If you like animals, especially cats, you know that adopting a pet requires responsibility. That is, in addition to all the love, affection, company and memories that this experience will bring you, you also need to be prepared to offer your pet a good life. But, after all, how much does it cost to have a cat?

Well, it's not just purrs and attention that a kitten lives on. So if you're thinking about adopting a furry friend, know that this is an important decision that needs to be taken with caution. In this sense, you need to be able to provide health, care and attention to the pet. So check out our tips on how to care and how much it costs to have a cat.

Adopting a cat is an act of love, especially if it's a stray or shelter kitten. In fact, a pet requires much more than just feelings of care and affection, and it's important to think about giving it the life it deserves! That is, good food, health, safe environment, in addition to toys and accessories.

Well, if you're already wondering how much it costs to have a cat, know that, like any other responsibility, it's not cheap. So if you intend to have a pet correctly and responsibly, we will help you understand the costs that this decision will have.

Initially, you will have a few extra expenses to make your kitten comfortable in its new home. But don't worry, some items on this list you'll probably only buy once, or only have to replace if they wear out.

First of all, if you are going to adopt a cat or any other animal, you will need food and water bowls. These objects cost, on average, around R$20.00, but there are more expensive examples, made of more durable materials that can exceed R$100.00. Therefore, analyze the cost benefit and understand which one may be cheaper to buy.

Also, you will need a litter box! By the way, this is one of the most important items for you to buy, so try to buy a quality product. So, in addition to the value, which varies between R$50.00 and can reach R$350.00, you need to pay attention to the size and type of box. If you buy a model that the cat does not fit, you may have problems with misplaced needs.

In addition, items such as a carrier, hair brush, toys and scratching posts are also extremely important! Even if you only use the transport case on occasional occasions, it is quite necessary and you should find models for less than R$100.00.

While fur brushes and small toys are the cheapest on this list, scratching posts definitely top the list. However, if you want to have whole furniture for many more years, scratching posts are very important. In that sense, they tend to cost between R$50.00 and R$300.00.

So it's hard to say exactly how much it costs to have a cat every month. However, we can think of some important expenses such as food, veterinarian, vaccines and sanitary sand, for example. Even if you take your cat to a veterinary appointment only once a year, you need to think about the costs of exams, vaccines, deworming and neutering.

In this way, we can add up all these expenses and divide them by the 12 months of the year, finding an average of R$150.00 to R$200.00 per month to keep your kitten. Of course, all this taking into account the average values for veterinary consultations, which usually range from R$80.00 to R$250.00 depending on your city.

In addition, it is also necessary to take into account veterinary emergencies that can occur, such as illnesses, accidents, medications, surgeries, among other expenses. For this type of expense, you can also hire a health plan for your pet.

Although some expenses may vary according to the store where you buy them, the city where you live or the breed of your cat, it is possible to calculate an average of values taking into account the price variation. In this way, we have listed below some of the most important and essential expenses for anyone who wants to be a cat tutor. Check it out below.

First of all, you need to decide which type of food you are going to buy for your pet. In this sense, there are Standard, Premium and Super Premium type rations. Thus, the Standard ration is the cheapest, costing an average of R$25.00 per kilo. However, its composition is generally not the best, and it may not offer all the nutrients your cat needs.

In addition, we have the Premium type feed, which usually has an average value of R$70 per kilo and is more complete and balanced. By the way, it is an intermediate level and can be an excellent cost benefit. On the other hand, the Super Premium feed is a feed with very high nutritional value, in addition to having animal protein as its main ingredient.

However, the value of a 1.5 kg package of Super Premium feed can reach more than R$100.00. Therefore, it is important to analyze your cat's needs beyond your budget and understand which option is best for you.

Another important point when it comes to having a pet is to keep its health up to date. Thus, it is important to think about at least 1 appointment with the veterinarian every year for exams and vaccines. In addition, it is also important to maintain vermifugation every 3 months.

Also, don't forget to account for emergencies that can happen to the kitten, such as illness, inflammation, accidents or other health problems. By the way, there are pet health plans that can be a good solution to avoid such high expenses that usually happen in an emergency.

Although some people view buying toys as a superfluous expense, a good activity routine can change your cat's life. In addition, it is important to think about a good environmental enrichment, with shelves and scratching posts suitable for your kitten!

In addition, you can also invest in activities that he can perform independently of you, such as mice, balls and even pots of food that stimulate his instincts. By the way, a bored cat can develop diseases such as obesity, depression and even other more serious health problems.

So, your cat's hygiene includes various expenses such as a hair brush, nail clippers, pet shop if necessary, hygienic sand, among other items. Therefore, it is difficult to determine how much it costs to have a cat when it comes to hygiene. After all, everything will depend on the breed of cat you adopted, whether its hair is long or short, or the type of litter you chose.

In that sense, you need to keep an eye on the box model and the type of litter your cat prefers, after all, he is the one who will use the box, isn't he? Therefore, there is no point in buying the most expensive sand, such as silica, for example, which can cost R$50.00 for a 1.8 kg package. If this is not your cat's preference, you may experience problems such as peeing and even pooping outside the box.

So, avoid headaches, and try to use the sand that your cat is used to. Among the options on the market, there are packages ranging from R$8.00 to R$200.00.

In addition, there are other specific care that cats need to be safe and have a good quality of life. That way, we've separated some tips for you to understand what it's like to have a feline at home. Check it out below!