Cost of Cats

A

AliciaD

On second thought...
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#61
Also, I would want to get from a breeder because they keep the kittens for much longer. Around here a kitten is available at 8 weeks, but responsible breeders keep them for much longer, around 12, sometimes 14-16 weeks (which is the norm for Norwegian Forest cat breeders). I think the socialization and head start that they get with a responsible breeder is worth it, for me. And a lot of the shelters here feed kibble, it would be easier to transition a cat onto raw if it's on canned or is already on raw.

I can see the pros to buying from a breeder.
 
ravennr

ravennr

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Rock has a puppia harness. We had no idea how fancy they were when we bought it :p
The photo in my signature is his first day out in the park with a friend's dog. He's not as mean as he looks.
 
Kat09Tails

Kat09Tails

*Now with Snark*
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#63
I've always wanted a Japanese bobtail, but cost/care considerations did weigh in. No- a manx rescue stumpie wouldn't do. Odds are when I get one it'll be a retired breeder - which is fine. I have NO interest in showing or raising kittens.

Keeping intact cats responsibly is not like keeping intact dogs. Dogs are easy... so easy by comparison.

Growing up my Aunt's neighbor raised a breed of purebred cats. In her backyard was her cattery - her males had to stay out there almost year round because her females cycled together *most of the time* and between the fighting and the spraying it would be a nightmare indoors. Her cats were not allowed outside like the typical housecat - too many diseases being spread by strays and the cats were simply worth too much to risk sacrifice to a car tire. Her yard had catproof fences both in and out to keep ferals and wandering housecats out. I can't imagine they were cheap.
 
SarahHound

SarahHound

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#64
My (hopefully) soon to be Norwegian Forest breeder charges £400, and the other one I have my eye on charged £375 (which work out as $635 and $595 roughly), not to mention for the first one it will cost about £200 in transport to get there.

I am very happy to pay that for a cat. Funny though, I'd never pay it for a dog! I guess I just think kittens spend much longer with their breeders (16 weeks with the first one, and 13 weeks with the second), they go through a lot of socialisation with them. Both of these breeders test their cats for a few different problems.

All my previous cats have been 'off the streets', randoms that turned up, and I love them to bits, but in my eyes, nothing is more beautiful than a Norwegian.
 
SarahHound

SarahHound

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#65
JessLough said:
To say that cats are of less value to dogs is really offensive to people. Cat people think cats are worth just as much or more. And cats can have so many health issues... Most things you see with dogs, cats have heir own version.

I have to ask... Where on earth are you finding $60 ferrets? o_O even mill ferrets are $200+. I wouldn't touch a $60 ferret with a 10 foot pole. It's even more important for ferrets to be health tested than dogs, IMO, since so much can go wrong so young. I'm looking to buy a ferret from a breeder in the future, and I'm easily looking at spending $500. Heck, even a ferret from rescue is $150-200 (Kinda sad I don't even know how much we charge)
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Ferrets here go for peanuts...seriously, babies from workers are usually given away for free in the newspaper each weekend. Granted these won't be the best breeders, but even well bred ferrets here don't go for much. My friend paid £15 for her ferret from a good breeder. That's about $23. Rescue ferrets cost £10.

I'm always amazed that they cost so much in Canada and the USA.
 
Fran101

Fran101

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#66
I would give a KIDNEY for a Maru clone! A KIDNEY!




















that cat is perfection.
 
J

JessLough

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#69
SarahHound said:
Ferrets here go for peanuts...seriously, babies from workers are usually given away for free in the newspaper each weekend. Granted these won't be the best breeders, but even well bred ferrets here don't go for much. My friend paid £15 for her ferret from a good breeder. That's about $23. Rescue ferrets cost £10.

I'm always amazed that they cost so much in Canada and the USA.
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Ferrets also originate on that side of the world LOL They generally aren't viewed as pets there, but more as hunting tools. I've been told most people over there don't even keep them inside and socialize them, they just have them outside and have little to no interaction with them (other than sticking them in a carrier and then letting them out at hunting site). I'd imagine they wouldn't want to spend much on a ferret that has a higher chance of getting lost/killed.

I definitely wish it would be feasible to just import from there :p But then it would just be more money LOL
 
Laurelin

Laurelin

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#72
I'm not a cat person at all. I've entertained the idea a few times about getting a cat and every time come to the conclusion that why would I want to get a cat when I could just get a small dog instead? lol

So yeah I wouldn't ever pay more than a shelter s/n fee to be honest. But just because I wouldn't pay much for a cat doesn't mean that it's wrong for them to be priced as they are. I do think it's insane some of the prices to buy the hybrid cats. But hey, not my money.
 
ravennr

ravennr

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#74
Maru is so cute. I do prefer the drop-eared Scottish Folds though.

I had a chance to get an Exotic Shorthair, one of my dream cats, for free from a woman who had to rehome hers because her son was getting horrible allergic reactions. Cutest little guy, too.

What I REALLY would love is an Oriental, preferably longhair but shorthair is good too. I LOVE their faces.
I also love Savannahs and Safaris, and Chausies have grown on me as well when they're a bit larger.
 
SarahHound

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#75
JessLough said:
Ferrets also originate on that side of the world LOL They generally aren't viewed as pets there, but more as hunting tools. I've been told most people over there don't even keep them inside and socialize them, they just have them outside and have little to no interaction with them (other than sticking them in a carrier and then letting them out at hunting site). I'd imagine they wouldn't want to spend much on a ferret that has a higher chance of getting lost/killed.

I definitely wish it would be feasible to just import from there :p But then it would just be more money LOL
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It's funny how different they are viewed here. I had a ferret many moons ago, she was outside but had a huge hutch and attached run, she was a pet. I keep having people offering me ferret kits as there's a local guy who breeds them to work, but always ends up with more babies than he needs. He usually just offers them to people and if they don't take them, he lets them go. I don't think it would be fair to have them and rabbits at the moment though. I think its an either or thing with them! Rabbits and guinea pigs are also generally thought of as outdoor pets here.

There are lots of ferts as pets, but I think a lot more who are workers.
 
J

JessLough

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#76
SarahHound said:
It's funny how different they are viewed here. I had a ferret many moons ago, she was outside but had a huge hutch and attached run, she was a pet. I keep having people offering me ferret kits as there's a local guy who breeds them to work, but always ends up with more babies than he needs. He usually just offers them to people and if they don't take them, he lets them go. I don't think it would be fair to have them and rabbits at the moment though. I think its an either or thing with them! Rabbits and guinea pigs are also generally thought of as outdoor pets here.

There are lots of ferts as pets, but I think a lot more who are workers.
Click to expand...
Well, if you are ever flying out this way.. bring a few with ya ;)
 
ravennr

ravennr

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#79
Anyone else think brown cats are just super cool looking? You almost never see them, but I LOVE them.

And by brown I mean BROWN. Like Havana Browns.


The day I see a brown rescue cat is the day I bring home a brown rescue cat.
 
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