The Average Cost of Veterinary Care for a Kitten in its first year of life
Have you ever wondered what it costs in veterinary care for a new cat or kitten? If you are thinking of adding a cat or kitten to your life, then it is an import cost to consider! Sure, that cat/kitten for free on Facebook or Craigslist looks super cute and you’d love to add him or her as a new companion, but what will it cost you in care when you get the kitten home?
Have you ever wondered what it costs in veterinary care for a new cat or kitten? If you are thinking of adding a cat or kitten to your life, then it is an import cost to consider! Sure, that cat/kitten for free on Facebook or Craigslist looks super cute and you’d love to add him or her as a new companion, but what will it cost you in care when you get the kitten home? Kittens require three rounds of core vaccinations to protect them from illness in their first few months of life and then yearly after that. You’ll also want to deworm the kitten. That can be done with routine deworming, but for best results a fecal test should be performed so that you can be sure you are treating the correct worms or parasites. If the mother’s status on infectious diseases is unknown then you should also strongly consider running a test to check for FeLV (Feline leukemia), and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
Of course one of the most important things you’ll need to do is make sure you cat/kitten is spayed or neutered! The number one reason why would be to not be contributing to the cat overpopulation problem. In almost every part of the United States we have by far more kittens being born into this world than people that want them to give them good, loving homes. This results in many kittens being given away for cheap or free. Of course, there are many people that can give a free cat a good loving home, but horror stories abound with things that happen to free or cheap cats. Then there are sadly the devastating things that happen to kittens that never find a home at all and are feral. Even if you plan to keep your cat strictly indoors and away from the opposite sex, accidents can and do happen. There are also health and lifestyle concerns to consider when you do not have your cat spayed or neutered. If a female has continuous heat cycles without becoming pregnant then she will be at risk of pyometra - a serious, potentially deadly infection of the uterus. Many people know that an intact male cat will mark his territory, but many don’t realize that a female will also mark her territory when she is in heat. Having your cats altered will prevent many health issues and unsanitary living conditions caused by cats marking your house with urination.
The other potential cost concern with a free or cheap kitten is the potential need frequent heath checks or emergencies. When the kitten comes from a poor upbringing and lifestyle there is the potential of receiving a sickly kitten, that may need lots of care and treatment. A free kitten is also not like to have come from parents that were health screened, or DNA tested and could come with genetic defects that could also be costly to treat and care for. Below are some costs to keep in mind for the proper care of a cat/kitten.
Example of Basic Veterinary Costs for a Kitten in the First Year:
Veterinary Exam: $70 x 3 = $210
FVRCP Combo Vaccine: $25 x 3 = $75
Rabies Vaccine: $25 x1 = $25
Deworming: $10 a bottle x 1 = $10
Spay/Neuter $250
Total: $570.00
Extra Recommended Care:
Bloodwork to check Health: $125
Fecal Test: $60
FeLV/FIV/HW Test: $60
Microchipping: $60
Total Optional Care: $305
As you can see here it will cost you anywhere from $570 to $875 on average for basic standard care of kitten or cat with no record of care. This is the minimum amount you can expect to pay. If the kitten has any illnesses or congenital diseases that need to be addressed, then addition expenses will likely arise. If the kitten has a worm or parasite that requires dewormer other than the standard the cost would go up. If the new kitten is found to have fleas, ear mites, infections, etc. during the initial exams additional cost can add up with diagnostic tests and medication cost. So, it is wise to buffer in at least a few hundred extra dollars in the first-year expenses in case additional care is needed.
If you are thinking these prices are out of budget but you’d still love to give a great home to a new kitten - you’re in luck! There are various resources to help low-income people and families! I love that through generous donations cats and dogs can still get the care they need in the first year in a way that makes it affordable for their owners! Please keep in mind that these programs would not exist without donor help! There are so many expenses with veterinary care and these prices would be available if donors weren’t helping to make up the difference. (Same with Animal Shelters and their expenses vs sales.) So please use this wonderful resource if you qualify but also consider donating back to it in the future if the opportunity becomes available so that others may enjoy this opportunity for years to come!
*These are examples in my home area of Central Minnesota. Prices Can be higher or lower depending on the area of the state or part of the country you live in. This is provided to just give a general idea of what the cost might be.
Additional Reading:
Is Adopting a Free Kitten a Good Idea? | Hill's Pet
Outdoor cats spread diseases and harm public health | Popular Science
Is There an Optimal Age for Cat Spay or Neuter? | Today's Veterinary Practice
MN SNAP – Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic in MN — MN SNAP Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic