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Cutting the cost of kitty
Britain is renowned as a nation of animal-lovers but in these cash-strapped times, there are fears this could change as households tighten the purse strings to cope with the credit crunch. General costs such as cat food, toys and litter, along with potentially expensive vet fees, can make owning a pet seem pricey but Cats Protection is offering some top tips on how to cut down the cost of caring for your feline friend. * Get a cat from a rescue centre rather than buying an expensive pedigree or getting a kitten from a private home. Cats Protection felines have been healthchecked, had at least one dose of vaccination, been neutered (if old enough), treated for parasites and will have been microchipped. * Take out pet insurance. One of the simplest ways for a cat owner to manage unwelcome costs is by taking out insurance which could save hundreds of pounds in the long run. Cats Protection provides four weeks’ free insurance when adopting a cat. * Keep jabs up to date and regularly treat for fleas and worms. Not doing so could prove a false economy when your cat’s health suffers. * Get your cat neutered as it reduces the risk of cats fighting, roaming and passing on disease through bites, saliva and sexual contact. * Take some time to look at your cat's environment from a cat's perspective to reduce the risk of stress-related diseases (such as obesity, skin disease, lower urinary tract disease, inflammatory bowel disease) which may otherwise require repeated trips to the vet. For example, separate your cat's food and water bowls to encourage him to drink more. Put a litter tray in a quiet private location (away from food and water) which your cat can access with ease. Make sure your cat has somewhere to hide when he's feeling anxious where he can rest without being disturbed, or overlooked, particularly by other cats. For cats living in multi-cat households, try to identify those which are in the same social group (they often sleep touching each other and groom each other) and ensure there are sufficient separate resources for each different social group. * Make appropriate and inexpensive toys to allow your cat daily opportunties to exhibit his natural hunting behaviour. For ideas visit the Cats for Kids section on Cats Protection’s website at www.cats.org.uk. * Make a safe and appropriate scratching post using the back of hessian-backed carpet fixed into a wooden frame and secured to the wall. * Form a cat-sitting circle as the cost of getting someone in to feed your pet while away can be very expensive. Instead, find friends and neighbours who also have pets and can help each other out. We always have lots of cats in our care in need of loving homes and we want people to realise that owning a cat doesn’t have to cost the earth. The benefits they bring in terms of companionship and fun are priceless.
