When Michelle Robinson moved to Muscat from Dubai in August 2009, she realised that friends were hard to come by. But before long, she found the much-needed companionship from an adorable Persian cat she had stumbled upon in a store.
"I saw this adorable ball of fluff in the pet shop and decided to make her my new bff [best friend forever]. I thought about it for about a day, but she had me at hello, to be honest," she recalls. The cat, which Michelle now fondly calls Delilah or Deedee, moved to Dubai with her in December 2010.
Pets have a special place in many people's hearts. They offer companionship, amusement and even health benefits, if studies were true. But on top of the purring and snuggling, these furry creatures can also leave a huge hole in your wallet.
Michelle later realised that pet ownership involves financial sacrifices. The cat cost her Dh2,000 to purchase and in the first month alone, she spent another Dh850 on fresh towels, toys, treats, food and other living essentials, to ensure Delilah is well taken care of. She also had to shell out Dh300 during an initial trip to the veterinary clinic for de-worming.
In a year, the cat's living expenses set Michelle back around Dh6,000. The annual cost does not include the collateral expenses that occasionally come up, such as when Delilah turns extra playful and naughty, wrecking a few major household items in the process.
"She went through a phase of peeing in ridiculous places and I had to replace a suitcase and the couch. I've also had to replace my duvet a few times. Probably that cost around Dh10,000. She's already ruined the replacement couch by using it as a scratching post, too, so that will have to be replaced too," Michelle says.
Extra costs
At the time of the interview, Michelle was getting ready to fly with her cat to Singapore, where she's going to start a new job and she's already feeling the extra costs. She expects to spend about Dh9,000 to relocate her pet and put her in quarantine for a month upon arrival. "That is a major sacrifice, let me tell you. I could buy a handful of exotic kitten for that or three pairs of Louboutin [shoes]. If I could stand to be without her I would, but she's my best friend. I can't leave my little girl," she adds. But if the costs of relocation and occasional damage to furniture are taken out of the picture, Michelle thinks keeping a cat is not so expensive, after all. "Delilah looks like a Persian princess, but she is actually very low maintenance. She falls asleep in shoe boxes and has been known to drink from the toilet," she says.
The costs of bringing a four-legged friend into your home go far beyond the initial purchase. On top of the acquisition cost, which can range from almost nothing to more than Dh2,000, UAE residents spend an average of Dh850 to Dh1,200 on start-up expenses per animal. The annual maintenance, which includes food, veterinary treatments and grooming, can range from Dh600 to Dh6,000. The expenses can go up, depending on the health of the animal and the kind of food they eat.
Over the years, pet ownership costs have risen exponentially. About 72.9 million households own a pet in the US and their spending has ballooned from $17 billion (Dh62.4 billion) in 1994 to $50 billion in 2011, according to the American Pet Products Association.
Pet food accounts for the biggest chunk of expenditure, amounting to $19.8 billion. Veterinary care is the second biggest at $13.4 billion. Spending on supplies and over-the-counter medicines amounts to $11 billion, while grooming and boarding cost $3.8 billion. However, pet ownership does not always leave a huge hole in the wallet. Bardees Badr from Tanzania has a three-year-old dog called Maxx. For her, the key to keeping pet care costs to a minimum is managing the household's finances well and preparing in advance. "So we get all we want in moderation and make sure our Maxx is happy and healthy in the process."
Early expenses
Badr found Maxx through an online ad. The dog was offered for adoption, so she did not pay anything to bring the pet home. However, the expatriate ended up spending a little over Dh1,000 on start up costs, which include grooming supplies such as shampoo and towels, toys, cage, treats, food and initial veterinary visit.
Badr spends more than Dh4,000 a year for the dog's upkeep and health care. Annual food costs Dh500, but grooming costs a hefty Dh1,440. Depending on when the dog's shots are due, and if he gets sick, veterinary care costs about Dh1,400 to Dh2,000.
Some households spend extra money on training their dogs manners, but Badr doesn't worry about it since Maxx was already trained. Expenses on treats are kept to a minimum, not more than Dh300 a year.
Get an insurance plan, experts suggest
Dubai : Health care costs for pets have risen significantly over the years and if your cute furry friend falls seriously ill at the most inopportune moment, you'll be left with a big hole in your bank account.
Critical treatments such as eye surgery and cancer cures, for example, come at a very high price. That's why experts recommend that you take out pet insurance for your cat, dog or any four-legged creature in the house.
"With the ever increasingly sophisticated treatments on offer to cure our pets of their injuries and illnesses, the costs have risen exponentially as well," notes Wayne Massingham, director of Protectapet, a pet insurance provider based in Spain.
Getting pet insurance in Spain can cost from as little as €196 (Dh953) per year for dogs and €165 per year for cats. In the UAE, you can take out a policy that will pay up to Dh25,000 per year in veterinary expenses. The insurance can also cover accidental death or loss.
Before you take out an insurance plan, Massingham shares tips to keep in mind:
- Always read the terms and conditions and look at premiums increasing dramatically if you make claims. Most pet insurance have claim limits to a certain value.
- Find out if the price of the policy increases with the amount of claims you intend to make. Some providers keep the price fixed for the life of your pet, regardless of the number of claims you make
- Choose a plan with no annual limit on the number of claims you make
- Check if the company pays for aftercare and medicines
- Find out if the company insure pets over 10 years of age
