Cat care on a budget

You've probably already sought advice and looked at how to save money this year (we might even be telling you things you already know), but it never hurts to get advice. Speak to charities, your vet, friends, and family so that you're informed on keeping your cat happy and healthy when money is tight.

Cheap cat food

With so many different brands and types of cat food on the market, the choice can seem overwhelming, and you may feel pressure to feed your cat a premium diet. While there are many pricey packets on the shelves promising premier health for your cat, any tin, tray or pouch marked 'complete' will give your cat the nutrition they need.

By law, pet food manufactures can only use the term 'complete' if the food in the container gives a nutritionally complete balanced diet for the species it is made for. So feeding your cat supermarket own-brand food will ensure your cat has all the nutrients they need to stay healthy, even if the packaging is plain.

If you're changing the brand or type of food you feed your cat, do this gradually over a few days to avoid any tummy upsets. We recommend the below as a guide, but if your cat is fussy about food, or prone to stomach problems, change the food more gradually over a week:

• Day one: A quarter of the new food with three-quarters of their old food
• Day two: Half the new food, with half the old food
• Day three: Three-quarters of the new food, with a quarter of the old food
• Day four: All the new food

Try soaking dry food to help them adjust from moist to dry food. If your cat is turning their nose up at their new food, warming it up a bit may also entice them to try it.

What if I only have a bit of cat food left?

If you only have a small amount of cat food to last a few days, spread the cat food out across the whole period and bulk it out with cooked veg or rice. This ensures your cat has some balanced food each day. It's not ideal so isn't a good idea long term, but we understand feeding your pet this way isn't a decision you'd choose to make and sometimes needs must. Your cat's health won't suffer being fed in this way for a short time.

Cats need to eat meat, so make sure they have some animal protein such as cooked meat or fish every day. Don’t give them salty, spicy or fatty food, or bones. If you're struggling to buy pet food, our pet food banks could help, and if there isn't one near you, try other pet or food bank charities.

Help with cat vet bills

The cost of everything is going up, and vet bills are unfortunately no exception. Here are some ideas for spreading the cost and making savings:

Payment plans

In an emergency situation, and when you don't have pet insurance, have an honest conversation with your vet to see if a payment plan can be set up. While it's not available at all vet practices, some can offer a credit based plan to pay off your vet bill over a set amount of time.

Pet clubs

For ongoing preventative care, such as vaccinations and annual check-ups, most vets offer pet clubs to dog owners. Pet clubs work by charging a small monthly fee that will cover your cat for annual vaccinations, health checks, flea and worm treatment and discounts for things like neutering, pet food and dental treatment. It’s worth checking with your local vet to see if they offer this service, as charges can vary.

Cat medication online

It can be much cheaper to buy medication for your cat online than directly from your vet. This is because online pharmacies can buy in bulk from drug manufacturers, meaning they get a lower price and can pass on that saving to you, whereas your vet may not be able to do this.

You will need a prescription from your vet, which they'll charge a small fee for, but you can usually recoup this cost in the savings you make. This will save you money for any regular medication your cat needs, as well as flea, tick and worming treatments.

You can also ask your vet if there are cheaper alternatives that they can provide to the treatment your cat is currently taking.

Pet insurance

We strongly recommend taking out pet insurance from the day you pick up your kitten or cat so you're covered when they need treatment. You can save money on policies by taking one out with the same insurer you have another product with, for example home or car insurance. Do pay attention to the small print and check what is covered before you buy.

If you find yourself without pet insurance and with no means of paying for your cat’s treatment in the event of them needing a trip to the vet, our low cost vet care is available to pets whose owners are on certain means-tested benefits. If you fall into this category, you will need to check to see if you are in the catchment area for one of our hospitals or clinics or other charities offering reduced vet care.

Cat vaccinations

The old saying 'prevention is better than cure' is true for pets' health, and for owners' bank balances. Keeping your cat up to date with their vaccinations will stop them suffering from horrible, and in some cases fatal, illnesses which are costly to treat, both financially and emotionally.

Cat neutering

More mouths to feed means more bowls to fill; cat food is just one of the cost implications of unplanned kittens. Vet costs, vaccinations, and general care costs of a litter and mum all add up so owners are unlikely make a profit from breeding. Getting your female cat neutered will ensure she doesn't have an unwanted pregnancy. Getting your kitten spayed also reduces the risk of her getting breast cancer or a dangerous womb infection.

Unneutered male cats are more likely to get into fights with other cats and suffer wounds that will need pricey vet treatment. They are also more at risk of catching FIV, an incurable disease, and of being hit by cars as getting them neutered reduces their urge to roam.

How to keep cat costs low at home

Diet

Did you know that between a third and half of cats in the UK are overweight? Only feeding them what they need will put them at lower risk of obesity-related injury and disease. Read more about checking your cat's weight.

Exercise

Giving your cat lots of opportunities to jump, pounce and explore will keep them healthy in body and mind. Outdoor exercise is best for cats, but keep them in during the dark hours to prevent traffic accidents.

Indoor cats do need toys but these don't need to be expensive. Cats love boxes and newspaper structures. A loo roll tube makes a great DIY puzzle feeder, and an old sock makes a fun toy. Try Facebook Marketplace or local community groups for free or cheap cat scratching posts.

Parasite prevention

If your pet goes outdoors then flea and worm treatment is advised. Talk to your vet about the risks for your cat based on their lifestyle. It's worth noting that some shop-bought flea products are not very effective and do not protect against all parasites.

Cheap cat litter

Cats can be very particular about cat litter. Supermarket own brands are the cheapest, but if you're looking to switch to a cheaper type, make sure you do so over one to two weeks to limit your cat's stress levels. Change can be stressful for cats and stress can lead to physical health problems, so introducing it slowly will help. Here's how:

1. Mix a handful of new litter with the old litter
2. Monitor your cat closely to ensure they're still happy using the tray. If they are, gradually add a handful of new litter to the old litter over the next one to two weeks.
3. Has your cat's urination pattern changed? If so, or if they avoid their litter tray or start weeing elsewhere, you'll need to return to their old litter. If they're content with the new brand, carry on.

Heating

Most cats have thick fur to keep them warm, so you don't need to keep the heating on for them when you go out. For young kittens, old cats, or hairless cats, make sure they have access to soft bedding to curl up in away from draughts.

Grooming

Brushing your cat's fur will help to keep it mat-free; once a week for short haired cats, and more for longer haired cats as needed.