Hey I was wondering how expensive it is to own a cat, and how much time commitment is involved (lets say on a yearly basis). Also, if anyone has a bunny, same questions.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I have a bunny. You got to buy hay every month, at least 10 pounds, so that's about 10-20 dollars, 20 with shipping and handling. Bunnies need fresh greens each day too, about 10 bucks a week or less, depending on what greens you get. Pellets are about 5 bucks for 5 pounds, 9 for 10 pounds. You'll need about 5 pounds a month depending on the size of the bunny. Pellets should only be a small part of the diet anyway. Rabbits are inactive during the day, which means they just lay around so while you're at work you can leave them in their cage and they will just sleep and when you come home from work you can let them out and play with them for as long as they want... At least an hour a day. Mine gets out for a lot longer because he just hops in when he's ready. You also need litter too. A rabbit's litter box should be changed at least once a week. And you'll need vinegar. Use carefresh for litter and NOT PINE OR CEDAR CHIPS. Pine or cedar chips are bad. Expect to pay at least 100 bucks for set up, you can build a large pen for a large rabbit using cubes and coroplast or buy a small cage for a small rabbit, don't get a cage that is too small. I advice getting a rabbit from a shelter and NOT a pet store because then you'll have to pay over 100 bucks for spaying and neutering. All rabbits NEED to be spayed and neutered unless you want spraying and destructive behaviour. A shelter can do it and include it in the 50 dollar fee. Be sure to ask the shelter for some pellets to switch it over to the brand you intend to buy. I recommend Oxbow. Never buy rabbit supplies other than greens from the supermarket. The people who make that stuff don't know a thing about rabbits. If you must give a rabbit a treat give small pieces of fruit or papaya pills. Do not buy the junkfood they have for rabbits. Mine likes small pieces of banana, but not too much. Rabbits have delicate digestive systems.
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
To get a sense of how small he is, those bricks are standard size bricks.
He particularly likes some of the weeds growing in our patio, so I'm not going to clear it off as I planned to. I like him coming to the door.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Cats are great pets, and not too much trouble. In the cost you need to factor in spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and at least yearly vet visits. Neutering is cheaper than spaying, and sometimes it's harder for male kittens to find homes for some reason, so it might be cheaper to adopt a male cat.
As for how much time is needed, well you need to feed the cat daily, change the litter box (it's best if you get scoopable litter and clean it out daily, then change the litter weekly) and play with the cat.
My cat is older now, over 10, and she just likes to sit in my lap and be petted each day. Younger cats may want more toys and more active interaction with you.
Cats are cool. I love dogs as well, but cats are definitely cool.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
To get a sense of how small he is, those bricks are standard size bricks.
He particularly likes some of the weeds growing in our patio, so I'm not going to clear it off as I planned to. I like him coming to the door.
Aww just make sure none of them are poisonous. Like oleander... I love baby bunnies.
Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
Wow, it sounds like cats are a lot less work than rabbits. Who would've thought.
I love my cat. Just be prepared for unexpected vet bills. When a bottle of Advil spilled, we missed picking one up -- the cat got hold of it and the vet bill was like ~$600. My roommate is of the farm persuasion and said I shouldn't take him to the vet, but I felt like I was responsible for him so I did anyway.
More than one of those can really, really hurt.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
It's not like they are a whole lot of work, they do require some careful care though, but they don't need shots every year, so that's good. The only problem is that a lot of vets just don't know about rabbits... They don't know how to handle them, they don't know the basics like you should never starve rabbits before surgery, so that's something to bear in mind, trying to find a good rabbit vet.
Posted by Angiomorphism (Member # 8184) on :
Wow thanks alot. I'm not sure if I'm going to for sure get a cat/rabbit, but it's great to have all this information. I wish there were baby bunnies living in appartment buildings...
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
I've got cats, have all my life, and while when they're kittens they do need a fair amount of attention, they're also independant, and can cope better with being left alone. I remember when I was younger a neighbor with rabbits was away for a week and paid me to go over every day to feed them and clean out their cages. It seemed like far too much work. Cats can be trained to use a litterbox, you can leave them for a weekend without needing someone to come take care of them, and they actually develop personalities. I feel like rabbits kind of just sit there and look cute in their cages, whereas cats are more able to interact with people.
just my $0.02 Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Awwwww ... Dagonee, he's so wee! I'm glad you are sharing your weeds with him. Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
No way dude. Rabbits interact. It depends. Mine likes to stay in his little rabbit corner, then he likes to run into my room when I'm in it and the door is open. You haven't seen cute until you've seen a bunny do his dance of joy... So rabbits totally have personalities. Bernie's always running about the house and jumping sideways. Cutest thing ever... Also it's adorable to see rabbits flop. And rabbits can also use the litter box... The problem is too many people have outdoor rabbits and just leave them in hutches and don't interact with them except once a day to feed them and change their litter boxes. Rabbits show a lot more personality if they are indoors with people. And they all have their own little quirks too... *Rant*
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
And then you have people like me who have a cat and a bunny indoors, and a lot of rabbits outside in wire-bottomed cages.
Sorry, Syn, but I disagree that what you feed your Bernie is the only right way to do things. My rabbits get pellets, about a cup a day per adult, and all the hay they can eat (along with fresh water twice a day). The only veggies they get are the scraps left over from, say, peeling and topping carrots or wilting cucumbers when I clean out the fridge. (Note, I'm not talking about rotten veggies, just the ones slightly too far for my kids to want to eat.)
Keeping that in mind, I buy pellets by the 50 pound bag at the feed store, and I pay about $13. That, along with about 2 square bales of hay (regular field hay, alfalfa has too much protein, at about $5 a bale) would last one rabbit about 3 months...less when the weather's cold, longer when it's hot. My rabbits are all very healthy, and I do spend time with all of them everyday.
The cat eats nothing but her cat food and the occasional treat (like the water when I drain tuna) so her food runs about $10 every other month. (I also buy her food in bulk.)
All this extra food is stored in 50 gallon metal trash cans, in an air-conditioned environment, so it doesn't get stale as fast as feed kept in a barn.
Finding a good rabbit vet can be a challenge. I'd suggest getting recommendations for a good vet from someone who owns a cat. When you talk to the vet, ask how many rabbits they treat, and if there's someone in the area that treats a lot of rabbits. Also, you may want to contact someone in your area who shows rabbits (most of these people treat their rabbits as well as -- or better than -- children) and ask them who they use.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Dag, the bunny is very cute!
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
Mine just gets half a cup a day. I read a few articles that said feeding a rabbit too much pellets could cause stasis, but that's mostly alfafa pellets because they don't have enough fiber. He also gets 2-3 greens a day. Unless I run out... Then he goes without for half the day and he gets a small amount of carrots once in a while because he can't have too much sugar.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I feed Purina Pen Pals, and they do well on it.
FWIW, a rabbit can adapt to almost any diet, so long as said diet meets the nutritional needs of the rabbit...so long as the change is gradual.
I almost forgot, I keep a mineral salt spool in the doe's cages, because it reduces the risk of cannibalism with they kindle...but if you're just keeping one pet, you won't need to worry about that if you're feeding mostly pellets, as they have plenty of salt already.
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
That widdle bunny is indeed, ADORABLE Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
My sister had one dog at a time when I had five cats, and my cats were far less work than her dog.
My three cats require about 30 minutes a day of care, when they're healthy. That's food, water, litter box, and medicine.
Then I also pet them and give them each some attention every day, but I don't count that as care time, because I enjoy that and wouldn't want to miss it.
When they're sick, as one of mine has been lately, then they take more time. But it's not time I begrudge, because I love her very much and want her to get well.
So, baseline is about 30 minutes a day. I don't let mine go outside and I don't leave them alone even for a weekend. I called around to the nearby vets and found someone who is reliable and loves animals who worked at the vet's office and was willing to come to my house to feed and water and clean litter boxes and give medicine for $15 a visit whenever I go out of town. I trust her because she loves animals and takes that responsibility seriously. I get her to come at least once a day while I'm gone (unless someone needs medicine more often or something, in which case she comes twice a day.) I really think animals need to be checked on at least once a day.
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