Purchasing a cat should be carefully considered, after all, it can live up to 20 years. Consider carefully in advance whether it is possible to take care of the animal for the rest of its life. Because that costs time – and money. We have calculated for you how the maintenance costs are made up in detail.
In Germany there are over six million pet owners who have a cat. This is the result of a current Statista survey (as of 2020). Due to the ongoing corona pandemic, it can be assumed that the number has increased in recent months and will continue to increase. Much to the chagrin of local animal shelters who have to take in many cats after they are no longer cute kittens. And it has become clear to the owners that they are not doing the animals justice.
Our appeal to all people who want to get a cat is all the more urgent: Please think carefully about whether you can get involved with a velvet paw for the next 15 to 20 years. A good help is the following cost statement from the German Animal Welfare Association. If you’re still ready to adopt a pet, our kit for a cat is designed to help you prepare.
How high are the maintenance costs for a cat?
According to the German Animal Welfare Association (Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.), the total cost for a cat that lives to be 16 years old on average is almost 11,500 euros. These are made up of the following points:
Initial equipment for the cat: what is included?
Transport box On the day of the handover (whether at the animal shelter or at the dealer) you need a safe transport box for the cat – so that the car journey is as pleasant as possible for people and animals. And the velvet paw has less stress. Apart from that, you will need a crate at the latest when you have to drive the cat to the vet. Depending on the size of the animal, you should make sure that it can lie down in the box. And the weight of the bag should also be taken into account so that it fits well in the hand and is easy to carry. Consider this: wicker baskets are beautiful to look at, but difficult to clean. Cloth, on the other hand, is lighter than plastic, but plastic is easier to clean. Consider individually which transport box is best for your cat.
Litter boxRegardless of whether your cat goes outside or not, it needs a litter box inside the apartment – if you have several house tigers living with you, you should set up more than one litter box. The animals have a sensitive nose and (in some cases) do not do their business where the legacies of their fellow species have already been buried. If you are adopting a kitten, a litter box with a low rim is recommended for easier entry. Later, you should choose a model that is large enough for the adult animal to turn around in it easily. When it comes to cat litter, it is important in the early days to use the same that was used in the animal shelter or at the dealer. You will also need a perforated shovel to clean up the remains.
Feeding stationEach cat needs two bowls, preferably made of stainless steel or ceramic, then they are easier to clean: one for food and one for fresh water. Make sure there is enough space between the bowls so that no leftovers end up in the drinking bowl and contaminate it. Place the two bowls on a surface, protect the floor from falling cat food. It is best to use the same varieties that the animal got to eat at the home or from the breeder. Alternatively, there are also special varieties for young animals, which should provide them with all the important nutrients in the first months of life. In any case, make sure that your cat has a species-appropriate and balanced diet so that it stays healthy. Buying a drinking fountain for the pet can also be just as useful, since some velvet paws like to drink running water from the tap.
Place of retreatEspecially in the first few weeks after moving in, cats should have the opportunity to withdraw. Apart from the fact that they can sleep up to 16 hours a day, they need enough rest to get used to their new home. Since the animals prefer to choose their sleeping places themselves, you should put a cozy blanket, a pillow or a sleeping basket where the velvet paw prefers to sleep. Alternatively, a scratching post is also a good idea, as it has several advantages: It is a place of retreat, a place to sleep and a vantage point all in one. That being said, indoor cats in particular can use it (instead of your furniture) to sharpen and sharpen their claws – or just climb on it. For this reason it is important that it stands securely and cannot tip over.
SafetyIf you have a balcony, you should also make it available to your cat. The animals love being out in the fresh air and observing the area. However, caution is also required here: You should attach a safety net so that the four-legged friend does not jump into the depths and injure himself or even run away. Clarify in advance with your landlord whether you can get permission to do so. Alternatively, there are also special protective grilles for windows that are tilted – if your cat runs the risk of squeezing itself in or running away. However, you should consider whether the purchase is really necessary. Attachment makes sense depending on which floor you live on and how much your pet likes to go out. A cat flap can be useful for outdoor cats, but you also need your landlord’s permission for this.
ToysCats love to play no matter how old they are. For this reason, the right toy should not be missing from the initial equipment. Especially when the animal is not allowed to go outside, it is all the more important that it is kept in a good mood. Make sure there is enough variety that demands a cat physically – and also mentally. Whether cat rod or feather feather, balls or furry mice: there is a whole arsenal of toys on the Internet that you can buy both individually and as a set. Make sure you choose a balanced mixture that satisfies the animal’s hunting instinct and trains small kittens. But it is also important that you do not offer everything to the house cat at once, otherwise it could quickly lose interest.
GroomingLast but not least, grooming is also on the agenda. A cat does most of this on its own, but there’s no harm in brushing the animal regularly – if you don’t want all of the hair (especially when it’s time for a change of fur) to end up on your furniture. Apart from that, cats enjoy the regular massage if, for example, you use a special grooming glove with rubber nubs. For upholstered furniture, on the other hand, there are lint rollers for removing pet hair.
Source: Deutscher Tierschutzbund e.V.
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