Sharing your home with cats is not cheap, but it can be more affordable
For most of us, times are tough right now. Not only is it a struggle to make ends meet, we are also challenged with making our money go further than ever. Some are experiencing unbearable hardship and as a result are faced with the agonising prospect of giving up their beloved cats.
The UK is facing a major Pet Crisis
Consequently, shelters are bursting at the seams & the UK finds itself deep in a new crisis with an alarming number of homeless and abandoned cats. At the same time, new owners are (quite rightly) thinking very carefully about the financial commitment of rehoming a cat and whether they can provide the right care.
So, here are my top tips for making money go further and spending it on what contributes most to your cat’s health and wellbeing.
- Ask your vet to write a prescription for flea/worm treatments enabling you to buy safe & effective products online from an approved veterinary pharmacy. Your vet will charge you a fee to write the prescription (and will need to have seen your cat recently) however, you can then make savings of at least 40% by buying online. I’ve done this for the first time this year and with 3 cats I’ve already saved a small fortune! Keeping cats free of parasites prevents them (and you/your family) becoming unwell. Avoid the temptation to buy cheap, off the shelf flea/worm products. Products which don’t require a prescription are often less effective, sometimes unsafe and therefore aren’t cost effective at all.
- Get insured! Veterinary care is expensive but essential. Did you know that legally, as the owner of a pet you are responsible for ensuring they are pain free and in good health? This inevitably means vet bills will occur, and these can be very expensive. Having a good level of cover means your cat can get the veterinary care they need and deserve. I always choose a ‘Lifetime Policy’ which covers my cats (for life) for any illness they develop that may be ongoing. I usually pay an excess fee per new condition per year and can then rest assured that the care they need is covered. Don’t assume that young cats won’t need cover! Thanks to the wonderful insurance cover that I chose with Petplan Insurance, my beloved Spooks had the best veterinary care for 2 years after being diagnosed with heart failure, aged only 18 months old. During this time, our veterinary bills exceeded £16,000! All I paid was a £99.00 excess fee at the start of each year and his monthly fees of less that £20.00. You do the maths!
- Buy the best quality food your budget allows. Unless your cat is on a recommended veterinary diet, choose an age-appropriate cat food with the highest meat content you can afford (check the ingredients). Ensure you choose a ‘complete’ cat food (which provides the full nutritional value your cat needs). If possible, feed little and often to avoid wasting food (this mimics a cat’s natural eating habits). Feed your cat the recommended amount of food to avoid obesity and keep treats to a minimum. If your cat enjoys cat milk as a treat, add a few splashes of water each time to increase hydration and make the milk go that bit further.
- Brilliant boxes! Don’t feel guilty if you can’t afford a fancy new bed for your cat or if new toys are scarce. You can have endless fun with a few empty boxes (an inexpensive winner with most cats!) Not only will a selection of boxes create hours of entertainment for your cat, add an old jumper or fleece and hey presto… a perfect new bed!
- Don’t bother with litter tray liners. These are designed to make cleaning easier, but in fact they rarely do! The liners interfere with the digging process (which cats love) and get caught on claws and ripped (which then defeats the point of them) plus, most are made of plastic… I’ll say no more!
- Keep on top of annual vaccinations. It’s vital that your cat is vaccinated against known illnesses and diseases that can be life threatening. Once your cat has had their primary course, their immunity can be managed via a simple annual booster costing an average of £55.00 in the UK (vaccination fees will not be covered by insurance). If you miss the safe window for the booster, your cat will need the primary course again which obviously incurs a greater cost. Check those diaries!
- Grow your own Catnip/Catmint plant (aka Nepeta) If your cat loves the effects of Catnip which is a safe plant often used in cat toys to stimulate excitement, why not grown your own? You can buy catnips plants (proper name Nepeta) from most UK garden centres for under £10.00 Some cats will enjoy pruning the plant themselves, others may rub against it and become excited and playful, and others (like Spooks used to) will sleep directly on top of it! Dry the leaves out at home to make your own toys and, if your cat hasn’t pruned it too much you can enjoy the delicate purple flowering during summer months. An even cheaper option is to buy the seeds and grow your plant from scratch! This will only set you back about £2.00 Happy days!
- My pet hate… Don’t waste your money on costumes or accessories for cats! Unless your vet has recommended a recovery t-shirt/jumper (the lesser of two evils following surgery) don’t waste your money on gimmicks that involve dressing your cat up. Dressing cats up for photos or because they look cute is unnatural and subsequently distressing for cats (don’t be fooled if your cat lets you dress them up – this doesn’t mean they enjoy the process (if they did, they would dress themselves). I’ll leave it there.
- Hours of warmth with a SnuggleSafe. If you are worried about energy bills and heating your home, a SnuggleSafe is a great option for giving your cat access to warmth (an investment I’ve made this year!) This is a microwaveable heated disc that stays warm for 7-10 hours providing lots of comfort & particularly great for older cats! You can buy a SnuggleSafe for approx. £18.00 online or in pet shops.
- Make your own puzzle feeders. Puzzle feeding is a great means of entertaining your cat and providing the mental stimulation they need for emotional health. Making your own puzzle feeders is a free, fun, and more environmentally friendly way than purchasing a feeder online or from a pet shop. To see my cats using their puzzle feeders and to get tips about making your own click here
- Make a sensory box for your cat (the ultimate gift!) Don’t worry or feel guilty if you can’t afford to buy fancy, seasonal toys from the pet shop. You can make a sensory box at home that will excite your cat just as much (if not more!) This can include a range of items from your home/garden which encourage natural play behaviours. You can bring the sensory box out for playtime and choose a different item each time (cats love novelty!) Ideas for sensory boxes include tissue paper (uncoloured), clean feathers, catnip (dried or home grown), odd socks (to hide catnip/tissue inside), string, kitchen roll tubes (for hiding treats inside), scrunched up paper. You can also reintroduce old toys via the sensory box as they may become more appealing with the scent of fresh cat nip or hidden under some crinkly tissue paper! Safety Notice! There’s lots of fun to be had with this (for you & your cat!) but remember to supervise play and make sure that used items don’t become dangerous for your cat if they become sharp or too small. Never allow your cat to play alone with string, it creates a fun two-way game but is dangerous if swallowed or if it becomes tangled around your cat.
Hopefully the advice in this article gives you some new ideas and clarity about what is most important for cats. Please share these tips with others to help raise awareness of how to save money whilst keeping cats safe, happy and healthy.
If you need more help
If despite this advice you find yourself in an unbearable situation and are having to consider rehoming your cat, stop and don’t panic! Here is some practical advice for anyone in financial crisis with cats. Rehoming your cat may not be the best option for your cat or you!
