as it's cheeper.

Vets will try to sell you all sorts of things cats don’t really need. Just say you’ll be in touch. Flea treatment from Tesco. As long as cats are fed well and loved that’s all they want

Did you not do some research on the expected costs?

As they age it gets more expensive. It’s common to need thyroid medication in old age, which requires regular blood tests.

I wish people would research the cost of pets before they get them.

The suggestions to surrender them to a rescue concern me. The rescues are completely overwhelmed at present and it's kitten season.