I want to get a cat. But I want to make sure I have enough money to take care of it's medical needs. How much money should I have available incase of emergency.
by 
Namaste formerly future_health_educator
ANSWERS: 5
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It's great that you want to be prepared. Cats, like humans or any other animals, can suffer from injuries or illnesses, and, of course, the bills can be quite substantial. However, if the cat is inside, the odds are very unlikely that anything serious will happen to him or her. I had my oldest for 17 years, and except for routine visits to the vet for shots, etc., we had very few vet bills over the years. Also, establish yourself with a vet for shots and routine care, then if you have an emergency, the vet will likely help you work out a payment plan if your bills are extensive.
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my mums kitten just died after she spent 3 grand to try and keep it alive. it is up to you on the limit you want to put on your finances... and the suffering you are willing to let it go through. but most shots and routine visits could be roughly $60 every visit. my last one was $125.for an eye check up and 2 weeks worth of antibotics
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I just spent close to $2,000 on one of my cats that fell sick. Thankfully, he is doing better and I hope we can keep him around for a little longer. This was the biggest chunk of money spent at one period since I have been a cat owner for the past 20 years. My husband's co-worker has a cat receiving medical care for an injury and it's up to several thousands of dollars.
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The amount you would spend on an emergency could vary wildly. I spent about $350 on treatment after my cat swallowed some ribbon. If a cat gets hit by a car, the expense can be quite high depending on how bad the damage is. Personally, I would have $500 set aside for feline emergencies. The more important question is how much it will cost for routine care. It will be much more expensive if you get a kitten. They need several vaccinations and need to be fixed. An adult cat just needs an annual physical and booster shots for diseases. I don't have a bill handy, but I want to say that it costs me about $100 per cat each year. I have added expenses, though, because one of my cats has a problem with chronic bladder infections. I feed both my cats prescription food to make sure she doesn't get sick.
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There are good answers before mine. I concur with Darkling... have at least $500 ready at all times for vet care. If your cat is adult and healthy, expect to spend $40 for healthy maintenance. Then you have flea treatments for $15 a month most of the year (do it even if he is inside) and shots (I suggest even if inside). Shots for an adult cat are about $70 a year. If you get a kitten, then there is the full shot schedule and having them fixed. Now, if you have an old guy like mine, watch the bills soar. I took him in in June and I am well over a thousand in vet bills (he might be going back to the vets today damnit). Also, if your cat has a chronic condition, add that. Keeping a cat healthy is not cheap. It is less expensive to have your cat indoors. Even with paying for litter, you do not have as many injuries and the risk of disease is MUCH less.
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