The Cost of Owning a Cat: Survey Reveals Startling Figures

A recent survey conducted by pet food manufacturer, Feline Fine Foods, has revealed that the average cost of owning a cat over its lifetime is an astonishing 264 million yen. This figure includes costs associated with food, medical care, and other necessary items such as litter boxes and toys. The survey was conducted in Japan over the course of two years and included 1,000 respondents who owned cats. The results showed that the average annual cost for a single cat was approximately 1.3 million yen per year. This figure is significantly higher than the estimated annual cost for dog ownership which stands at around 800 thousand yen per year. When broken down into categories, it was found that medical care accounted for the largest portion of expenses at 44%, followed by food (30%), miscellaneous items (17%) and finally litter boxes (9%). In terms of individual costs, vaccinations were found to be the most expensive item with an average price tag of 15 thousand yen per year while food came in second at 11 thousand yen per year. The survey also revealed that many cat owners are unaware of how much they spend on their pets each year with 40% underestimating their total expenses by more than 500 thousand yen annually. Furthermore, it was discovered that those who owned multiple cats spent an average of 10% more than those who only had one feline companion. Commenting on the findings, Feline Fine Foods CEO Shunsuke Yamamoto said “This survey highlights just how costly owning a cat can be and we hope this will encourage people to think carefully before making such a commitment” He went on to add “We understand that cats bring immense joy to their owners but we want people to be aware of all associated costs before taking on such responsibility”