Thinking of rehoming your cat due to the cost of living? Here’s some ideas, support and love that might just help

If you find yourself in an unbearable situation and are having to consider rehoming your cat, pause for a moment and don’t panic. Here is some practical advice for anyone in financial crisis with cats. Rehoming your cat may not necessarily be the best option for your cat or for you!

Promise me you’ll always remember: you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.

A. A. Milne

Nothing on this page is intended to sound patronising. During times of crisis, thinking calmly and logically can easily be overtaken by emotion and panic. Take from this what you need and leave what you don’t. To anyone reading on, I’m sending you all the love in the world and huge amounts of positivity – you’ve got this!

• This article has some great advice if you need support funding veterinary care, in addition don’t be afraid to have a chat with your vet who may be able to recommend other local support organisations.
• If you are struggling to feed your cat, use this postcode checker to find your nearest Pet Food Bank they are there to help you.
• Don’t feel obliged to buy people gifts of monetary value. Homemade gifts and the gift of your time can be valued greatly by others. Society has turned us into big spenders but sharing happy times is usually more meaningful. Here are 39 brilliant ideas for free and meaningful gifts!
• Are there any monthly subscriptions that you can do without until things improve? TV channels, paid apps, delivery subscriptions, extra phone data etc? Other lifestyle choices like gym memberships, take-aways and drinks on the go all add up too.
• Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Have you got a friend or family member who you can reach out to for support? Perhaps there’s something you can help them with in return, such as shopping, cleaning, ironing, dog walking, babysitting
• Clear out your wardrobe and see if you can raise some extra cash by selling unused items on a free site like Vinted or Facebook Marketplace.
• Are you hiding any creative talents? Is there a way you could be making some extra money but you’ve never given it much thought? Lots of people now have a side hustle as a means of making extra money. Online sites such as Etsy, Not on the High Street & Shopify all help people to sell their creations for profit.
• Have you got any skills, knowledge or experience that could benefit other people? Could you offer some support/tutoring service to others?
• If you have any ideas for a relevant side-hustle check out the free support from places like Enterprise Nation and Natwest. Free online courses such as those from Google’s Digital Garage can help you quickly learn the skills you need for getting your new venture online.
• Other ideas for making extra money can be explored here: 47 ways to make money – Which, Boost your Income – Money Saving Expert and 40 easy ways to make money quickly (not just for students).

If these ideas have helped and you think you can make ends meet, check out the 11 top tips in this article about affordable cat ownership. Here I’ve collated a number of ways to save money and spend what you do have wisely to keep your cat happy and healthy.

If rehoming remains your only option, contact a reputable rehoming organisation for an initial chat. Many good rescue centres will support you in finding a good home for your cat directly from your home (meaning your cat doesn’t have to go into a shelter). A good rehoming organisation will help to find the right home for your cat depending on their individual needs. The organisation will carefully check the suitability of new homes and provide accurate information for the new owner about how to meet your cat’s needs.

Do not be tempted to rehome your cat online – sadly there are a number of people who will buy cats online for cruel purposes as well as those who have been rejected by shelters for valid reasons.  There are also many unsuitable homes and people who will buy a cat online with little to no awareness of what their responsibilities will be in terms of care.

It’s important that your cat is rehomed to the best home for the right reasons so that they don’t end up needing to be rehomed again.

For an initial chat about your circumstances contact your local Cats Protection, Blue Cross, RSPCA or PDSA branch. If you can’t get through to anyone, ask your Veterinary Practice if they can recommend a good rescue centre in your local area.

If you need to talk to someone about the help you need with the cost of living crisis start with the information in this article from the British Red Cross. Be kind to yourself, brighter days will come.