I have been strongly considering adopting a kitten at some point this year. I think I would enjoy having a pet and cats are independent enough that having one wouldn't impede on my work schedule or social life unlike other types of pets like dogs as much as I love them. But I keep thinking about how like a person, pets come with unexpected costs and could throw a monkey wrench in my budget.
There are upstart costs to consider like a litter box, toys, scratching post, cat brush, initial vet visit, room deodorizer (because I can't stand walking into someone's house and you can smell the cat before you see it!), food & water bowls...I'm sure there are more but that is what comes to mind at the moment. There are also fixed regular costs like food, kitty litter, boarding (if I go out of town for vacations) and vet visits. If my future cat were to have health problems, which usually come with age, those would have to be factored in also. Hmm much to consider. Maybe I should start a pet fund and reevaluate my budget in a few months? I REALLY want to eliminate as much credit card debt as possible this year, can I do this and afford a pet?
Any thoughts from those that have pets? Has having a pet gotten in the way of sticking to a budget?
Photo: http://www.littlefolkspuzzle.com/catalog/1350-30PCFLOORPUZZLE-KITTEN.JPG
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