Navigating pet expenses: Tips from a millennial cat parent
Becoming a cat parent is a journey, both emotionally and financially.
5 min read
Pet ownership surged at the start of the pandemic and is still booming globally, especially amongst the young(er) generations. As a millennial who adopted a cat a day before the first lockdown, I fit this stereotype to a T. But now, with more wisdom, financial stability, and a second cat in the mix, I’ve learned a few things that I wish I’d known earlier. From the responsibility of caring for a pet to budgeting for regular and unexpected expenses, here are some of my insights about becoming a cat parent.
The financial reality of raising two cats
Like millions across the globe, I became a pet parent for the first time at the start of the pandemic. Fern, my sassy little tortie, was the perfect companion during those long lockdown months. She interrupted my wall-staring sessions with demands to play and soon became the highlight of Zoom calls to my family back in the UK. Two years later, I decided she needed a companion, so I added Ernie, a loveable kitten with a death wish, to the family — with mixed financial results. More on that later.In total, these two bundles of attitude and joy cost me roughly €160 a month, but that doesn’t include the little surprises or one-off expenses. Here’s a breakdown of my regular and not-so-regular cat care costs.
The set-up costs of cat-ifying an apartment
Before bringing home my first cat, I obsessively watched Jackson Galaxy videos, stressed over different cat toilets, and set about “cat-ifying” my apartment. This period was pricey, as I had to buy everything from food bowls and cat trees to beds and grooming brushes. I also learned that cats, especially in small apartments like mine, need to use the “vertical space.” So, I turned my place into a Super Mario platform game for cats by installing shelves at various heights for Fern to jump on.Overall, Fern's initial setup cost me around €450. Two years later, when I got Ernie, I didn’t need new cat shelves or grooming brushes, but I did have to buy duplicates of everything else, which came to about €390. However, you can certainly get yourself set up for cheaper by buying second-hand, especially where toys are concerned!
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Pedigree vs. rescue: different cats, different price tags
The cost of getting a new furry friend can vary widely based on their breed, age, and whether they’re from a shelter or a breeder. The priciest option is a pedigree kitten from an expensive breeder, while the cheapest is an older rescue cat from a shelter. Although adopting a rescue cat is kinder, the shelters I contacted were hesitant to let me adopt due to my lack of previous cat experience. As an expat in Germany, my limited German skills also didn’t help.Instead, I turned to various online pet-selling platforms. This approach has its risks, but Fern met all my criteria: She was eight months old (kittens shouldn’t be sold younger than eight weeks), from a loving home, vaccinated, and well-socialized. Her price? €250. After bringing her home, I had her spayed for €140, totaling €390.Two years later, better informed about the risks of unverified sellers, I bought my second cat, Ernie, from a registered pedigree breeder for €650 (including vaccinations). Neutering him cost €90, as castrating a male is cheaper than spaying a female, bringing the total to €740.
The monthly expenses of cat care
My budget was tight when I first got Fern, so I fed her the cheapest supermarket wet food, costing around €15 a month. By the time I adopted Ernie, I had more disposable cash, so I started researching better cat nutrition. Now, I feed them a balanced mid-range wet food that costs about €1.60 a day, or roughly €50 a month. However, Ernie’s breeder had him on a high-quality diet of raw meat and egg whites before he came home with me, so there’s no limit to how much you can spend on your cat’s food!Other recurring costs include cat litter, which costs close to €30 a month for a mid-range biodegradable brand. Insurance premiums are €30 for Ernie and €50 for Fern, as she’s slightly older. You can find cheaper insurance plans, but due to my experiences with Ernie, I opted for the most comprehensive plans with no extra fees. Altogether, my monthly cat costs come to around €160.
My top tip for new cat parents: prepare for the unexpected!
If there’s one thing Fern and Ernie have taught me, it’s to always plan for the unexpected. Medically, Fern has been relatively low-maintenance, but Ernie is a different story. Just three weeks after bringing him home, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease that cost €2,000 to cure. Then, days after he was officially cured, he went on a night-time trash bin raid and ate a piece of packaging larger than his body. Cue another €1,800 vet bill. He’s since racked up an additional €3,000 bill for breed-specific surgery, and he’s only just celebrated his second birthday!So, here are my two biggest takeaways from raising this delightful, medically-challenged cuddle monster:
The rumors about pedigree cats being more prone to diseases are true. Yes, my experience is rather extreme and certainly not the norm, but if you decide to adopt a pedigree, know that it can get expensive.
Whether your cat is a pedigree or not, consider getting pet insurance if a surprise large vet bill could hurt your finances. Without insurance, Ernie’s €7,000 in vet bills over the past 1.5 years would have wiped out my emergency fund.
Cat-proof your finances with N26
Whether you own a cat or are thinking of getting one, don’t let unexpected costs derail your finances. Saving and budgeting can help protect you against life’s little surprises — and we make it easy with N26 Spaces. These handy sub-accounts sit right next to your main account and help you save towards any goal — or create a solid cat emergency fund.
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