The economical cat

You can buy products used or make your own to save

Saving money is at the top of every news headline these days. The economy and its pitfalls have affected everyone, even our pets. But your cat doesn’t have to suffer the consequences. You can save money and pamper your feline at the same time. Here are some tips how:

FREE STUFF: All it takes is a little searching to find free samples all over the web, even for your cat. Companies such as Fancy Feast, Frontline, Purina and more often offer free products and discount coupons. All you have to do is search. You can start by going to such sites as http://www.whataboutcats.com/freeoffers/freeoffer1.html. Knowing your cat’s tastes and interests is a big help, then you can steer your savings towards the most appropriate money saving products and methods and Puss can still stay pampered.

CAT FOOD: Your cat’s most basic need is food, and of course you want to give your kitty the best, but often cat foods with unnecessary fillers (such as corn meal) raise their prices, claiming they fulfill all your cat’s needs and food groups. This is a marketing technique and don’t always go for it. Your cat is a carnivore. This means he needs meat to survive (or more to the point, taurine and proteins found in meat). Your cat does not need corn and vegetables! These marketing ploys play on human dietary needs, not feline’s. Find a food that is almost all meat and, yes even meat by-products (the innards of the animal) are good. It may seem unappealing to us, but to a cat… it’s the cat’s meow.

If you are good at cooking, you can even make your own cat food. But be sure you know all of Kitty’s nutritional needs so you can include it all. http://www.cat-health-behavior.com/cat-food-recipes.html?gclid=COSFgY60ppkCFQFvGgod6A11qQ.

SCRATCHING: You don’t need to throw your puss outside to scratch on trees in order to save money on cat scratching posts and your furniture.  With some imagination, ingenuity and tools, you can easily make your own indoor jungle for your cat’s enjoyment. See http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2009/01/13/20-free-cat-furniture-plans-free-plans-for-cat-trees-condos-scratching-posts-and-more/ for more. You can build a cat tree that is so big or elaborate your cat will just revel in relaxation with minimal cost to you.

LITTER: Now your cat needs a place to go to the bathroom, and something to do his business in. Cats have a natural need to dig and bury their feces (nature’s way of keeping them undetected) and some cats can be mighty fussy about what kind of cat litter they like. At one time people would put sand in a box, and that would be that. Of course the cats loved it, but the odor became unbearable, so cat litter companies started cropping up, using clay based products and odor neutralizers. Some of these litters can get mighty pricey. But here’s a tip: Clumping litters are your best bet as they last longer and tend not leave urine all mixed in with the clean stuff. Use coupons as much as possible. http://www.couponcat.net/ccpets.html.  If you can handle dealing with constant cleaning, you can always use the old fashioned method of dirt in a box, but be prepared for more trouble than it’s worth.

USED AND NEW:  You can buy certain items used or even discounted new products on auction such as eBay. Check out http://www.p-a-w-shoppes.com for many quality pet products, both used and new and quite varied as this site updates and adds products on a mostly daily basis. Put them in your favorites and you’ll always know when a new product at a discounted cost crops up.

So, with a little thought, and a lot of searching, and knowing your cat’s loves, you can find ways to cut back on your cat’s cost, help your wallet, and still keep Kitty happy.