What did your pet(s) do today?

[Kätzchen]

Miss Petunia was waiting for me, when I pulled in the driveway. I could hear her meowing on the other side of the front door. Hee hee, she must have known it was Tuna Night, as I stopped by Trader Joe's and bought a couple tins of Albacore Tuna for her. She's sitting by my feet, while I am watching Gomer Pyle, USMC on TV, taking a little bath. She's pretty happy tonight after binging on Albacore tuna.

[Gemme]

Gracie has been pretty quiet but Loki has been absolutely clingy tonight. So touchy touchy!

[Chad]

Right now the baby kitty is under the bed covers purring.

I recently re-worked my estate plans (Will) and my attorney told me yucky stories regarding the care and expense of Willing your pets. I have a plan for the kitties but I am not sure of the cost. I think that you could break it down to cost per year for the life expectancy for each breed. So how much is that? $2,000 per year? Maybe more or less? It is something that us pet lovers need to plan for.

[Gemme]

Loki's a food hog. He'll eat his in record time and then go hover next to Gracie until she gives up and walks away so he can have her food too so I tend to stick close during breakfast and dinner, when wet food is served. When I see he's finished, I'll cozy up to him and distract him with pets and conversation until Gracie is done and walks away on her own.

Well, Loki got shut up in the bathroom this morning (they periodically follow me in the bathroom and play hide and seek in the tub) and when I noticed, I decided to give Gracie a break. I put down both bowls and loved on her for a second and let her eat.

I'll be darned. She finished her portion and then wandered over to Loki's bowl and worked on his for a while. She almost finished his, much bigger, portion too. I had to put more down for Loki when I let him out and I think Gracie might have a bit of a tummy ache later on, but I really think she enjoyed the peace and quiet while she ate. I might have to do something like that going forward.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Originally Posted by Chad

Right now the baby kitty is under the bed covers purring.

I recently re-worked my estate plans (Will) and my attorney told me yucky stories regarding the care and expense of Willing your pets. I have a plan for the kitties but I am not sure of the cost. I think that you could break it down to cost per year for the life expectancy for each breed. So how much is that? $2,000 per year? Maybe more or less? It is something that us pet lovers need to plan for.

$2,000 per year per kitty seems reasonable or maybe a little high; as you know, as the kitties become more geriatric, their costs will go up per year. Also, it depends on what you expect from the caregiver. For instance, what do you expect them to do in case of cancer? Would you want the kitties treated for that, or would you just let them live out their lives and then be euthanized when their quality of life is low? I would think it best to have this conversation with the caregiver in advance. In my case, it's a function of how many pets I will have at the time I die (probably/possibly two - one cat and one dog) and how much money I have available. There are other people (other than my pet caretaker) who rely on me who will have to be left some of my money. But it will probably come out to about $1500 - $2000 per pet per year. I'm so glad you brought this subject up.

Diva Kitty was lying on the couch this morning; now she has gone off somewhere in the house to do her cat things. I am not privy to all of those.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaMa'am

$2,000 per year per kitty seems reasonable or maybe a little high; as you know, as the kitties become more geriatric, their costs will go up per year. Also, it depends on what you expect from the caregiver. For instance, what do you expect them to do in case of cancer? Would you want the kitties treated for that, or would you just let them live out their lives and then be euthanized when their quality of life is low? I would think it best to have this conversation with the caregiver in advance. In my case, it's a function of how many pets I will have at the time I die (probably/possibly two - one cat and one dog) and how much money I have available. There are other people (other than my pet caretaker) who rely on me who will have to be left some of my money. But it will probably come out to about $1500 - $2000 per pet per year. I'm so glad you brought this subject up.

Diva Kitty was lying on the couch this morning; now she has gone off somewhere in the house to do her cat things. I am not privy to all of those.

I think that was high at $2,000. I think a balloon number is better. Any accountants out there?
If it is a regular American kitty that is young and healthy. We can calculate the food, litter, and annual medical care per year for about ten years then estimate more medical as the kitty ages.

I am a scientist not an accountant but I think this discussion is very important.

Thank you Ma'am for your input.

[Gemme]

Gracie got a case of the zoomies after breakfast and was having a blast on the tall cat tree, rolling around and playing on it. She got so involved in rolling around that she rolled plumb out of it. I cracked up so hard but she did land on her feet even though she went down head first.

Loki picked a fight with her but I think she liked the chase because she didn't retaliate at all; just let him chase her around until I had enough of them running underfoot and sent them to their respective corners.

Now, Gracie is snoozing on the back of the sofa and Loki has wedged himself under the desk. It is a new Gracie hideout. Loki has to go behind her and try out her new spots too. He never liked playing in the tub until she did it first and he never hid under a chair that in the living room either until she started doing it. He acts a lot like her little brother than her big brother some days.