Health Checkups and Vaccinations (updated on 11/11/22)
Below are the ranges for routine vet fees for the kitties in our rescue. Thankfully we found a new place for spay/neuter and final vetting with the Chittenden County Humane Society, and they have been a wonderful resource right around the corner from us! We are now able to combine the spay/neuter appointment with final vaccines, testing and microchipping, but we are still not even close to being able to cover our costs. We are hoping to set up a site for donations soon so that our adoption fees can stay more affordable for families. When we bring kitties in as strays and from kill shelters, some need a lot of care and come to us with URI (upper respiratory infections), parasitic issues, digestive imbalances, etc. that require additional vet visits and medications which can be quite expensive as well.
An initial vet exam for a new stray that has been pulled off the streets can run anywhere from $300-600+. We are very careful about quarantining new kitties, but we get new arrivals that have had no vetting, they go into a vet immediately to get fecal tested, FeLV/FIV tested, and wormed. Sometimes other medications are required for upper respiratory issues, or even x-rays which can be incredibly expensive. One recent kitten that was found in a dumpster that we brought in a few days ago from NY already has vet fees already in excess of $700, and she doesn't even have her initial shots yet. So, it's easy to see that there are many costs that go into rescuing kitties, and we keep working to try to help cover those costs. At our current vet, here are some of the broken down expenses for care per kitty:
*Initial Vet Exam: $30-$68+ (low end with >5 litters)
Illness Exam: $80
*FVRCP + C vaccine: $20+
*Fecal exam: $38 - 50
*Deworming - $12+
*FeLV/FIV Testing: $66.50
*Flea treatment (Selarid): $27.55
URI medication (Amox/Clav): $25+
FortiFlora Probiotic: $48
Eye Ointment (infection): $38
Microchipping: TBD (*only kitties who have been spayed/neutered already)
Rabies vaccine: TBD (*only kitties who have been spayed/neutered already)
Feline Leukemia vaccine: TBD (*only kitties who have been spayed/neutered already)
*Spay/Neuter Surgery: Spay/Neuter surgery currently costs $175 at our local humane society, where our final vetting is done before kitties leave for their new adoptive homes. It includes spay/neuter surgery, rabies 1yr vaccine, FVRCP shots, Advantage treatment, nail trimming, pain killer medication, microchipping, and the FeVL/FIV test (if not previously done).
*Routine/basic healthcare costs per kitty
Minimum Vetting Fees: $350+ (does not include other illness or non-routine visits, any medications, or necessary interventions that are usually needed as our kitties come from kill shelters and off the streets where the care has not been consistent or even there at all. These costs also do not include any food, supplements, etc).
Below are the ranges for routine vet fees for the kitties in our rescue. Thankfully we found a new place for spay/neuter and final vetting with the Chittenden County Humane Society, and they have been a wonderful resource right around the corner from us! We are now able to combine the spay/neuter appointment with final vaccines, testing and microchipping, but we are still not even close to being able to cover our costs. We are hoping to set up a site for donations soon so that our adoption fees can stay more affordable for families. When we bring kitties in as strays and from kill shelters, some need a lot of care and come to us with URI (upper respiratory infections), parasitic issues, digestive imbalances, etc. that require additional vet visits and medications which can be quite expensive as well.
An initial vet exam for a new stray that has been pulled off the streets can run anywhere from $300-600+. We are very careful about quarantining new kitties, but we get new arrivals that have had no vetting, they go into a vet immediately to get fecal tested, FeLV/FIV tested, and wormed. Sometimes other medications are required for upper respiratory issues, or even x-rays which can be incredibly expensive. One recent kitten that was found in a dumpster that we brought in a few days ago from NY already has vet fees already in excess of $700, and she doesn't even have her initial shots yet. So, it's easy to see that there are many costs that go into rescuing kitties, and we keep working to try to help cover those costs. At our current vet, here are some of the broken down expenses for care per kitty:
*Initial Vet Exam: $30-$68+ (low end with >5 litters)
Illness Exam: $80
*FVRCP + C vaccine: $20+
*Fecal exam: $38 - 50
*Deworming - $12+
*FeLV/FIV Testing: $66.50
*Flea treatment (Selarid): $27.55
URI medication (Amox/Clav): $25+
FortiFlora Probiotic: $48
Eye Ointment (infection): $38
Microchipping: TBD (*only kitties who have been spayed/neutered already)
Rabies vaccine: TBD (*only kitties who have been spayed/neutered already)
Feline Leukemia vaccine: TBD (*only kitties who have been spayed/neutered already)
*Spay/Neuter Surgery: Spay/Neuter surgery currently costs $175 at our local humane society, where our final vetting is done before kitties leave for their new adoptive homes. It includes spay/neuter surgery, rabies 1yr vaccine, FVRCP shots, Advantage treatment, nail trimming, pain killer medication, microchipping, and the FeVL/FIV test (if not previously done).
*Routine/basic healthcare costs per kitty
Minimum Vetting Fees: $350+ (does not include other illness or non-routine visits, any medications, or necessary interventions that are usually needed as our kitties come from kill shelters and off the streets where the care has not been consistent or even there at all. These costs also do not include any food, supplements, etc).
Food
Food is definitely one of the most expensive ongoing parts of running a rescue, and is challenging to determine total cost/kitty as it changes as the kittens rapidly grow, depends on how long we've had them in our care, and other factors. For example, Pumpkin and her six kittens have been with us since they were 9 days old, so the total cost for food for her and her six kittens will be a lot higher than Maple and her three kittens who came to us at about 7 weeks of age. At one point when we had two mamas and their older kittens, we were going through 5+ large cans per day (at $2-3/can), so it can get quite expensive with grain-free top quality wet cat food. We only offer grain free canned kitten food and also free choice grain free dry cat food to the kittens until they are spayed/neutered. We have been switching over slowly to a raw food diet for the adults and are using Aunt Jeni's raw cat food. It has been amazing for one mama in particular who had sensitivities to canned foods. We buy in larger quantities when we are able to as well, helping to decrease overall cost.
Food is definitely one of the most expensive ongoing parts of running a rescue, and is challenging to determine total cost/kitty as it changes as the kittens rapidly grow, depends on how long we've had them in our care, and other factors. For example, Pumpkin and her six kittens have been with us since they were 9 days old, so the total cost for food for her and her six kittens will be a lot higher than Maple and her three kittens who came to us at about 7 weeks of age. At one point when we had two mamas and their older kittens, we were going through 5+ large cans per day (at $2-3/can), so it can get quite expensive with grain-free top quality wet cat food. We only offer grain free canned kitten food and also free choice grain free dry cat food to the kittens until they are spayed/neutered. We have been switching over slowly to a raw food diet for the adults and are using Aunt Jeni's raw cat food. It has been amazing for one mama in particular who had sensitivities to canned foods. We buy in larger quantities when we are able to as well, helping to decrease overall cost.
Pet Gear
We have worked hard to try and make our kitty living spaces as cozy as possible. They are quite spoiled! Things like toys, kitty beds and houses, blankets, food and water bowls (and mats), floor mats, flea shampoos, towels, brushes, nail trimmers, litter boxes, and of course litter (which needs to be changed frequently)! We use World's Best Cat, which is biodegradable and corn-based, along with biodegradable collection bags, which is helping to take care of our wonderful planet as well! Our kitties also have kitty towers, scratching posts and climbers. Of course, we would always like to do more, and we will as our little rescue grows!
We have worked hard to try and make our kitty living spaces as cozy as possible. They are quite spoiled! Things like toys, kitty beds and houses, blankets, food and water bowls (and mats), floor mats, flea shampoos, towels, brushes, nail trimmers, litter boxes, and of course litter (which needs to be changed frequently)! We use World's Best Cat, which is biodegradable and corn-based, along with biodegradable collection bags, which is helping to take care of our wonderful planet as well! Our kitties also have kitty towers, scratching posts and climbers. Of course, we would always like to do more, and we will as our little rescue grows!
Time & Energy
Obviously there is no value that can be assigned to the extensive amount of time, care, love and attention that goes into rescuing kitties, but I can tell you that it is incredibly time consuming. Bottle feeding kittens is one great example, as it is so challenging to train them to use a nipple, and to make sure they are getting the right amount, weighing them to make sure they are gaining weight, and so much more.
But all the work is so worth it!
Obviously there is no value that can be assigned to the extensive amount of time, care, love and attention that goes into rescuing kitties, but I can tell you that it is incredibly time consuming. Bottle feeding kittens is one great example, as it is so challenging to train them to use a nipple, and to make sure they are getting the right amount, weighing them to make sure they are gaining weight, and so much more.
But all the work is so worth it!
Kitty room photos coming soon!