Saving Money on the Cost of Owning a Cat
The cost of owning a cat is not to be underestimated when you consider good quality food, cat litter, toys, the occasional breakages that the dog causes and blames the cat for, cat insurance and vet bills! Saving money on the cost of owning a cat is something that I am sure any responsible cat owner is happy to learn about especially when the health and happiness of your cat is not affected in the slightest by working on a budget with cat care costs!
Keeping pet cats give us a lot of joy but if, like me, you have more than just a couple of cats it can get quite expensive. We want to make sure that our cats needs are taken care of and that we give them the very best that we can possibly afford. We also like to treat them from time to time. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to save money. Just by taking a few simple measures you might be able to shave pounds off your monthly pet bill!
Save Money on Your Cat Care Costs
There are many outlets that you can buy your cat food, cat litter, cat toys and beds from and it is wise not to stick to just one method of shopping. You can purchase the things that you need from your vets, the small local pet shop, a pet warehouse, the supermarket and the internet to name but a few. There is nothing wrong with shopping around to save money on your cat care costs!
Exclusively shopping at your local pet shop or your vets is very likely to cost you the most money in the long run but they are always worth checking for any special offers.
The internet is an excellent method of sourcing the things you need for your cats, and you can shop around easily in the comfort of your own home. Check out all the different websites that sell cat products and sign up for their newsletters so that you can receive notice of any money off offers or coupons to use with your purchase.
Although the supermarket may occasionally stock a discounted product that you use, many do not stock the best quality cat products out there. Cheaper cat biscuits may seem to be a little easier on the wallet but it is often a false economy. The more premium products contain more of what your cat really needs and therefore they need to eat less of them. By feeding your cat the best dry foods you are contributing to their long term health and thereby guarding against future health problems and the vets bills that come hand in hand with that.
I have always found a pet warehouse to be one of the best places to buy cat products. They tend to be just that little bit cheaper and although they may not be set out in a pretty, eye catching way they almost always stock what I need and most definitely help me to save money on my cat care costs.
Buy in Bulk
The truth of the matter is, the smaller the packet the more expensive it works out in the long run. Always buy the biggest bag of cat food or cat litter that you can afford. If there is a discount for buying two of the same cat product that you always use then buy it. It will save you money in the long run even if it seems a lot of money to shell out at the time.
If you do not have a lot of cats and do not think that you could use a 10KG bag of food before it started to go off then get together with a cat loving friend and split one. Get some large, re-sealable tins and store your food in these to keep them fresher for longer.
Make do and Mend
Have you ever noticed that it doesn’t seem to matter how many fancy beds you buy for your cats they would always much rather sleep in the washing basket!? Pretty beds can look lovely around the home, but there is nothing more annoying that spending a lot of money on a cat bed only for them to stick their nose up at it!
Instead why not dig out some blankets and put them over the back of the sofa, or pop an old dressing gown in an existing cat bed. Your cat is sure to love sleeping on something that smells familiar and all the more so if she believes that it was not put there for her!
Another word to mention on cat beds is the need to invest in a really good quality heated cat bed, if you are going to use one. The cheaper ones on the market are just that… cheaply made. Always go for a good quality one that only uses a few watts of electricity to keep the bills down and will a good chew-proof cord to keep your cats and kittens safe. You will save money in the long run as they will not need replacing as often.
Make Your Own Cats Toys and Games
Let’s face it; cat toys can cost a fortune! And how often does a cat appear to be completely delighted at her new toy only for the novelty to wear off a couple of minutes later!
Cat toys don’t need to be expensive as you can make your own. From throwing pieces of screwed up tin foil around to getting creative with pipe-cleaners and feathers you can always things for your cat to play with cheaply. Try keeping your cat entertained with indoor games you can play with her. Not only will this help you bond and keep your cat happy and healthy but it is also going to help keep the cost of owning a cat right down!
Cat Insurance
Paying out for insurance may seem an odd way to save money, but just think about what you would do if your cat needed emergency veterinary treatment. Out of hours treatment is often costly and by investing a few pounds a week into an insurance policy you can save yourself money in the long run. If you have a number of cats and insuring them all would likely cost you an arm and a leg, put aside some money every month into a separate savings account just in case you ever need it for an unexpected vet bill!
Do you have any money-saving tips that you wish to share? Please post your experiences as we would love to hear from you.
