The True Cost of Animal Care

The True Cost of Animal Care

Initial Expense	Incurred before the animal gets in the door
Initial Medical Exam	$130	Initial testing, blood work, etc. if no medical issues
Spay/Neuter	$145	If no complications
Litter Box	$25	Heavy plastic with a cover
Scratching Post	$20	Shared
Water Dish	$10	must last 20 years
Food Dish	$10	must last 20 years
Bedding	$15	Cat bed, blankets, etc
Total	$485

The above reflects a minimum base rate. Cost per animal is usually higher due to the deteriorated condition some animals are in when they arrive at WarmFuzzy’s. Some initial costs can and have run into the thousands of dollars.

Annual Expense	x 20 years average (we have had cats live over 24 years)
Recurring Medical	$140	Monthly medication, flea treatment, etc (minimum)
Dry Food	$65	Minimum – Some cats are on special diets
Wet Food	$185	Minimum – Some cats are on special diets
Water	$60	Clean filtered water daily
Litter	$215	Scoopable – litter boxes cleaned daily
Toys & Treats	$25	No one wants a bored or unhappy cat
Scratching Post	$35	Shared scratching posts, etc.
Cleaning (dishes, etc)	$60	Someone has to wash the dishes, utensils, etc.
Laundry	$60	Bedding, cloth piddle pads, pillows and cushions.
Cleaning Supplies	$35	Stain removers, antiseptics, peroxide, bleach, etc.
Total	$885	Recurring yearly expense per cat (minimum)

Recurring yearly expense per cat is listed as “minimum” because WarmFuzzy’s does not care for the average cat or dog. Our expenses are typically higher per animal. There are currently 35 cats in WarmFuzzy’s care in various stages of recovery and levels of health. That is a minimum realized base animal care expense of $30,975 per year directly attributed to individual cats plus the following:

Shelter Expense	Yearly recurring expenses
Additional Vet Bills	$6000	Some years are higher, none are lower We have had some years in the $15,000 range.
Mortgage/rent		Nothing is free
Taxes		Property and misc taxes
Building Maintenance		Things wear out. Things break.
Heating costs	$2500	Kerosene, heaters, wicks, etc
Electricity & cooling	$3000	Plus air conditioning and AC units
Additional Water	$900	Water, filters, containers, fountains, etc
Waste Management	$1200	Trash bags, dumpster fees
Large Appliances	$700	Washer, dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, repair, replace
Small Appliances	$600	Vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, fans, air cleaners, humidifiers
Subtotal	[fill in the blank] … plus every other necessary thing that is not listed:
Furnishings		Tables, chairs, sofas, television, radio, lamps, shelving
Misc		Tools, hoses, outside storage and everything else
Kitchen Supplies		Walk through your kitchen and you’ll get an idea.
Bathroom supplies		You can imagine what is needed in a bathroom
Paper towels, etc		We go through lots of paper items. It’s healthier
Vehicle expenses		Fuel, oil, maintenance, insurance, taxes
Communication		Telephone, cell phone, postal expenses
Technology		Computers, printers, Internet resources
Office Supplies		Paper, staplers, pens, pencils, post-it notes, you name it, we need it.
Total

There is another important expense and we cannot pretend this one does not exist. It’s an end of life expense and it can range anywhere from $75-$150. Disposal/cremation for a small cat is around $75. The remainder is for “pre-disposal” services, shall we say. We will ALWAYS do everything within our power and resources to save and maintain a life but we will never allow an animal to suffer needlessly.

Note: Expenses presented are minimum and those who say, “I know that can be done cheaper,” will be those who have not cared for the type and quantity of animals that WarmFuzzy’s cares for nor can they boast similar success, survival rates and longevity for their animals.

To cut expenses, I suppose we could eliminate good quality wet food and premium dry food and go with the cheapest kibble available. We could eliminate our drinking water filter/purification systems. We could stop using scoopable litter and use the cheapest clay-based litter we can find. We know someone who uses dirt. We could do that. We could eliminate recurring monthly medical expenses and “let nature takes its course.” We could put a few dog houses on the property and eliminate the shelter altogether. Doing so would also eliminate litter expenses and the need to do laundry and wash dishes. No more utility bills, no more incidental expenses. We could even forgo the expense and placement of dog house shelters and just dump cheap dry food onto an old cookie sheet under a piece of plywood propped against a tree to shelter it from the rain and snow. Good luck kitties.

We do what we do the way we do it because everyone deserves life and love.

We sincerely appreciate your support.