# 10 Years with Pooring: A Realistic Breakdown of the Lifetime Cost of Raising a Cat
Not long ago, our beloved cat **Pooring**, who spent a full decade with our family from 2016 to 2026, crossed the rainbow bridge.
After Pooring left us, as I was tidying up our quiet home, I gathered the stack of veterinary receipts tucked away in a drawer. Looking through the faded clinic bills brought back a rush of memories: from her early spay surgery and the days she bravely endured bladder stone surgery, to her final days receiving subcutaneous fluids and fighting through chronic kidney disease.
To honor her memory and provide an honest, realistic reference for prospective and current cat parents, I sat down to calculate exactly how much it cost to care for Pooring over her 10-year (approx. 120 months) life.
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## 1. Veterinary & Medical Care: ~$2,600 – $3,000 USD (3.7M – 4.0M KRW)
Adding up the 13 veterinary receipts I kept from Norunsan Animal Hospital, the documented total alone came out to **3,455,900 KRW** (approx. $2,600 USD).
### Key Clinical Milestones & Expenses:
* **Feb 2017:** Spay surgery (OHE), pre-op blood panel, Convenia antibiotic injection (**383,500 KRW**)
* **May 2018:** Routine boosters (FVRCP 4-way, FeLV, Rabies), Broadline parasite prevention, prescription dental kibble (**202,000 KRW**)
* **Sep 2018:** Eye care (fluorescein stain for corneal ulcer, antibiotic drops, oral medications) (**44,000 KRW**)
* **Feb 2020:** General exam, PlaqueOff oral health care (**34,500 KRW**)
* **Jan – Feb 2023:** Bladder cystotomy (general anesthesia, surgical stone removal, abdominal ultrasound, stone mineral analysis, hospitalized care, and Uraziron urinary supplements) (**~910,300 KRW**)
* **Jul – Aug 2025:** Senior wellness workup (Idexx SDMA, proBNP, full chemistry/electrolytes, X-rays/ultrasound, chronic meds & digestive supplements) (**~924,600 KRW**)
* **Oct 2026:** Intensive acute/chronic renal support (frequent BUN/CREA/SDMA monitoring, day-hospital IV fluid therapy, Hartmann’s SC fluid bags & needles for home administration) (**~957,000 KRW**)
Factoring in earlier kitten vaccinations, routine flea/tick spot-on treatments, and minor visits without saved receipts, **total medical expenses over 10 years reached approximately 3.7M to 4.0M KRW ($2,800 – $3,000 USD)**.
> ** Owner’s Reflection:**
> Even with diligent daily care, common feline issues—especially urinary stones and geriatric kidney diseases (CKD)—can require urgent surgeries and ongoing diagnostic tests that cost thousands of dollars unexpectedly. Emergency veterinary funds are an absolute necessity.
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## 2. Food, Prescription Diets & Treats: ~$2,700 – $3,400 USD (3.6M – 4.5M KRW)
Pooring was petite and had a small appetite, consistently eating slightly less than standard feeding recommendations.
* **Diet Profile:**
* *Youth / Adult:* Small-bag premium dry kibble.
* *Senior / Medical management:* Urinary stone care & renal prescription diet (k/d, c/d or equivalent dry kibble + therapeutic wet cans).
* **Average Monthly Cost:** ~$25 – $30 USD (30,000 – 40,000 KRW)
* **10-Year Total (120 months):** **~3.6M – 4.5M KRW ($2,700 – $3,400 USD)**
Although she was a light eater, prescription veterinary diets and renal wet food are significantly more expensive than standard commercial food, keeping the recurring monthly bill steady.
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## 3. Litter & Hygiene (Deo-Toilet System + Tofu Litter): ~$1,800 – $2,300 USD (2.4M – 3.0M KRW)
Throughout most of her life, Pooring used an absorbent **dual-layer system litter box (Deo-Toilet / Unicharm)** paired with tofu litter.
* **Monthly Consumables:** 1 bag deodorizing zeo-pellets + 1 pack absorbent bottom pee pads + auxiliary tofu litter
* **Average Monthly Cost:** ~$15 – $20 USD (20,000 – 25,000 KRW)
* **10-Year Total:** **~2.4M – 3.0M KRW ($1,800 – $2,300 USD)**
> ** Why the System Box Helped:**
> Because Pooring had a history of bladder stones and kidney stress, the bottom white pad system made it easy to monitor her daily urine volume, smell, and any sign of hematuria (blood in urine) right away.
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## 4. Furniture, Daily Essentials & Funeral: ~$1,300 – $1,600 USD (1.7M – 2.1M KRW)
* **Cat Tower & Cat Pole:** Solid wood floor-to-ceiling pole and cat tree for vertical climbing and window watching (**~$380 USD / 500,000 KRW**).
* **Everyday Supplies & Replacements (10-Year cumulative ~$600 – $800 USD):**
* Litter box replacements (2 units over 10 years)
* Regular scratching post/board renewals
* Hard-shell pet carrier, water fountains, ceramic bowls, grooming brushes, nail clippers, and toys.
* **Final Farewell (Pet Memorial & Cremation):** Professional private pet cremation service, memorial urn, and keepsake ceremony (**~$300 USD / 400,000 KRW**).
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## 10-Year Lifetime Expense Summary
| Category | 10-Year Estimated Total (KRW) | Estimated Total (USD) | Remarks |
| :— | :—: | :—: | :— |
| **Veterinary & Medical Care** | 3.7M – 4.0M KRW | $2,800 – $3,000 | Includes receipts totaling 3.45M KRW |
| **Food & Prescription Diets** | 3.6M – 4.5M KRW | $2,700 – $3,400 | Light eater; clinical prescription diet |
| **Litter & Pads (System Box)** | 2.4M – 3.0M KRW | $1,800 – $2,300 | Deo-Toilet pads, pellets, tofu litter |
| **Cat Furniture & Supplies** | 1.3M – 1.6M KRW | $1,000 – $1,200 | Wooden pole/tower, scratchers, carrier |
| **Final Cremation & Memorial** | 400K – 500K KRW | $300 – $400 | Private pet funeral & urn |
| **Total Lifetime Cost** | **~11.4M – 13.6M KRW** | **~$8,600 – $10,300 USD** | **Monthly Average: ~$75 – $85 USD** |
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## Closing Thoughts
Looking back at Pooring’s 10-year journey through numbers, caring for her required **roughly $9,000 – $10,000 USD (around 12 million KRW) in total, averaging about $80 USD per month**.
Adopting and committing to a cat comes with undeniable financial responsibilities—regular monthly upkeep and, above all, potentially heavy medical bills as they age.
Yet no sum of money could ever equal the immense comfort, quiet companionship, and unconditional love Pooring brought into our lives every single day.
Even through painful blood draws and uncomfortable injections, she remained gentle and patient until the very end.
Rest peacefully, our sweet Pooring. You are completely free of pain, needles, and sickness now. Run happily under the warmest sunshine on the other side.
*Thank you for being our family, Pooring. We will meet again someday.*
