Cat Health Symptoms - how much would it cost each year for an adult cats vaccinations? cat care prices?

how much would it cost each year for an adult cats vaccinations? cat care prices?

my family is thinking about getting a cat from a cat shelter thats had all its kitten shots. how much money will it cost each year for the cats vaccinations? also, how much do i feed a male or female cat each day? i need to know how much so i know how much food i need to buy each month, i can only buy more food at the end of each month so i would have to stock up around the25th. do indoor cats need flea controll?

Public Comments

If no emergencies ever happened, it's about 50 dollars a year for vaccinations. Only 4 percent of cats have trouble with food being down all day. I have never had a cat that overate. So fill the bowl and keep it full, it will stop when it's full. (Double check with the shelter on the specific cat you pick and make sure it's never had a problem.) If you buy a 20 lb. bag you will be good for about 2 months. For a healthy brand that's about 20 dollars every two months. Yes, Indoor cats need flea control as well. Because you go in and out of the house, so do fleas and if one touches your cat, they start breeding. Advantage costs about 60 dollars for a 6 pack (will last you 6 months).
Pricing is going to vary from vet to vet, so I would recommend calling your local vets and getting prices from them. I'm in NY. For my cat, I get him his 3 year rabies at the county rabies clinic because it's only $5, and do the rest of the shots at the vets every three years (which is what my vet recommends, some do yearly.) I do check ups every six months. The office visit costs me $40, and the vaccine adds to that. It was $69 with the shots. So usually, I spend about $40, but when he needs his shots, it's about $30 more. If your cat doesn't come spayed or neutered, that runs $100- 125 in my area, but there are programs available to help with those costs. I buy a bag of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Adult Cat food at $9.00 per bag and it lasts me about three weeks when I just have the one cat to feed (I foster too, so when I have fosters, obviously the price goes up from there). You can get cheaper food, but they are just that: "Cheap!" I really recommend spending the extra $3-7 per bag on food to get a higher quality diet for your cat. If you feed well from the beginning, you end up with a healthier cat who needs less vet care in the long run. I also buy recycled newspaper or pine litter. It's also more expensive, but worth it. Clay litter has been reported to block and infect the nail beds on cats, preventing them from retracting their claws and causing a lot of pain. With male cats, recycled newspaper litter has been recommended to help reduce the risk of UTI. I find it easier to clean and it helps absorb smell more. Depending on which kind I buy, I'm usually spending $6-10 per month on cat litter when I just have the one. Indoor cats only need flea control if you see a problem. Fleas can come in on your clothing, come up from cellars, and can be in the carpets and furniture already. If picking up a cat from a shelter, I would recommend asking if they already have the cat on a preventative. If not, I think it would be worth a dose of flea control to start out with. Shelters are usually clean, well managed facilities, and there can still be flea outbreaks. It's like a kid in kindergarten, the teacher can be doing everything right, and one kid can walk in with lice and give it to everyone. Frontline or Advantage from the vets is a quality product that is reasonably safe. Every type of flea control has it's risks, but those two are the safest of the group. You can get cheaper flea meds at Walmart, but again...Cheaper = Cheap. I have had very bad experience with hartz and sargents products, including my cat having severe skin reactions and loss of hair. (this was before I knew better lol) I will never use or recommend any of their products again. The other thing you need to factor into your equation is unplanned vet care. Things go wrong, injuries happen, and if you start off being prepared, then things go a lot smoother. I am on a limited income, and what I do is put away $5-$10 per week as a reserve for emergency vet care. This is not for the routine stuff. This is in the event my cat starts screaming at 2 am the day after I pay rent. It may not sound like much, but if you don't use it unless you absolutely need it, it can add up quickly and be a life saver. In one year, you can have a vet reserve of $520. I hope this helps!
My vet charges $22 for vaccinations and $10 for rabies. My vet does not charge an office fee. You'll need a spay or neuter if the shelter doesn't do it which is $40 at my vet (some vets charge more or less). Food for 1 cat will run about $30 a month. Flea meds like Frontline or Advantage cost about $40 for a 3 month supply. An indoor cat needs flea meds as you bring fleas in on your shoes after outings.