From: klier@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats
Subject: Costly cats (was The Humane Society Again)
Date: 14 Aug 92 12:54:13 -0500
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <14AUG199207395328@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov>, dowling@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (Marie Dowling) writes:
> I adopted Reilly from our local shelter for the homeless, and he cost 
> $10 - completely refunded upon proof of neutering. (That'll be next 
> month.)  He had all the first shots except leukemia. That was $81 for 
> the first shot and $25 for a "follow-up" or booster shot two weeks 
> later. As new "parents" we didn't know if kittens came litter box 
> trained so we purchased a large wire cage to keep him in til we knew 
> he would use the box. Cage = $85. (He only had to use it one night.)
> Big box of litter to save money = $40.  Max-cat kitten chow 4 lbs.= $7. 
> Flea bath=$3. Bandages from trying to give cat flea bath=$2. Vet visit 
> for flea bath $14. Travel carrier for all these vet visits: $25. First 
> litter box: $6. New owner learned lesson COVERED litter box: $10. And 
> I haven't begun to add in the toys.  For a cheap little kitty, 
> Reilly's running up quite a tab!!!

Broke person's guide to cat acquisition (assuming you're willing to 
learn a bit along the way)

litter pan: discarded plastic dishpan.  New $2; used $0
litter (cheap), 25 lb: $1.60; about 1 month supply for 1 cat
cage: bathroom, basement or garage
travel cage: 1 bushel apple box from grocery store (has pre-drilled
  airholes, double-thick sides)+belt or rope to close  OR  pillowcase
cat food:  try not to skimp here.  min.  20 lbs Friskies $12.00
flea bath:  I'm still working on my first bottle of Paramite dip,
  purchased 8 years ago.  Now $7.
flea preventative:  Precor for the house  $7
Combination Precor sprayer/kitty discipliner: house plant mister $2
                                              old windex bottle $0
kitty shampoo: Suave baby shampoo $1              
Vet visit: initial:  $35 office call, $10 parasite check, $35 initial
  FeLeuk, chlamydia, distemper, rabies, rhinotracheovirus vaccines, worming
  $2-$10
If it's legal in your state/country, you can then purchase the various 
  vaccines from mailorder vaccine companies like Omaha Vaccine, or perhaps from
  the local "farm and fleet" type farm store.  Most rabies vaccines
  (the one least likely to be legal to give) are $2/dose; most combined
  distemper/rhinotracheovirus/calicivirus are also about $2-3/dose;
  FeLeuk vaccine $6-$12/dose, depending on quantities purchased, sterile
  hypodermic needles & syringe: $0.40-$0.60 each.

The key to handling part of the vet work yourself is a cooperative vet
who is willing to teach you how to vaccinate (it isn't hard), and LOTS
of reading.  Maybe even some technical reading, so you can tell the 
difference between "cat with bellyache from overeating" from "cat with
bellyache that means trouble".  So first time cat owners are not
likely to be able to do this with confidence, and will have to rely on
the vet more.

I'll admit I started out with an advantage: I'd worked some with my
great uncle, a vet, when I was a child, and I had lots of friends/
former students in vet school when I lived both in Davis and Ames.  But
the basics aren't too hard if you're willing to work a bit at them.

Kay Klier  Biology Dept  UNI


Newsgroups: rec.pets.cats