Did you see this on ASPCA website

how much does it cost to have a pet a year

Jo Firey...

Part of me says the examples are high. Another part says for the ones I
have experience with, they aren't high at all and don't reflect optional or
emergency costs.

Karen AKA Kajikit...

It sounds like a lot... but I just worked out how much we're spending
on food and it's spot on!

Kibble - $30 a month (3 3-1/2 pound bags of science diet) = $360 a
year
Tins - 60c each, five tins a week (smallest size science diet catfood)
= $156 a year
Food total = $516
Divided by three cats = $172 each.

Litter (Feline Pine) = $12 a month (20 pound bag) = $144
Divided by three cats = $48 each.

Takayuki...

You know, I think this made me realize something that was bugging me
about the numbers on the site. It only lists the costs for having a
cat, but how about the profit from having a cat? :)

Monique Y. Mudama...

True, but I think the point of the article was to make people aware of
how much a pet costs and allow them to budget accordingly, or make the
choice not to adopt a pet they couldn't care for.

If you characterize your department as a cost center, listing costs on
your reports, but never your monetary value, then your budget will be
cut. Which is fine if your department actually is worthless, but
that's rarely the case.

Cats are like departments. There's the department of cuddling, the
department of bug catching, the department of playing pranks, and so
on.

And there are probably many possible ways for cats to produce monetary
value. A cat may produce cost savings by encouraging you to stay at
cat-friendly motels instead of expensive hotels when you are
traveling. Having a cat that always wants your sandwich may sharpen
your negotiating skills, allowing you to obtain a raise at work. And

jXwXeXrXmXoXnXt...

That needed a BW... :)

Joyce, thinking that maybe I could start a business with my cats
doing assertiveness training

so on.

Helen Wheels...

Great analysis!
Plus, a set of tickling whiskers in your ear when you wake up in the
morning = priceless.

Adrian A...

I usually get the whiskers in the nose, it wakes me up quicker. ;-)