There are three main considerations to take into account when you are thinking about getting a cat, or any pet for that matter.
Do you have the time to dedicate to the cat, to spend with them playing or having a cuddle? Do you have the space for a cat in your home without constantly tripping over each other? And finally, can you afford a cat? The last is possibly the most important for many people because we all live on a budget of sorts.
While the initial cost of buying a cat can be high for pedigree kittens, it is possible to get a cat free of charge by taking in one from a shelter.
However, this isn't the only cost involved with owning a cat.
There are some ways that cats are cheaper to own that dogs - for starters, there are no costly grooming services needed as cats take care of all of this themselves.
There's no need to employ a dog walker while you are at work or away.
Keeping your cat indoors from the start can also reduce the chance of them becoming injured or catching a disease from another cat, therefore reducing their vet bills.
Start-up costs The first year owning a kitten is the most expensive, even if you take in one from a shelter.
The cost of buying a pedigree kitten can range from $50 to $750 and even further for rare and unusual breed.
Adopting a kitten from an ASPCA shelter normally costs around $125 while an adult cat is around half that.
Once you have your kitten, an initial medical exam is often required from the vet to ensure there are no health issues and this costs around $130.
Within a few weeks of bringing the kitten home, you will need to consider spaying or neutering and this can cost in the region of $150, though some shelters will have already done this if the kitten is old enough.
Other costs include vaccinations, getting the cat micro-chipped, deworming and de-fleaing courses and basic blood tests.
Annual costs A balanced diet for a cat includes both dry and wet foods as well as the odd treat to ensure they get all the nutritional elements needed.
Depending on the brand of food your cat likes, annual food bills can range from $120 to $500 per cat.
Around another $100 goes on treats and the same again on nutritional supplements if they are fussy eaters and a vet recommends these.
Some items will be bought when you first get the cat and may not be replaced for years.
A cat carrier is one such item that can cost around $75 but will doubtless last a number of years.
Cat beds, food and water bowls and scratching posts are again bought at the start and should last longer than a year - they cost anywhere from $10 up to $100 each to buy.
The cat litter box is a one-off expense but there is also an annual cost for cat litter which can vary dramatically depending on the type of litter that you convince your cat to use (or vice versa).
If you use supplementary items such as litter box liners or deodorants, then this is an additional cost.
Cleaning products aren't something associated with cats but there is often a chance that they will make a mess.
Stain removers therefore can cost up to $100 a year and more than this if your cat is one prone to a spell of vomiting or goes outdoors and brings mess in with them.
Vet fees The biggest cost for a cat is likely the one you cannot anticipate - vets fees.
As well as vaccinations and a regular check-up, the cost of vets' attention if they take ill or have an accident can run into the thousands.
Many people opt to take out pet insurance to help deal with the costs or stash a little money away as an emergency backup.
This is because we all know that if something bad is going to happen, it will happen at the worst possible time.
Do you have the time to dedicate to the cat, to spend with them playing or having a cuddle? Do you have the space for a cat in your home without constantly tripping over each other? And finally, can you afford a cat? The last is possibly the most important for many people because we all live on a budget of sorts.
While the initial cost of buying a cat can be high for pedigree kittens, it is possible to get a cat free of charge by taking in one from a shelter.
However, this isn't the only cost involved with owning a cat.
There are some ways that cats are cheaper to own that dogs - for starters, there are no costly grooming services needed as cats take care of all of this themselves.
There's no need to employ a dog walker while you are at work or away.
Keeping your cat indoors from the start can also reduce the chance of them becoming injured or catching a disease from another cat, therefore reducing their vet bills.
Start-up costs The first year owning a kitten is the most expensive, even if you take in one from a shelter.
The cost of buying a pedigree kitten can range from $50 to $750 and even further for rare and unusual breed.
Adopting a kitten from an ASPCA shelter normally costs around $125 while an adult cat is around half that.
Once you have your kitten, an initial medical exam is often required from the vet to ensure there are no health issues and this costs around $130.
Within a few weeks of bringing the kitten home, you will need to consider spaying or neutering and this can cost in the region of $150, though some shelters will have already done this if the kitten is old enough.
Other costs include vaccinations, getting the cat micro-chipped, deworming and de-fleaing courses and basic blood tests.
Annual costs A balanced diet for a cat includes both dry and wet foods as well as the odd treat to ensure they get all the nutritional elements needed.
Depending on the brand of food your cat likes, annual food bills can range from $120 to $500 per cat.
Around another $100 goes on treats and the same again on nutritional supplements if they are fussy eaters and a vet recommends these.
Some items will be bought when you first get the cat and may not be replaced for years.
A cat carrier is one such item that can cost around $75 but will doubtless last a number of years.
Cat beds, food and water bowls and scratching posts are again bought at the start and should last longer than a year - they cost anywhere from $10 up to $100 each to buy.
The cat litter box is a one-off expense but there is also an annual cost for cat litter which can vary dramatically depending on the type of litter that you convince your cat to use (or vice versa).
If you use supplementary items such as litter box liners or deodorants, then this is an additional cost.
Cleaning products aren't something associated with cats but there is often a chance that they will make a mess.
Stain removers therefore can cost up to $100 a year and more than this if your cat is one prone to a spell of vomiting or goes outdoors and brings mess in with them.
Vet fees The biggest cost for a cat is likely the one you cannot anticipate - vets fees.
As well as vaccinations and a regular check-up, the cost of vets' attention if they take ill or have an accident can run into the thousands.
Many people opt to take out pet insurance to help deal with the costs or stash a little money away as an emergency backup.
This is because we all know that if something bad is going to happen, it will happen at the worst possible time.
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