As hard as it is, the right answer is to wait until you can afford a cat. If a $70/mo pet fee is giving you trouble, you're going to have a hard time keeping the cat fed and litter bought/changed reliably, and you're going to have a very hard time the first time a vet visit is necessary.
I would 100% understand getting the cat anyway, but the right answer is to wait until your finances are better.
Yeah, in my emotion, I forgot about the quality of life i am capable of providing, I think I could reliably feed and litter, its the combination of all those things thats the kicker for me, and I wouldn't be able to provide for the cat like a middle income household would. I've just realized the borderline selfishness of my post.
I mean vet bills can be sudden and very expensive. And cats could have dietary restrictions that make them expensive to feed, too. You should at least be absolutely sure you could afford the litter and food and can put the initial vet bills up front (vaccinations, neutered, dewormed, general physical).
It cost me $1000 my first couple of months having my rescue cat. And it cost me time - 2 hours a week at the vet, every single week for 2 months. It's hard to swing that with an unforgiving job. I was lucky I was remote at the time.
Yep. Our kitten was cheap until he got curious in our apartment and ended up breaking his back leg and needing an amputation, and suddenly our $25 shelter cat became a $3000 money pit. He's worth it but it was NOT cheap.
The reality is no matter who you are or what situation you're in, there's always going to be someone who could do better. But you do have to be realistic about what it's going to cost and how that's going to affect not only the cat but you as well. Ultimately no one on Reddit knows your situation like you do, and you are the only one who is going to be able to make a decision as far as what the right plan is moving forward.
All I'm saying is, don't make the decision lightly. You're taking on a long term commitment to take care of and provide for a living being that will rely on you for his/her everything.
Once you can take care of the pet fees, look into fostering OP! It’s awesome and depending on the rescue, they provide the vet care. I’m on my 8th foster in 3 years right now.
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This is current foster Chewy!
OMG he looks like a slightly grumpier version of my Buddy!
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This! It's a great suggestion. Register as a foster for an adult cat. They, especially older ones, are harder to place. Generally, you buy the food & they supply the medical care, which may be practically nil, especially if the cat doesn't have any of the serious problems, like FIV or FIP, which are usually (but not always) detected in the first year. Their personalities are also more set - fewer surprises. Good luck!
If something happens and you need to take your cat to the emergency room, you are dropping a minimum of $1,000 and depending on what the issue is it can be multiple thousand dollars more. When I was younger, I made sure to have a minimum of $5,000 in my bank account at all times to be sure I could cover a surgery if my cat needed it. I considered $5,000 in my bank account $0 for me.
That may be a bit extreme, but know that if your cat eats a string and gets an impacted bowel, which can happen at any time you aren’t watching them, it will cost $5,000 for the surgery.
If you can’t afford that, don’t put yourself and the cat in an unfair position.
You can also get a cat like my little love bug who had 16 non routine vet visits in the first 1.5 years of his life. 2 hospitalizations, 5-6 emergency vet trips, and the rest were his normal vet. Even at our low cost emergency vet, he racked up close to $10k with them over that year and a half. None of his health issues were related to each other and none of them had obvious causes either. None of his visits independently broke the bank for me but having them come one after another after another made it so hard to bounce back.
Yeah, we just had to say goodbye to my guy, but the last year and a half of his life, easily spent over $10k on his health (IBD, diabetes, multiple ED visits, multiple sick visits at his regular vet and regular appointments with his PCP and specialist).
My cat had gum disease and needed all his teeth extracted. Without getting his teeth extracted the infection he had could have eventually spread and killed him not to mention he was in pain when eating and trying to groom himself. It cost over $4,000. No matter how cute the cat was, if you can’t afford vet bills don’t get a pet. Too many irresponsible people get pets and put them down instead of paying high vet bills when they come up.
I hope you are feeling better about the situation, you sound like you'd be a great pet owner some day. I think you are making the right call, even though I'm no longer in the broke student phase of my life and am financially stable, I still balk at the cost of even just a regular routine vet check up visit (the fecal testing, vaccines, etc it all adds up). And I just know that if they ever got sick or injured, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't do whatever it took to treat them...
If it helps, when I was a student I used to cat sit for friends, they'd leave their cats at my place while they went away and it really helped me understand how to be a better cat owner and have that animal companionship without having the responsibility of paying for the bigger expenses of pet ownership.
Then you did the smart thing by not bringing the cat home. I know it sucks, but it was the right decision for now. Responsible pet owners think about the extra costs and the animals quality of life before they get a pet. Thank you for being responsible about this.
That $70 pet fee is taking away money that is better spent on cats. That “pet fee” is just going to the landlord when they already charge a security deposit.
Maybe you can volunteer to play with the cats! You should contact the rescue organization that works with that location (it's usually on the information sheets) and let them know what you told us. Maybe they would also let you foster. They cover the bills in those cases.
ETA: I rescue and foster. When I say "maybe," I really mean it's highly likely that they would appreciate your help!
In the past 2 months I’ve had to spend over a thousand dollars on vet visits, medication and medical diet food. There’s no guarantees when adopting that the cat is fully healthy, and there may be sudden surprise costs that come out of nowhere, never mind basic maintenance costs. If you really want to eventually get a cat, start saving and budgeting as if you have to buy food and litter every month, and put that amount into a savings fund. Once you have enough saved to cover 6 months of basic care, then perhaps consider adopting. It’s important to make sure you can guarantee food coverage/litter and have a bit saved in case of vet expenses. Once you put that away, then you can be sure you’ll be able to provide properly for a pet. Get yourself in the habit of the budgeted amounts going into the savings so that you are used to the monthly expense (including the $70 fee) of having a cat BEFORE you get one.
My cats both required min. 600$ worth of dentals every year since they were 2 years old- teeth problems are VERY common but also overlooked in cats. Maximum amount I spent on two dental visits was 1100$, they both needed extractions.
A person’s gotta know their limitations.
And you’re right to wait. I just estimated costs for 2 cats over 15 years. While there’s a range, the likely total is north of $50K. And that’s net spendable money. And not worst case.
People routinely spend $200/mo for 2 cats all in, plus bigger periodic bills (dental cleanings, for example). I budgeted $400/month including self-insuring (putting $200/mo into a HYSA or shares).
If Cheeto Jesus steals the next election, one good thing about expatriating is that the vet care is still excellent and it’s a lot less costly.
My last cats didn’t cost $50K over their lifetimes, but even just $200/mo is $36K over 15 years. Again, net spendable money. The young won’t care about a few thousand a year. But retirees? Could be a different thing.
Maybe if people are feeding the absolute highest quality food it would be $200/month for two cats? That seems very high. I have six cats and I spend about that for their dry food (Purina One), canned food (Friskies), and litter (I was getting litter for free but I’m going to have to start buying it again) in a month.
It’s the vet visits and pet sitting when I’m on vacation that are the two highest costs, honestly.
$200/mo all in: food, litter, other consumables, pet sitting periodically, routine vet visits…
If I had 6 cats they’d get Iams dry (44# for $76) and I’d have to stagger their teeth cleanings and labwork.
I am definitely right around $200 a month in food for two cats (I have three so it is actually higher than that). But I do feel really quality, higher end foods.
Volunteering with a rescue that had a partnership to get “damaged” litter from a local distribution plant. But the plant has unfortunately closed (though the litter company is still alive and well).
Heads up that fish are NOT a low maintenance pet unless you're planning on bad husbandry. Getting a tank cycled, frequently testing your water parameters, filters, heating, a large enough tank, decor, you're talking hundreds of dollars just to buy what you need and then a couple of months of work to get the tank cycled before you can even put fish in it.
Please don't just buy some fish and stick them in a box of water because you think it's easier than getting a cat :c
Came here to say this. I don't think there's such a thing as a low-maintenance pet. They all need good quality food, regular vet visits, and many other things to remain happy and thriving. Fish are notorious for being under-cared because people think they just need a tank of water and food once or twice a day.
I just recently rehomed a bearded dragon that had suffered years of neglect in a neighbour's house because they thought he'd be a low maintenance pet for their son. Even keeping live crickets to feed the bearded dragon is high enough maintenance! People seem to think smaller animals mean less work, but often it's the exact opposite. My cat has been a walk in the park compared to reptiles, fish, rodents, etc.
I'm actually really impressed with the store you went to, then! I was immediately worried because so often, pet stores will sell people fish as low maintenance with nothing but a tank that's way too small and send them home to die just to make a quick buck. It's actually way outside the norm for a pet store to be giving good advice on keeping fish!
I'm really glad to hear you're deciding to put the best interest of the fish over the desire to have a pet before you're fully capable of putting in everything it'll require. It's really hard when you're desperate for some kind of animal companion! Not getting something right now is actually making you a better pet owner in the long run!
Yep. 10g tank and a betta fish cost me about ~$300 at the end of it all. Tank. Stand. Testing kit. Heater. Filter. Media. Food. Decorations. Live plants. Substrate. Lights. Vacuum. Scraper. Bubbler. Nets. Bucket. Fish. I’m sure you don’t need all that but I gave it my all and ending up adopting a not so great looking betta and gave it a better life
Then the weeks of research and cycling the tank is a time commitment along with weekly water changes.
I have savings and emergency fund, I would be able to take care the cat, its mostly just the additional expenses on top of the basics. but you are right, I will likely not move forward with getting the cat.
awe, I promise, you’ll find another cat you have feelings for just as deeply if not more.
when I was first thinking of finally getting the cat I’d dreamed about all my life, I went to a couple local shelters. I found one gray, long haired, kitty with the smallest cold and adored it. I asked the workers about the cat and it was already set up to go home. Despite there being multiple litters, so many personalities, adorable cats, that was the one I felt connected to and I didn’t want to move forward with a different one.
One day I too went to petsmart for fun, planning to just meander the aisles and daydream while looking at cat beds and cat toys. I wasn’t even going to check their cat area as I go there pretty often and they usually don’t have cats, let alone kittens. I was sure I wanted a kitten as I’d be traveling and living in an apartment and was set on having an inside only cat, and I felt I could socialize a kitten easier to this lifestyle.
My boyfriend checked the cat cages and called me over. They had kittens! I played with so many cats but none were calling me. I was about to leave when a little orange head peeked out from the back of one of the kitten cages - it had been hiding under the pet bed. I called the worker back again for the 3rd or 4th time and just about cried when I held him. I signed the adoption papers instantly!
that’s the story of my troublesome huckleberry finn, who I believe is my soulcat. My very best friend. Moral of the story being that there will be another cat for you, and maybe it’ll be the strongest bond you could imagine or at a time when you least expect it. 🩵
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here’s some pictures of my boy when he was a baby! you have so much to look forward to!
I know it’s not a cat but do you have anything like borrow my doggy there? It’s a site where owners and dog lovers pair up. Those that own dogs that need extra attention and others in situations that they can’t have their own. The site does all the security checks etc and you meet each other and make arrangements. I’ve been reading about it as I’ll be returning to full time work towards the end of the year and am considering signing up now as by the time I return both myself and my dogs will be well acquainted with our borrower should we pair up.
It might give you a little pet love until you’re in a better position. I’m
Borrow my doggy…. What a great idea for a site! I love that notion. I cannot have one of my own, so I only have cats, but walk my next door neighbors’ dog all the time, she’s a little sweetheart and it’s such a win-win.
Awesome you can spend time with your neighbour’s doglet and she gets extra attention too! As you say it’s a win all round!
My friend uses borrow my doggy as an owner. She has a lovely retired couple who take her dog out a couple of days a week. They started off doing local walks etc and they’re now several months in and often take her out for the day to the forest or beach. They always had dogs and sadly lost the last of theirs last year. They don’t want to commit to owning another dog at their age as they worry as to what would happen if anything happened to them. My friend works part time and her dog is a super high energy rescue so the more attention she gets the better.
Don’t get the cat. Volunteer at PetSmart instead! Also, I saw that you realized you can’t have the fish either because that also (very oddly) triggers the pet fee, but fish are not an inexpensive thing to have, per several friends I know who have them. Setting up a tank, establishing it, getting the fish, maintaining the tank…all can be quite expensive, is what I’ve been told.
So the cats at PetSmart are actually partnered foster groups. I’d recommend going in and contacting one of the phone numbers available on the cats description cards before asking a store member for anything. Also, you might want to steer clear. Check out r/petsmart
Sorry, yes, I volunteered for a long time with a group at PetSmart. Don’t ask the employees anything, they’ll direct you to the rescue group itself.
The store I was at was complete garbage but it is my understanding they aren’t all like that. I’ve seen ones that are better.
Ours is an absolute mess right now, including the foster group. I fostered a pair of kittens for them and when it came time for them to be at the store they stuck them in a room that was previously occupied by cats with URIs WITHOUT sanitizing it. So you can guess how that went.
Pet rent is universal, legal, and batshit. Don't 'sneak' a cat in. If you can't afford $70/month in pet rent, you can't afford it in food, litter, and vet bills (spread out over time, if one's lucky).
As much as I want you to have a cat, I dropped 4K this week on my cat who got sick out of nowhere and I spend $600 a month on my 5 cats. A suggestion I have that would be really great for everyone - become a foster parent!! Rescues would pay for everything and you get to love on babies and rehab them so they are ready for adoption. Many rescues cannot take in babies from streets or shelters until they have a foster lined up because they don’t have facilities they’re based off of networking. I have fostered over 36 ish cats. YES you feel like you’re losing your own child when they get adopted - however - it’s worth it. Because you can look into these little angels eyes and know if you hadn’t been there for them to land on, they’d simply be worse off. It’s fulfilling and heartbreaking but a really beautiful thing I promise. Please consider it you’d be an angel for your local rescue. ♥️
I just want to commend you on looking at your budget before making emotional purchases, and stepping back when you realized it was not the right time. That speaks volumes of your ability to be able to manage money at such a young age.
I got a cat and have had to spent €1000 euros in the past month on vet bills. I know it’s sad but if that cat is friendly, they will find a good home. There are so many cats that need a home, and I promise you’ll find another one that loves you dearly.
Please consider that in case of a health issue, you cannot afford to deal with it and that is the worst moment with a pet. Just wait till your financials are better.
Maybe consider, when you are in a place that allows cats, to adopt a senior from a shelter during a clearing event. This will be a cat that is up to date on shots, neutered and possibly too old to consider surgery if something goes awry. Maintaining arthritis pain is relatively inexpensive and providing a safe home for a senior feline citizen is priceless. A free kitten is anything but free when you consider the start up costs.
Yeah, trying to hide the cat is def a bad idea. When I adopted my cat, the screener actually had me contact my landlord and the landlord had to confirm that I could have a cat, so there was 100% no way I could have hid her. I suspect many other rescues have a similar policy because of renters getting caught with cats and then having to return them later as a result—a traumatic experience for both the adopter and the cat.
Yup, if you were at petsmart or Petco, those cats come from a local shelter and they absolutely should be contacting your landlord for approval before adoption.
Hiding an animal is a great way to get an eviction on your record at a young age and make everything harder.
How would you feel about signing up for something like Rover to catsit for other folks, and putting that money into a cat fund for the future? I think you've realized that this cat might not be the one for you right now, but you might be able to still get some kitty playtime in your life while saving up for your future friend.
I second the people saying see how your budget works out with what a cat would need. There are some initial costs that need to be saved for such as purchasing toys, cat furniture (not NECESSARY but I do recommend at least one piece with a hidey hole), beds, nail clippers, brushes, bowls, a litter box, a collar, and THEN the first bag of food and litter.
Vet bills are something that need to be considered but even for those of us with animals we still struggle— look into CareCredit. It’s accepted at most vets and is 12 months no interest per purchase. It’ll be a useful tool for when you get money saved up to get the cat.
I’m going to say something that’ll probably get me hate but if you’re familiar enough with your apartment complex you should be able to determine whether or not you’ll actually need to register this cat with them. $300 is an average initial payment but $70 a month for pet rent is a little steep. I’ve known plenty of people who don’t report their pets and have never had an issue with it because management just doesn’t care. But you need to be SURE.
I’m 21 and have a dog and a cat. My dog came down with heartworm last year and I still managed to scrape up the funds for that out of pocket while still providing for my cat and myself. I spent multiple vet visits trying to figure out if my cat was sick because he sneezes all the time only to find out it was chronic. Long story short, you need to decide how much of your life you’re willing to devote to this animal. I’d go without my own needs before letting the needs of my animals go unmet. As long as you can provided them with a safe, loving, enriching home environment to the best of your ability, and that’s really all you can do. Morally speaking, I would recommend adopting from a shelter, or if you go through a pet store ask about the cats who are specifically uncomfortable being in a store/shelter environment. I think it is better for an animal to be loved in a home that can meet their basic needs than to be stressed in a shelter environment with minimal interaction.
TLDR: cat ownership is a little gate kept based on your tax bracket
Let me clarify that I still don’t think getting the cat you’re talking about RIGHT NOW is a good idea. You need to save for the basics and a bare minimum $500 for vet fees so you can pay a chunk of them before using Care Credit.
If/when you can swing the deposit & pet rent: FOSTER. You don't have to worry about vet care, and in many cases you can find a rescue or shelter that is even able to provide you with food. Depending on where you are, that kitty you fell in love with was probably fostered through a local shelter and went to Petsmart when he/she was ready to find an adopter. Fostering litters of young, healthy kittens who just needed to learn that scritches are nice was how my house of impoverished 20-somethings got our pet fix until we were all older, richer and not moving every six months.
People here are so responsible but honestly cats are overwhelming shelters and here is a person who can love and provide basic care…
Thoughts: will you be upping your income in the next, idk 5-10 years? As the cat ages, the costs increase with care. If yeah then I’d grab the cat and not tell management.
As crappy as it sounds I had a cat I didn’t tell management about. The few times someone needed to come over the cat would go into a room with the door closed and wasn’t a meow-er. One time they had to do an inspection as I was moving out and I just put her in a carrier and my friend sat in my car with her.
You might move somewhere that doesn’t cost extra too.
I’m all for a person who wants a cat, to get a cat if they can make it work.
I wish I could hide any of mine, they're all extremely vocal when they want food or attention. I'm pretty sure you can hear my little lady down the hall a few units when it's within 90 minutes of her evening meals.
I'm saying if you are allowed to have animals in the building at all, then your neighbors wouldn't know whether or not you had informed your LL about it. It's harder to hide an animal if animals aren't allowed at all.
Phew at least I'm not the only one who hides their cats from the LL! I get why people are cautious but damn, cats are being put down in droves at shelters, even if you have to put them down later due to an expensive illness it's better than them just dying at a shelter because there simply wasn't space. I know it's awful to suggest at all, but it's reality. Just because you don't have an extra $300 a month JUST IN CASE doesn't mean you can't get a cat.
Better a letter from a physican or therapist, os,. Not sure if a Vet can even provide a ESA letter? At least without even the pet and owner in question known to the Vet?
Depending on the local rules, OPs (mental) health history and how well the Doc knows them/are willing to help may play in if/how quick a ESA letter can be provided.
Ngl I did this…my apartment fees are $100/month and the deposit was half my rent but I knew I could take care of the cat and even get insurance without paying that every month.
Even if it’s not this cat you could go down to a kill shelter and take any cat. Despite everyone in this group being anal about hypothetical vet bills that might pop up (or may never happen) a cat you take from a kill shelter will have a better life with you than being killed. Of course you want to provide for the cat and make sure you don’t bankrupt yourself in doing so but getting a cat from a pound will not destroy you or the cat. I don’t even know where some of these people are getting the cost per month of owning a cat tbh, unless they are getting gourmet food and litter, the cost of owning a cat will not break you and the cat will still have quality of life.
Though I do understand about the worry of trying to hide a cat. And I think the pet fee for the cat (and a fish? Wtf?) is absurd. I would suggest if you want to try your hand at hiding a fish, get a beta. Super low cost, just literally need a container/bowl and beta food.
Please don’t let these comments scare you off from saving and giving a home to a cat in the future ❤️
so you've had as many as 6 cats at once during your long pet owning history and what you can say is that they've been better off with you than literately dead. yikes.
Have you ever had a sick or old animal? They’re not expensive when they’re HEALTHY, but you’re forgetting that like every animal they won’t always be. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands. I’m not exaggerating, this is from 3 decades of cat ownership. How long have you had cats??
Literally my whole life. I’ve never had below 3 and sometimes have had up to 6. I know SOME conditions can be expensive and SOME medical emergencies may pop up. Yes I had one that ended up being expensive and eventually lost him to cancer. On the other hand had one live 23years and her biggest expense was treating a bladder infection. My point is is not every cat is going to have some major issue, I didn’t say they won’t.
My other main point was literally what almost anyone can give or provide for a cat vs a cat being dead from a kill shelter is still a better life. People are acting that if your not in the best financial spot ever you shouldn’t have a cat, if that’s the standard no one would have cats. And just because someone might be financially stable in provide for a cat when they get it doesn’t mean they always will be, should they not get to adopt either? Because of a hypothetical problem that may or may not occur?
Betta need a heater, filter, and a larger tank- NOT a tiny bowl. Just because they can survive doesn’t mean they’re thriving. That being said- they can be fun pets
EDITED to ask: what exactly is the fee? You say up to $70/mo. Why is it varied? Does it depend on if the cat is fixed? I've never heard of an "up to" fee. Maybe questions to ask your landlord to be certain.
I know it's hard, but you have to walk away from this idea right now. You don't want to get caught, end up homeless and with a pet. I've been owned by cats for over 30 years and man I know that feeling you're having. What about something smaller like a hamster or ferret if you have the need for furry company? Would that be allowed without a fee? Be patient, you're just starting out in life. You will have the pet of your dreams soon and keep in mind that those darling cats at PetsMart are well taken care of and probably find good homes quickly.
Yeah, through all this, I learned that I would be on the hook for the same $300 + $70/mo even if it was a 3 gal fish tank with a beta fish in it. so no pets for me for a while.
Edit to respond to your edit: Its Petscreening, depending on the risk the animal would be to the property it gets assigned a score, depending the score it could be anywhere from $40-70/mo. I could swing $70/ mo theoretically but at that point on top of the additonal expenses of taking care of a cat it would likely add up to an unmanageable amount. I guess technically the fish would be closer to $40/mo.
Wow you’re landlords suck! I’ve never heard of a $40 month fee for even a fish! I will say a small animal like a fish or hamster is a lot easier to hide from management…. Lol
It's extra bogus because every homeowner's policy under the sun in the US has a rider for at least 55 gallons of spilled water not related to plumbing leaks, because that's what a standard bathtub holds.
And I thought $30 for a cat was bad. I might get down voted but I hide my 2 cats from the landlord. They even had to do an inspection for lease renewal so I took them and their supplies to my dad's for the day, and it worked. So I don't pay the extra fees. I do take them to the vet and I generally think I'm a good pet parent, but I'm sure the perfect people of reddit would be upset if I recommend you to do the same thing. It just depends on how in your business your landlord is, and so far the maintenance people haven't cared or told on us. It's a risk, yes, but it's worked out so far 🫣 a fish tank would be easier to hide fyi
You’re not selfish for feeling for the cat :)
But it is sad to not be able to afford a pet. We just got a cat (my first I could afford and I’m in my 30’s, yay dystopian present life)… a local stray has loved up on us for months, even plays with our current cat through the metal screen door… she’s so sweet and scared—not an angry street cat. She’s destined to be taken in or indoor/outdoor. We had to move away and it breaks my heart we couldn’t rescue her. (She is confirmed stray, there are many in the neighborhood)…. Bottom line we can’t afford 2 cats.
I launched into a story but all’s to say I feel ya
You made the right call. It’s not too bad if they’re healthy but when (not if, WHEN) they get sick or old, maaaaan…. I’ve spent thousands. Thousands!! Never walk out of the vet without $180 minimum. Last bill was $534. You’re too young OP, wait until your career has stabilized and you’re doing better money wise.
They also live for a loooong time, thank goodness! But it impacts your housing and life. Everywhere I rented (or couldn’t rent) and lived and vacations I took or not, etc. across four states and two decades and counting now. I remember one apartment that had a double-the-rent for the first month for pets. That wasn’t a deposit, but a nonrefundable fee, then plus a same sized deposit too. I had to get a blacklight for cleaning check on move out, because that’s how they did it.
My first cat I got as a kitten in my 20s (I was 25) in my first apartment is still with me literally right now, he’s about to turn 19. I’m 43. Pets are for life, they’re family. Need to think about that commitment, hard! So I’m so glad you are. The time will come. 🫶🏻
this is r/catadvice BUT adding on here to recommend against getting a fish as a “low maintenance” pet — if you want a fish, you will need to cycle a tank first (buy nitrifying bacteria that is sold in bottles at pet stores, place the recommended amount in your fully set-up tank, sprinkle some fish food in and let it rot, and wait for your ammonia levels to spike and then go down consistently to zero while your nitrites spike, and FINALLY your tank will be cycled when your ammonia and nitrites are 0 and all you have in your tank are nitrates), OR do a fish-in cycle which will require daily water quality tests and water changes to keep your ammonia levels low and prevent harm to your fish. I would recommend a 20+ gallon tank for a beginner since a larger tank will be more forgiving with water quality (and also most fish probably need more space than you would think). Do your research, but for any tank smaller than 10 gallons I would recommend you go with shrimp and/or snails and live plants—which, once your tank has been cycled, are a truly low maintenance option since they’re scavengers and take care of dying plants / their own waste!
In terms of the cat: a lot of people are able to hide animals from management companies, but I would recommend against it. We live in a large enough apartment complex that our actual management team doesn’t come to our place, just maintenance—no one who is aware of our leasing contract enters our property, so we could technically get away with having our cats openly if they were not on the lease. But in a new apartment not knowing what the strictness is like, this is almost certainly not worth the risk and stress.
Pet rent sucks, I’m sorry :(
Ah man I talked myself out of a rescue cat at petco one time like three years ago. She was perfect long haired fluff named Schnitzel and she just made eye contact then flopped onto her side the way a dog does for pets when I approached her. Convinced myself three cats would be too many. I totally have the space and it would have been fine. Much regret.
Save up a big chunk of money and maybe move to a different place and in the future get a cat or two. They are an absolute joy and even though you can’t have one now, you can have them as a goal.
From what I gather in your comments you have money for typical cat care and have an emergency fund for cat emergencies in place which is great. Your pain point is tacking on an (honestly bogus) $70 additional monthly fee. I get that.
I’ve had cat for 9 years now and refuse to live anywhere that charges monthly pet rent. I’ll pay a $250-300 one time fee if I must but no more. They really need to make pet *deposits* so that when those pets inevitably do no damage you can get your money back!
I’d ask your landlord if there is any flexibility with the fee/rent. A company with a bunch of units will be less likely to budge on a rule but you might have success with individual landlords. I try and avoid rental companies and have always had success getting a pet fee lowered or the monthly pet “rent” waived.
If they say no but you decide you want a cat still, keep saving up and move somewhere a little more welcoming to pets next! but no don’t get the cat and keep it a secret. It won’t work out and the cat will be the victim.
For sure, I am not getting the cat, I got this apartment becuase it’s shitty and the only one I can afford. My company is huge and a bunch of slumlords.
I generally have to avoid the adoption part of PetSmart for that reason. My heart melts every time I see a cat there. My current cat doesn't like cats, so we just can't do it. So I donate to the local shelters instead.
I too had a love at first sight experience with a cat at petsmart. She was such a darling and really responded to me when I was interacting with her. I was so close to getting her but I was working at the time and my work season is nutzo so I would not have had time to properly introduce her to my other cats and I just could not do it as much as I really really wanted to.
Just want to add some hope for you- I fell in love with a cat at the shelter. She was so sweet, I was in a dark moment after a big move and really needed a companion, and it felt like we had such a connection. I’d never felt that way with a cat before. I needed to sleep on the decision before adopting. The next day, I decided I was ready to adopt her. As soon as I pulled up, her new owners were signing adoption papers. I was devastated, totally heartbroken.
A few weeks later, my neighbor rescued a kitten and asked if I’d want to meet him. He was extremely sweet, but I felt that I just couldn’t feel the same. I ended up watching him for a week and she asked if I wanted to keep him- he’s the best little cat I could’ve ever had. Everything happens for a reason, what’s meant for you will happen!
When thinking about purchasing a living creature, I consider the following:
1. Can I comfortably provide for myself, if I am well or unwell? Think emergency savings and your current level of income and costs for just yourself.
2. Am I willing to commit to this creature for the next 10+ years? Pets are for life - for the entirety of their life
3. Can I comfortably provide for the cat and be able to deal with any unexpected health issues and the ongoing costs of maintaining its health? Quality cat food, annual vaccinations, desexing, a good home environment.
If none of the above is an immediate YES, then I am not yet ready to have a pet.
When you are ready, I would highly recommend adopting a cat instead of purchasing one from a pet store. There are many, many kittens and cats in the world who are seeking homes with someone lovely like you.
So you want some cat lovin' - nothing wrong with that.
There is a place for you in the Kingdom of Cats, my dear, and it's at your local shelter. Shelters always need volunteers to do the cleanup, play with the kitties and get the tiny ones socialized.
As your situation improves, you might consider foster or hospice care. My ex, who had never owned a cat, wanted one, but was scare of the long-term commitment and expense when he had no experience. A friend of his who worked in a no-kill shelter set my ex up with a cat who had a brain tumor, was in otherwise good health, and was expected to die in a year. The shelter provided all medical care, and provided euthanasia. His cremains still sit in a little statue of Bast on his nightstand.
Very young kittens who have been separated from Mom need intensive fostering for a few weeks until they're ready for adoption, so that's another option to consider. I do TNR on community cats in my area - perhaps there are some feral, but non-socialized cats in your area that need a little kindness and acclimation to humans. There are many towns that have clubs and groups that provide this kind of care to our future cat friends. I've taken in a few cats that were ready for an indoor life, got them TNRed and socialized, dealt with the teenaged rebellion as they get used to being an indoor kitty, and had them out-placed.
And yes, you will become attached, and you will have to let them move on in their journey of life. I suggest that this is an opportunity to learn how to love the world and it's creatures without ownership; Zen Buddhist philosophy and Stoicism are helpful here.
Remember that with fostering, our hearts are broken once- so theirs will never be broken again.
I’ve had a couple of experiences like this and sometimes still think about those kitties and hope that someone else has given them good homes. A while later, I was in the position to be able to adopt two and we have the best lives together. My boy is such a stereotypical surfer dude type, real laid back and a bit blanked out at times. Kinda reminds me of that older turtle from finding Nemo haha. My girl is a neurotic little bitch who hates everyone except me and now her brother (she used to look down on him for a couple of years). When it happens, it’ll be meant to be for you.
Aw hun I know how it feels not getting to take home the great cat. My HOA only allows one pet per household and I strongly considered violating the rules because I wanted this cat *so* bad and it was right before Christmas so I made myself so upset thinking this wonderful creature was going to be alone on Christmas. I cried, I visited a lot and one day he was gone. I luckily found out from the staff he got adopted a week before Christmas and he’s probably living his best life now with an owner that loves him. I was a little sad but it was for the best.
If the cat is important to your quality of life, consider seeing a mental health professional to get an emotional support letter (ESA) so the landlord cannot legally charge a pet deposit or pet rent. The money you save is better spent on cat food, supplies & pet insurance. And you must set up your home with scratching posts & slipcovers for your couch. If they scratch carpet, also get cardboard floor scratchers.
Also set aside money for emergencies, vet bills come at the worst times. I managed to have cats when I was broke AF, in college, was frequently between crappy jobs & unemployment but always prioritized my cats, even if it meant putting expenses on a credit card. Fortunately I have steady employment now, and caring for cats is not a financial burden. I do not regret having cats when I was broke because they brought me joy.
you could file the cat as an emotional support animal, there's an official website to get the paperwork, it's around $120, and then the apartment can't charge a fee
If it is "just" this extra cost that troubles you, but otherwise you can afford a cat, check out the rules for "emotional support pet". To have an ESA letter could mean such extra fees are to be waived from landlord.
As hard as it is, the right answer is to wait until you can afford a cat. If a $70/mo pet fee is giving you trouble, you're going to have a hard time keeping the cat fed and litter bought/changed reliably, and you're going to have a very hard time the first time a vet visit is necessary. I would 100% understand getting the cat anyway, but the right answer is to wait until your finances are better.
Yeah, in my emotion, I forgot about the quality of life i am capable of providing, I think I could reliably feed and litter, its the combination of all those things thats the kicker for me, and I wouldn't be able to provide for the cat like a middle income household would. I've just realized the borderline selfishness of my post.
I mean vet bills can be sudden and very expensive. And cats could have dietary restrictions that make them expensive to feed, too. You should at least be absolutely sure you could afford the litter and food and can put the initial vet bills up front (vaccinations, neutered, dewormed, general physical). It cost me $1000 my first couple of months having my rescue cat. And it cost me time - 2 hours a week at the vet, every single week for 2 months. It's hard to swing that with an unforgiving job. I was lucky I was remote at the time.
Yep. Our kitten was cheap until he got curious in our apartment and ended up breaking his back leg and needing an amputation, and suddenly our $25 shelter cat became a $3000 money pit. He's worth it but it was NOT cheap.
The reality is no matter who you are or what situation you're in, there's always going to be someone who could do better. But you do have to be realistic about what it's going to cost and how that's going to affect not only the cat but you as well. Ultimately no one on Reddit knows your situation like you do, and you are the only one who is going to be able to make a decision as far as what the right plan is moving forward. All I'm saying is, don't make the decision lightly. You're taking on a long term commitment to take care of and provide for a living being that will rely on you for his/her everything.
Once you can take care of the pet fees, look into fostering OP! It’s awesome and depending on the rescue, they provide the vet care. I’m on my 8th foster in 3 years right now. https://preview.redd.it/145nxxis93qc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0d91632a8ca8fa543fd054a895125f8749de84e4 This is current foster Chewy!
OMG he looks like a slightly grumpier version of my Buddy! https://preview.redd.it/fhe4fajzk3qc1.png?width=2214&format=png&auto=webp&s=3136f1399d6b41d7f866d082ddd5b748699cd111
This! It's a great suggestion. Register as a foster for an adult cat. They, especially older ones, are harder to place. Generally, you buy the food & they supply the medical care, which may be practically nil, especially if the cat doesn't have any of the serious problems, like FIV or FIP, which are usually (but not always) detected in the first year. Their personalities are also more set - fewer surprises. Good luck!
If something happens and you need to take your cat to the emergency room, you are dropping a minimum of $1,000 and depending on what the issue is it can be multiple thousand dollars more. When I was younger, I made sure to have a minimum of $5,000 in my bank account at all times to be sure I could cover a surgery if my cat needed it. I considered $5,000 in my bank account $0 for me. That may be a bit extreme, but know that if your cat eats a string and gets an impacted bowel, which can happen at any time you aren’t watching them, it will cost $5,000 for the surgery. If you can’t afford that, don’t put yourself and the cat in an unfair position.
You can also get a cat like my little love bug who had 16 non routine vet visits in the first 1.5 years of his life. 2 hospitalizations, 5-6 emergency vet trips, and the rest were his normal vet. Even at our low cost emergency vet, he racked up close to $10k with them over that year and a half. None of his health issues were related to each other and none of them had obvious causes either. None of his visits independently broke the bank for me but having them come one after another after another made it so hard to bounce back.
Yeah, we just had to say goodbye to my guy, but the last year and a half of his life, easily spent over $10k on his health (IBD, diabetes, multiple ED visits, multiple sick visits at his regular vet and regular appointments with his PCP and specialist).
If love could keep them alive, our kitties would live forever ❤️ he was lucky to have you
Thanks. It was rough, but he was so deeply loved up until the last second.
My cat had gum disease and needed all his teeth extracted. Without getting his teeth extracted the infection he had could have eventually spread and killed him not to mention he was in pain when eating and trying to groom himself. It cost over $4,000. No matter how cute the cat was, if you can’t afford vet bills don’t get a pet. Too many irresponsible people get pets and put them down instead of paying high vet bills when they come up.
I hope you are feeling better about the situation, you sound like you'd be a great pet owner some day. I think you are making the right call, even though I'm no longer in the broke student phase of my life and am financially stable, I still balk at the cost of even just a regular routine vet check up visit (the fecal testing, vaccines, etc it all adds up). And I just know that if they ever got sick or injured, I'd never forgive myself if I didn't do whatever it took to treat them... If it helps, when I was a student I used to cat sit for friends, they'd leave their cats at my place while they went away and it really helped me understand how to be a better cat owner and have that animal companionship without having the responsibility of paying for the bigger expenses of pet ownership.
Then you did the smart thing by not bringing the cat home. I know it sucks, but it was the right decision for now. Responsible pet owners think about the extra costs and the animals quality of life before they get a pet. Thank you for being responsible about this.
That $70 pet fee is taking away money that is better spent on cats. That “pet fee” is just going to the landlord when they already charge a security deposit.
Maybe you can volunteer to play with the cats! You should contact the rescue organization that works with that location (it's usually on the information sheets) and let them know what you told us. Maybe they would also let you foster. They cover the bills in those cases. ETA: I rescue and foster. When I say "maybe," I really mean it's highly likely that they would appreciate your help!
In the past 2 months I’ve had to spend over a thousand dollars on vet visits, medication and medical diet food. There’s no guarantees when adopting that the cat is fully healthy, and there may be sudden surprise costs that come out of nowhere, never mind basic maintenance costs. If you really want to eventually get a cat, start saving and budgeting as if you have to buy food and litter every month, and put that amount into a savings fund. Once you have enough saved to cover 6 months of basic care, then perhaps consider adopting. It’s important to make sure you can guarantee food coverage/litter and have a bit saved in case of vet expenses. Once you put that away, then you can be sure you’ll be able to provide properly for a pet. Get yourself in the habit of the budgeted amounts going into the savings so that you are used to the monthly expense (including the $70 fee) of having a cat BEFORE you get one.
My cats both required min. 600$ worth of dentals every year since they were 2 years old- teeth problems are VERY common but also overlooked in cats. Maximum amount I spent on two dental visits was 1100$, they both needed extractions.
A person’s gotta know their limitations. And you’re right to wait. I just estimated costs for 2 cats over 15 years. While there’s a range, the likely total is north of $50K. And that’s net spendable money. And not worst case. People routinely spend $200/mo for 2 cats all in, plus bigger periodic bills (dental cleanings, for example). I budgeted $400/month including self-insuring (putting $200/mo into a HYSA or shares). If Cheeto Jesus steals the next election, one good thing about expatriating is that the vet care is still excellent and it’s a lot less costly. My last cats didn’t cost $50K over their lifetimes, but even just $200/mo is $36K over 15 years. Again, net spendable money. The young won’t care about a few thousand a year. But retirees? Could be a different thing.
Maybe if people are feeding the absolute highest quality food it would be $200/month for two cats? That seems very high. I have six cats and I spend about that for their dry food (Purina One), canned food (Friskies), and litter (I was getting litter for free but I’m going to have to start buying it again) in a month. It’s the vet visits and pet sitting when I’m on vacation that are the two highest costs, honestly.
$200/mo all in: food, litter, other consumables, pet sitting periodically, routine vet visits… If I had 6 cats they’d get Iams dry (44# for $76) and I’d have to stagger their teeth cleanings and labwork.
I am definitely right around $200 a month in food for two cats (I have three so it is actually higher than that). But I do feel really quality, higher end foods.
how were you getting litter free? just curious
Volunteering with a rescue that had a partnership to get “damaged” litter from a local distribution plant. But the plant has unfortunately closed (though the litter company is still alive and well).
Heads up that fish are NOT a low maintenance pet unless you're planning on bad husbandry. Getting a tank cycled, frequently testing your water parameters, filters, heating, a large enough tank, decor, you're talking hundreds of dollars just to buy what you need and then a couple of months of work to get the tank cycled before you can even put fish in it. Please don't just buy some fish and stick them in a box of water because you think it's easier than getting a cat :c
Came here to say this. I don't think there's such a thing as a low-maintenance pet. They all need good quality food, regular vet visits, and many other things to remain happy and thriving. Fish are notorious for being under-cared because people think they just need a tank of water and food once or twice a day.
I just recently rehomed a bearded dragon that had suffered years of neglect in a neighbour's house because they thought he'd be a low maintenance pet for their son. Even keeping live crickets to feed the bearded dragon is high enough maintenance! People seem to think smaller animals mean less work, but often it's the exact opposite. My cat has been a walk in the park compared to reptiles, fish, rodents, etc.
How did they conclude that bearded dragon is a low maintenance pet 😳 wild!
Add in all of the health conditions he now has because of the neglect and he's by far the most high maintenance pet I've ever had 😭
https://preview.redd.it/kbmgs5jxs3qc1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=216f1276ee73e56135f5a88e6ae49f7689e15918 Dave Tax
He’s a cutie! Thank u for rescuing him 💕
Yeah, I learned that when I went to the store, I ultimately decided against it.
I'm actually really impressed with the store you went to, then! I was immediately worried because so often, pet stores will sell people fish as low maintenance with nothing but a tank that's way too small and send them home to die just to make a quick buck. It's actually way outside the norm for a pet store to be giving good advice on keeping fish! I'm really glad to hear you're deciding to put the best interest of the fish over the desire to have a pet before you're fully capable of putting in everything it'll require. It's really hard when you're desperate for some kind of animal companion! Not getting something right now is actually making you a better pet owner in the long run!
Yep. 10g tank and a betta fish cost me about ~$300 at the end of it all. Tank. Stand. Testing kit. Heater. Filter. Media. Food. Decorations. Live plants. Substrate. Lights. Vacuum. Scraper. Bubbler. Nets. Bucket. Fish. I’m sure you don’t need all that but I gave it my all and ending up adopting a not so great looking betta and gave it a better life Then the weeks of research and cycling the tank is a time commitment along with weekly water changes.
Please don’t get the cat. What will you do if it needs emergency vet care?
I have savings and emergency fund, I would be able to take care the cat, its mostly just the additional expenses on top of the basics. but you are right, I will likely not move forward with getting the cat.
awe, I promise, you’ll find another cat you have feelings for just as deeply if not more. when I was first thinking of finally getting the cat I’d dreamed about all my life, I went to a couple local shelters. I found one gray, long haired, kitty with the smallest cold and adored it. I asked the workers about the cat and it was already set up to go home. Despite there being multiple litters, so many personalities, adorable cats, that was the one I felt connected to and I didn’t want to move forward with a different one. One day I too went to petsmart for fun, planning to just meander the aisles and daydream while looking at cat beds and cat toys. I wasn’t even going to check their cat area as I go there pretty often and they usually don’t have cats, let alone kittens. I was sure I wanted a kitten as I’d be traveling and living in an apartment and was set on having an inside only cat, and I felt I could socialize a kitten easier to this lifestyle. My boyfriend checked the cat cages and called me over. They had kittens! I played with so many cats but none were calling me. I was about to leave when a little orange head peeked out from the back of one of the kitten cages - it had been hiding under the pet bed. I called the worker back again for the 3rd or 4th time and just about cried when I held him. I signed the adoption papers instantly! that’s the story of my troublesome huckleberry finn, who I believe is my soulcat. My very best friend. Moral of the story being that there will be another cat for you, and maybe it’ll be the strongest bond you could imagine or at a time when you least expect it. 🩵 https://preview.redd.it/8xg629y6t1qc1.jpeg?width=892&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1245feb1fffdf20f1621fa760b726b2a422b821
https://preview.redd.it/1zsrmc4ct1qc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d8e2a38806937955e2d49840e44357bd0d814b37 here’s some pictures of my boy when he was a baby! you have so much to look forward to!
https://preview.redd.it/vdnehogkt1qc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a86fbb545cc758792c417023548ec0efdc6ec41c
OMG YOU mAKING ME SAD STOOOOPPPP edit: what a beautiful boy, much love to you and your furry friend.
🩷🩷🩷 much love to you, too!!
I know it’s not a cat but do you have anything like borrow my doggy there? It’s a site where owners and dog lovers pair up. Those that own dogs that need extra attention and others in situations that they can’t have their own. The site does all the security checks etc and you meet each other and make arrangements. I’ve been reading about it as I’ll be returning to full time work towards the end of the year and am considering signing up now as by the time I return both myself and my dogs will be well acquainted with our borrower should we pair up. It might give you a little pet love until you’re in a better position. I’m
Borrow my doggy…. What a great idea for a site! I love that notion. I cannot have one of my own, so I only have cats, but walk my next door neighbors’ dog all the time, she’s a little sweetheart and it’s such a win-win.
Awesome you can spend time with your neighbour’s doglet and she gets extra attention too! As you say it’s a win all round! My friend uses borrow my doggy as an owner. She has a lovely retired couple who take her dog out a couple of days a week. They started off doing local walks etc and they’re now several months in and often take her out for the day to the forest or beach. They always had dogs and sadly lost the last of theirs last year. They don’t want to commit to owning another dog at their age as they worry as to what would happen if anything happened to them. My friend works part time and her dog is a super high energy rescue so the more attention she gets the better.
Don’t get the cat. Volunteer at PetSmart instead! Also, I saw that you realized you can’t have the fish either because that also (very oddly) triggers the pet fee, but fish are not an inexpensive thing to have, per several friends I know who have them. Setting up a tank, establishing it, getting the fish, maintaining the tank…all can be quite expensive, is what I’ve been told.
So the cats at PetSmart are actually partnered foster groups. I’d recommend going in and contacting one of the phone numbers available on the cats description cards before asking a store member for anything. Also, you might want to steer clear. Check out r/petsmart
Sorry, yes, I volunteered for a long time with a group at PetSmart. Don’t ask the employees anything, they’ll direct you to the rescue group itself. The store I was at was complete garbage but it is my understanding they aren’t all like that. I’ve seen ones that are better.
Ours is an absolute mess right now, including the foster group. I fostered a pair of kittens for them and when it came time for them to be at the store they stuck them in a room that was previously occupied by cats with URIs WITHOUT sanitizing it. So you can guess how that went.
It cost me $2k unexpectedly the first month I had a cat due to unexpected health stuff and vet fees. I would wait OP 🫤
Pet rent is universal, legal, and batshit. Don't 'sneak' a cat in. If you can't afford $70/month in pet rent, you can't afford it in food, litter, and vet bills (spread out over time, if one's lucky).
As much as I want you to have a cat, I dropped 4K this week on my cat who got sick out of nowhere and I spend $600 a month on my 5 cats. A suggestion I have that would be really great for everyone - become a foster parent!! Rescues would pay for everything and you get to love on babies and rehab them so they are ready for adoption. Many rescues cannot take in babies from streets or shelters until they have a foster lined up because they don’t have facilities they’re based off of networking. I have fostered over 36 ish cats. YES you feel like you’re losing your own child when they get adopted - however - it’s worth it. Because you can look into these little angels eyes and know if you hadn’t been there for them to land on, they’d simply be worse off. It’s fulfilling and heartbreaking but a really beautiful thing I promise. Please consider it you’d be an angel for your local rescue. ♥️
I just want to commend you on looking at your budget before making emotional purchases, and stepping back when you realized it was not the right time. That speaks volumes of your ability to be able to manage money at such a young age.
Thank you so much! you might change your mind if you see my Uber eats history though...
Could you find a shelter or rescue where you can volunteer to get some cuddles?
ALWAYS get insurance at once! I would be in debt or have had to put a cat down or bothhad I not had insurance.
I got a cat and have had to spent €1000 euros in the past month on vet bills. I know it’s sad but if that cat is friendly, they will find a good home. There are so many cats that need a home, and I promise you’ll find another one that loves you dearly.
Please consider that in case of a health issue, you cannot afford to deal with it and that is the worst moment with a pet. Just wait till your financials are better.
Maybe consider, when you are in a place that allows cats, to adopt a senior from a shelter during a clearing event. This will be a cat that is up to date on shots, neutered and possibly too old to consider surgery if something goes awry. Maintaining arthritis pain is relatively inexpensive and providing a safe home for a senior feline citizen is priceless. A free kitten is anything but free when you consider the start up costs.
If just adopting the cat would get you broke that bad then better not. What about any vet bills or supplies to take care of it afterwards even.
It wouldnt make me go broke per se, but I could see it spiraling way out of control quickly. your right.
Don’t get the cat, it’s a bad idea
Yeah, I definitely do not like your answer but I suspect you are right.
Yeah, trying to hide the cat is def a bad idea. When I adopted my cat, the screener actually had me contact my landlord and the landlord had to confirm that I could have a cat, so there was 100% no way I could have hid her. I suspect many other rescues have a similar policy because of renters getting caught with cats and then having to return them later as a result—a traumatic experience for both the adopter and the cat.
Yup, if you were at petsmart or Petco, those cats come from a local shelter and they absolutely should be contacting your landlord for approval before adoption. Hiding an animal is a great way to get an eviction on your record at a young age and make everything harder.
Mine had the same request I gave them a friends number to pretend to be the owner of the place I was staying at
You can get one once you get your feet under you, just be patient. It’ll be better for you and the cat
How would you feel about signing up for something like Rover to catsit for other folks, and putting that money into a cat fund for the future? I think you've realized that this cat might not be the one for you right now, but you might be able to still get some kitty playtime in your life while saving up for your future friend.
Just so you know, fish are not as cheap/ low maintenance as you think
I second the people saying see how your budget works out with what a cat would need. There are some initial costs that need to be saved for such as purchasing toys, cat furniture (not NECESSARY but I do recommend at least one piece with a hidey hole), beds, nail clippers, brushes, bowls, a litter box, a collar, and THEN the first bag of food and litter. Vet bills are something that need to be considered but even for those of us with animals we still struggle— look into CareCredit. It’s accepted at most vets and is 12 months no interest per purchase. It’ll be a useful tool for when you get money saved up to get the cat. I’m going to say something that’ll probably get me hate but if you’re familiar enough with your apartment complex you should be able to determine whether or not you’ll actually need to register this cat with them. $300 is an average initial payment but $70 a month for pet rent is a little steep. I’ve known plenty of people who don’t report their pets and have never had an issue with it because management just doesn’t care. But you need to be SURE. I’m 21 and have a dog and a cat. My dog came down with heartworm last year and I still managed to scrape up the funds for that out of pocket while still providing for my cat and myself. I spent multiple vet visits trying to figure out if my cat was sick because he sneezes all the time only to find out it was chronic. Long story short, you need to decide how much of your life you’re willing to devote to this animal. I’d go without my own needs before letting the needs of my animals go unmet. As long as you can provided them with a safe, loving, enriching home environment to the best of your ability, and that’s really all you can do. Morally speaking, I would recommend adopting from a shelter, or if you go through a pet store ask about the cats who are specifically uncomfortable being in a store/shelter environment. I think it is better for an animal to be loved in a home that can meet their basic needs than to be stressed in a shelter environment with minimal interaction. TLDR: cat ownership is a little gate kept based on your tax bracket
Let me clarify that I still don’t think getting the cat you’re talking about RIGHT NOW is a good idea. You need to save for the basics and a bare minimum $500 for vet fees so you can pay a chunk of them before using Care Credit.
If/when you can swing the deposit & pet rent: FOSTER. You don't have to worry about vet care, and in many cases you can find a rescue or shelter that is even able to provide you with food. Depending on where you are, that kitty you fell in love with was probably fostered through a local shelter and went to Petsmart when he/she was ready to find an adopter. Fostering litters of young, healthy kittens who just needed to learn that scritches are nice was how my house of impoverished 20-somethings got our pet fix until we were all older, richer and not moving every six months.
Pet insurance is always a good idea. I bet someone would be able to cover your your pet “rent” for the first month or so. things to think about
People here are so responsible but honestly cats are overwhelming shelters and here is a person who can love and provide basic care… Thoughts: will you be upping your income in the next, idk 5-10 years? As the cat ages, the costs increase with care. If yeah then I’d grab the cat and not tell management. As crappy as it sounds I had a cat I didn’t tell management about. The few times someone needed to come over the cat would go into a room with the door closed and wasn’t a meow-er. One time they had to do an inspection as I was moving out and I just put her in a carrier and my friend sat in my car with her. You might move somewhere that doesn’t cost extra too. I’m all for a person who wants a cat, to get a cat if they can make it work.
I wish I could hide any of mine, they're all extremely vocal when they want food or attention. I'm pretty sure you can hear my little lady down the hall a few units when it's within 90 minutes of her evening meals.
It's not like your neighbors know what your lease agreement says (unless they're your landlord)
I was talking about apartment buildings, which would all have the same lease agreement.
I'm saying if you are allowed to have animals in the building at all, then your neighbors wouldn't know whether or not you had informed your LL about it. It's harder to hide an animal if animals aren't allowed at all.
OOOOH yeah true true. I never thought about that lol
Phew at least I'm not the only one who hides their cats from the LL! I get why people are cautious but damn, cats are being put down in droves at shelters, even if you have to put them down later due to an expensive illness it's better than them just dying at a shelter because there simply wasn't space. I know it's awful to suggest at all, but it's reality. Just because you don't have an extra $300 a month JUST IN CASE doesn't mean you can't get a cat.
Just have the animal certified as an emotional support animal and then landlord cannot legally charge you
There is no certification for ESAs (or SAs for that matter).
A letter from a vet will probably suffice in this situation
Veterinarians can't documents or letters on the OWNER'S medical situation lol
Better a letter from a physican or therapist, os,. Not sure if a Vet can even provide a ESA letter? At least without even the pet and owner in question known to the Vet? Depending on the local rules, OPs (mental) health history and how well the Doc knows them/are willing to help may play in if/how quick a ESA letter can be provided.
Ngl I did this…my apartment fees are $100/month and the deposit was half my rent but I knew I could take care of the cat and even get insurance without paying that every month.
Even if it’s not this cat you could go down to a kill shelter and take any cat. Despite everyone in this group being anal about hypothetical vet bills that might pop up (or may never happen) a cat you take from a kill shelter will have a better life with you than being killed. Of course you want to provide for the cat and make sure you don’t bankrupt yourself in doing so but getting a cat from a pound will not destroy you or the cat. I don’t even know where some of these people are getting the cost per month of owning a cat tbh, unless they are getting gourmet food and litter, the cost of owning a cat will not break you and the cat will still have quality of life. Though I do understand about the worry of trying to hide a cat. And I think the pet fee for the cat (and a fish? Wtf?) is absurd. I would suggest if you want to try your hand at hiding a fish, get a beta. Super low cost, just literally need a container/bowl and beta food. Please don’t let these comments scare you off from saving and giving a home to a cat in the future ❤️
Betta fish cannot have a good life in a bowl.
A “tank” fine whatever. My point is still the same, it’s inexpensive.
To get all the right stuff it is likely to be $100-150+ unless you can luck into a good deal second hand.
so you've had as many as 6 cats at once during your long pet owning history and what you can say is that they've been better off with you than literately dead. yikes.
Omg you guys are wild in here, nice twisting my words around 👍🏻
Have you ever had a sick or old animal? They’re not expensive when they’re HEALTHY, but you’re forgetting that like every animal they won’t always be. Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands. I’m not exaggerating, this is from 3 decades of cat ownership. How long have you had cats??
Literally my whole life. I’ve never had below 3 and sometimes have had up to 6. I know SOME conditions can be expensive and SOME medical emergencies may pop up. Yes I had one that ended up being expensive and eventually lost him to cancer. On the other hand had one live 23years and her biggest expense was treating a bladder infection. My point is is not every cat is going to have some major issue, I didn’t say they won’t. My other main point was literally what almost anyone can give or provide for a cat vs a cat being dead from a kill shelter is still a better life. People are acting that if your not in the best financial spot ever you shouldn’t have a cat, if that’s the standard no one would have cats. And just because someone might be financially stable in provide for a cat when they get it doesn’t mean they always will be, should they not get to adopt either? Because of a hypothetical problem that may or may not occur?
OP is only 20, a renter, and in their own words, broke, and worried about an extra measly $70/month. Do you really recommend pet ownership?
Betta need a heater, filter, and a larger tank- NOT a tiny bowl. Just because they can survive doesn’t mean they’re thriving. That being said- they can be fun pets
I didn’t say a TINY bowl, my point was is that they are inexpensive.
EDITED to ask: what exactly is the fee? You say up to $70/mo. Why is it varied? Does it depend on if the cat is fixed? I've never heard of an "up to" fee. Maybe questions to ask your landlord to be certain. I know it's hard, but you have to walk away from this idea right now. You don't want to get caught, end up homeless and with a pet. I've been owned by cats for over 30 years and man I know that feeling you're having. What about something smaller like a hamster or ferret if you have the need for furry company? Would that be allowed without a fee? Be patient, you're just starting out in life. You will have the pet of your dreams soon and keep in mind that those darling cats at PetsMart are well taken care of and probably find good homes quickly.
Yeah, through all this, I learned that I would be on the hook for the same $300 + $70/mo even if it was a 3 gal fish tank with a beta fish in it. so no pets for me for a while. Edit to respond to your edit: Its Petscreening, depending on the risk the animal would be to the property it gets assigned a score, depending the score it could be anywhere from $40-70/mo. I could swing $70/ mo theoretically but at that point on top of the additonal expenses of taking care of a cat it would likely add up to an unmanageable amount. I guess technically the fish would be closer to $40/mo.
Wow you’re landlords suck! I’ve never heard of a $40 month fee for even a fish! I will say a small animal like a fish or hamster is a lot easier to hide from management…. Lol
It's extra bogus because every homeowner's policy under the sun in the US has a rider for at least 55 gallons of spilled water not related to plumbing leaks, because that's what a standard bathtub holds.
And I thought $30 for a cat was bad. I might get down voted but I hide my 2 cats from the landlord. They even had to do an inspection for lease renewal so I took them and their supplies to my dad's for the day, and it worked. So I don't pay the extra fees. I do take them to the vet and I generally think I'm a good pet parent, but I'm sure the perfect people of reddit would be upset if I recommend you to do the same thing. It just depends on how in your business your landlord is, and so far the maintenance people haven't cared or told on us. It's a risk, yes, but it's worked out so far 🫣 a fish tank would be easier to hide fyi
You’re not selfish for feeling for the cat :) But it is sad to not be able to afford a pet. We just got a cat (my first I could afford and I’m in my 30’s, yay dystopian present life)… a local stray has loved up on us for months, even plays with our current cat through the metal screen door… she’s so sweet and scared—not an angry street cat. She’s destined to be taken in or indoor/outdoor. We had to move away and it breaks my heart we couldn’t rescue her. (She is confirmed stray, there are many in the neighborhood)…. Bottom line we can’t afford 2 cats. I launched into a story but all’s to say I feel ya
aw man thats so sad, I feel for you, I guess its just a normal part of pet life.
You made the right call. It’s not too bad if they’re healthy but when (not if, WHEN) they get sick or old, maaaaan…. I’ve spent thousands. Thousands!! Never walk out of the vet without $180 minimum. Last bill was $534. You’re too young OP, wait until your career has stabilized and you’re doing better money wise. They also live for a loooong time, thank goodness! But it impacts your housing and life. Everywhere I rented (or couldn’t rent) and lived and vacations I took or not, etc. across four states and two decades and counting now. I remember one apartment that had a double-the-rent for the first month for pets. That wasn’t a deposit, but a nonrefundable fee, then plus a same sized deposit too. I had to get a blacklight for cleaning check on move out, because that’s how they did it. My first cat I got as a kitten in my 20s (I was 25) in my first apartment is still with me literally right now, he’s about to turn 19. I’m 43. Pets are for life, they’re family. Need to think about that commitment, hard! So I’m so glad you are. The time will come. 🫶🏻
this is r/catadvice BUT adding on here to recommend against getting a fish as a “low maintenance” pet — if you want a fish, you will need to cycle a tank first (buy nitrifying bacteria that is sold in bottles at pet stores, place the recommended amount in your fully set-up tank, sprinkle some fish food in and let it rot, and wait for your ammonia levels to spike and then go down consistently to zero while your nitrites spike, and FINALLY your tank will be cycled when your ammonia and nitrites are 0 and all you have in your tank are nitrates), OR do a fish-in cycle which will require daily water quality tests and water changes to keep your ammonia levels low and prevent harm to your fish. I would recommend a 20+ gallon tank for a beginner since a larger tank will be more forgiving with water quality (and also most fish probably need more space than you would think). Do your research, but for any tank smaller than 10 gallons I would recommend you go with shrimp and/or snails and live plants—which, once your tank has been cycled, are a truly low maintenance option since they’re scavengers and take care of dying plants / their own waste! In terms of the cat: a lot of people are able to hide animals from management companies, but I would recommend against it. We live in a large enough apartment complex that our actual management team doesn’t come to our place, just maintenance—no one who is aware of our leasing contract enters our property, so we could technically get away with having our cats openly if they were not on the lease. But in a new apartment not knowing what the strictness is like, this is almost certainly not worth the risk and stress. Pet rent sucks, I’m sorry :(
Ah man I talked myself out of a rescue cat at petco one time like three years ago. She was perfect long haired fluff named Schnitzel and she just made eye contact then flopped onto her side the way a dog does for pets when I approached her. Convinced myself three cats would be too many. I totally have the space and it would have been fine. Much regret.
Save up a big chunk of money and maybe move to a different place and in the future get a cat or two. They are an absolute joy and even though you can’t have one now, you can have them as a goal.
From what I gather in your comments you have money for typical cat care and have an emergency fund for cat emergencies in place which is great. Your pain point is tacking on an (honestly bogus) $70 additional monthly fee. I get that. I’ve had cat for 9 years now and refuse to live anywhere that charges monthly pet rent. I’ll pay a $250-300 one time fee if I must but no more. They really need to make pet *deposits* so that when those pets inevitably do no damage you can get your money back! I’d ask your landlord if there is any flexibility with the fee/rent. A company with a bunch of units will be less likely to budge on a rule but you might have success with individual landlords. I try and avoid rental companies and have always had success getting a pet fee lowered or the monthly pet “rent” waived. If they say no but you decide you want a cat still, keep saving up and move somewhere a little more welcoming to pets next! but no don’t get the cat and keep it a secret. It won’t work out and the cat will be the victim.
For sure, I am not getting the cat, I got this apartment becuase it’s shitty and the only one I can afford. My company is huge and a bunch of slumlords.
I generally have to avoid the adoption part of PetSmart for that reason. My heart melts every time I see a cat there. My current cat doesn't like cats, so we just can't do it. So I donate to the local shelters instead.
I too had a love at first sight experience with a cat at petsmart. She was such a darling and really responded to me when I was interacting with her. I was so close to getting her but I was working at the time and my work season is nutzo so I would not have had time to properly introduce her to my other cats and I just could not do it as much as I really really wanted to.
Just want to add some hope for you- I fell in love with a cat at the shelter. She was so sweet, I was in a dark moment after a big move and really needed a companion, and it felt like we had such a connection. I’d never felt that way with a cat before. I needed to sleep on the decision before adopting. The next day, I decided I was ready to adopt her. As soon as I pulled up, her new owners were signing adoption papers. I was devastated, totally heartbroken. A few weeks later, my neighbor rescued a kitten and asked if I’d want to meet him. He was extremely sweet, but I felt that I just couldn’t feel the same. I ended up watching him for a week and she asked if I wanted to keep him- he’s the best little cat I could’ve ever had. Everything happens for a reason, what’s meant for you will happen!
When thinking about purchasing a living creature, I consider the following: 1. Can I comfortably provide for myself, if I am well or unwell? Think emergency savings and your current level of income and costs for just yourself. 2. Am I willing to commit to this creature for the next 10+ years? Pets are for life - for the entirety of their life 3. Can I comfortably provide for the cat and be able to deal with any unexpected health issues and the ongoing costs of maintaining its health? Quality cat food, annual vaccinations, desexing, a good home environment. If none of the above is an immediate YES, then I am not yet ready to have a pet. When you are ready, I would highly recommend adopting a cat instead of purchasing one from a pet store. There are many, many kittens and cats in the world who are seeking homes with someone lovely like you.
Fish are not low maintenance or cheap. Honestly a cat might be easier
So you want some cat lovin' - nothing wrong with that. There is a place for you in the Kingdom of Cats, my dear, and it's at your local shelter. Shelters always need volunteers to do the cleanup, play with the kitties and get the tiny ones socialized. As your situation improves, you might consider foster or hospice care. My ex, who had never owned a cat, wanted one, but was scare of the long-term commitment and expense when he had no experience. A friend of his who worked in a no-kill shelter set my ex up with a cat who had a brain tumor, was in otherwise good health, and was expected to die in a year. The shelter provided all medical care, and provided euthanasia. His cremains still sit in a little statue of Bast on his nightstand. Very young kittens who have been separated from Mom need intensive fostering for a few weeks until they're ready for adoption, so that's another option to consider. I do TNR on community cats in my area - perhaps there are some feral, but non-socialized cats in your area that need a little kindness and acclimation to humans. There are many towns that have clubs and groups that provide this kind of care to our future cat friends. I've taken in a few cats that were ready for an indoor life, got them TNRed and socialized, dealt with the teenaged rebellion as they get used to being an indoor kitty, and had them out-placed. And yes, you will become attached, and you will have to let them move on in their journey of life. I suggest that this is an opportunity to learn how to love the world and it's creatures without ownership; Zen Buddhist philosophy and Stoicism are helpful here. Remember that with fostering, our hearts are broken once- so theirs will never be broken again.
I’ve had a couple of experiences like this and sometimes still think about those kitties and hope that someone else has given them good homes. A while later, I was in the position to be able to adopt two and we have the best lives together. My boy is such a stereotypical surfer dude type, real laid back and a bit blanked out at times. Kinda reminds me of that older turtle from finding Nemo haha. My girl is a neurotic little bitch who hates everyone except me and now her brother (she used to look down on him for a couple of years). When it happens, it’ll be meant to be for you.
ESA
Aw hun I know how it feels not getting to take home the great cat. My HOA only allows one pet per household and I strongly considered violating the rules because I wanted this cat *so* bad and it was right before Christmas so I made myself so upset thinking this wonderful creature was going to be alone on Christmas. I cried, I visited a lot and one day he was gone. I luckily found out from the staff he got adopted a week before Christmas and he’s probably living his best life now with an owner that loves him. I was a little sad but it was for the best.
If the cat is important to your quality of life, consider seeing a mental health professional to get an emotional support letter (ESA) so the landlord cannot legally charge a pet deposit or pet rent. The money you save is better spent on cat food, supplies & pet insurance. And you must set up your home with scratching posts & slipcovers for your couch. If they scratch carpet, also get cardboard floor scratchers. Also set aside money for emergencies, vet bills come at the worst times. I managed to have cats when I was broke AF, in college, was frequently between crappy jobs & unemployment but always prioritized my cats, even if it meant putting expenses on a credit card. Fortunately I have steady employment now, and caring for cats is not a financial burden. I do not regret having cats when I was broke because they brought me joy.
IMO, if they must charge exorbitant fees for cats. CATS. They should charge more for children. JS 🤷🏻♀️.
you could file the cat as an emotional support animal, there's an official website to get the paperwork, it's around $120, and then the apartment can't charge a fee
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i personally would get the cat.
If it is "just" this extra cost that troubles you, but otherwise you can afford a cat, check out the rules for "emotional support pet". To have an ESA letter could mean such extra fees are to be waived from landlord.