Times are tough — Michael Hallam looks at how you can save without compromising your cat.
The cost-of-living crisis is still very much here. Times are tough for many of us. While we all continue to tighten our belts, we still want the best for our cats. A YouGov survey revealed that 73% of cat owners had reported that the cost of looking after their feline companion had risen and almost one in three of cat owners were worried about being able to care for their kitty.
Here, we look at 10 ways you can save money without ever compromising your cat’s care.
1. Weigh your cat’s food
- Feeding your cat is often the largest regular expense each month. There are several ways you can bring your kitty’s food bill down.
- Do some digging and look in detail at what your cat’s food contains. You want to give your cat the best nutrition possible but you may be able to swap to a cheaper product without any impact on your cat.
- Whatever you feed your kitty, weigh out their food each time you feed them. It can be easy to just tip it in the bowl and as we love our cats, to give them more than they need. Weighing out their meals will mean that your feline doesn’t overeat (and put on unnecessary weight) and their food lasts as long as possible.
TOP TIP!
If you do change your cat’s diet, do this over a period of two weeks. Start with a small percentage of the new food alongside their current diet and gradually increase this every couple of days until you’re only feeding the new diet.
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2. Cut down on the treats
- Whisper this one very quietly… cats don’t actually need treats. If you’re giving your cat a complete diet, you are providing all the nutrients their body needs. You should be deducting treats from their daily allowance of food to avoid them gaining too much weight. Often wanting to treat our cats is a human emotion.
- If you still really want to treat your cat, you could just reduce the amount of treats or give them some cooked chicken when preparing your own meal.
3. Buy in bulk
- When it comes to the big purchases of cat food and litter, you are likely to be able to keep more cash in your pocket if you commit to buying in bulk or on subscription. Companies want to keep you buying from them, so will often entice you with a discount for signing up to a subscription.
- You can also often get discounts shopping online or with a voucher code. Be sure to shop around — it is at least worth googling it and comparing prices from different online retailers to shop prices.
4. Keep the litter tray clean
- Regularly cleaning out the litter tray has so many benefits. Your cat will appreciate it as we know how fastidious felines are, but it can also save you money. Cleaning out the litter tray as soon as you can after your cat has paid it a visit — particularly if you use a clumping litter — will help the litter to last longer. You can remove the soiled part of the litter and avoid having to remove the whole thing. You should still take the time to fully empty the tray and wash it out on a weekly basis, but cleaning it out daily will help maximise how long your litter lasts.
5. Don’t get rid of your pet insurance
- Don’t be tempted to get rid of your pet insurance. While it can often seem like you’re paying money for nothing, pet insurance could be literally a lifeline if your cat gets sick.
- Imagine a situation where your cat gets seriously ill and needs expert medical care to save their life. With the right cover, you can gain thousands of pounds worth of veterinary care and give your cat the treatment you want to be able to provide. Without it, you may end up not being able to get the treatment your cat needs which would be truly heart-breaking.
- To get the price for your pet’s cover, shop around. Go online and compare prices and also ring up to get the best deal too. With a bit of effort, you will be able to make a good saving. As always with insurance, be sure to check exactly what your pet is and isn’t covered for. Before you pay for your premium, the insurance company will send you a document to explain all the terms and conditions, read this over carefully.
- Insurance is one of those things that may not put money back in your pocket right now, but it can save you a fortune in the future.
6. Buy second hand resources
- Cats need quite a lot of resources — bowls, beds, scratching posts, carriers, and many more things that are available to help us care for our pets. There can be great value found in buying some of your cat’s stuff second hand, either from charity shops or off the internet. Facebook Marketplace can often be a great place for a bargain. Just a quick search reveals lots of feline products up for sale and many of these products have lots of life in them. The difference between buying all new products and pre-loved items can be quite considerable.
- Before purchasing, check the items are in good condition (as you would when buying anything) and even consider whether it is something your cat really needs.
7. Think about danger
- While insurance will save you on expensive vet bills, thinking about your pet’s routine may help keep him out of danger that could result in a vet visit. For example, a cat fight could lead to a bite and an abscess, or ingesting something he shouldn’t could lead to your cat being poisoned.
- Minimise the risk of harm by checking over your cat’s environment and routine. Check that all products that are potentially harmful to cats are locked away and that any plants are not toxics to felines.
- When it comes to your kitty’s routine, it could be a really good idea to keep him in at night. Locking the cat flap during darkness hours is proven to reduce the risk of your cat being hit by a car and makes it less likely that he will get into cat fights or mischief.
This is another tip that won’t put pounds back in your pocket, but could save you a good chunk on vet bills, and certainly a lot of heartache.
8. Keep up to date with preventative healthcare
- From flea and worm treatments, to annual vaccinations and dental care, all cats need regular treatment to prevent much more serious health problems. Do not be tempted to cut costs by not giving your cat the protection they need. The saving is almost certain to be a false economy as it will be far more expensive to treat your cat for the problems that arise — plus, it’s a serious risk to your cat’s health. Discuss with your vet the best value ways of providing all the preventative healthcare your cat needs.
9. Ask a friend to pet sit
- If you go away on holiday or need someone to pop in during the day to check on your kitty, you can save a lot of money if a friend is able to help, rather than paying someone. If they are a fellow cat owner, you can return the favour when they go away too.
- Building a local community of cat lovers can be worth a try. Posting on Facebook asking to bring local cat owners together or setting up a WhatsApp group can be a brilliant way of all helping each other out, avoiding any potential feline conflicts, and a way of making new friends.
10. Get creative!
Often the things our cats love the most don't cost any money. Recycling old toilet roll tubes, cardboard boxes, and worn-out clothes is a great way to make low-cost toys. For example, you could try:
- Hiding some of your cat’s food ration in a toilet roll tube and folding up the ends. Watch as your cat loves working out the tasty reward.
- Take a cardboard box and make it a great hideaway for your kitty. Find a quiet spot for it and put inside a toy or treat. You can find loads of inspiration online for how to make some incredible hideaways from boxes.
- An old jumper or t-shirt can be perfect for making a DIY toy. Cut it into strips and knot them together in the middle. You can then dangle it for your cat to pounce on. There is absolutely tons of how-to videos online that will give you lots of inspiration and it can be really fun making something for your kitty! Our website is a great place to start.
Asking for help... if you are really struggling, please reach out and ask for help. There is a lot of help out there:
- Help with vet fees — pet charities including PDSA and the RSPCA offer assistance with vet bills for those struggling to find the money. These services are often means tested.
- Pet food banks — as well as food banks often providing pet foods too, there are also specific pet food banks.
- Pet care — if you are really struggling to care for your pet, contact cat charities and independent rescues to see if they can help.
The cost of pet care is a reason often cited for people giving up their cats. Talking is always the best way to find the right solution for you and your pets. Asking for help is a brave thing to do and people will usually do everything they can to keep you with your cat.