5 pets, out of work - need to save SOMEWHERE

gettingready

SnowyOwl wrote: »

I am without a job as of today as well.

Oh, just noticed THAT bit, sorry to hear that

eeker13

Just a thought on the dog food bills - I have recently changed over to this type of food - CSJ - I can't post links but if you google CSJ K9 it should take you to the website. I was previously feeding Wainwrights wet food but I've been using this for around a month and it seems to be as good as the shop bought 'premium' brands and is significantly cheaper. if you email them they will send a number of samples out for you to try so you can see whether you like it first before ordering a huge sack.
HTH

HappyMJ

gettingready wrote: »

Cat litter cost me about £40 per month, between 4 of them they go through a 30 litre bag of Pets at Home own wood pellets cat litter per WEEK (they do not go out so it is either that or the place stinks... bless them)

How on earth do you get through so much litter? I use Catsan it comes in 20 litre bags costs £8.37 from Asda. I change it twice a week with 1 cat (well she has 2 boxes and I change them every weekend-same thing really). But I only use a very very small amount just enough to cover the bottom of the tray about 1 inch deep at the most. It lasts 3 months. So monthly for you that would cost £11.16.

Orijen is an expensive food. You might want to consider changing that to a cheaper but still high quality food. At least for the cats.

Finally, cancel the insurance for £65 a month you can self insure. They won't all be sick/injured at once. Whilst unemployed you can ask PDSA for any help needed.

SnowyOwl_2

gettingready wrote: »

Oh, just noticed THAT bit, sorry to hear that

Thank you! It's a challenge having to look after pets on a reduced income, but it's not impossible. I am reading this thread with great interest.

If you're exchanging Christmas gifts this year perhaps those who want to give you something would be kind enough to present you with pet related items, eg cat litter, dog/cat food etc. Or maybe they'd give you vouchers for Pets at Home, Sainsbury's or Tesco.

I forgot to say earlier, there are some people who use chicken feed as an economical substitute for cat litter. It's not for everyone, and you may well decide that you prefer to stick to what you know your kitties like. There is a discussion about it here

Charlie1986

Do you claim on the insurance for your dog's medication?

EmptyPockets

Hi Gettingready...

I don't really have anything to add that hasn't already been said... I would definitely be cancelling the kittens' insurance (provided you won't have to pay the remaining instalments as you've had the policies less than 12 months?) - of course this would only be short-term. I'd also be stocking up on the Sainsbury's basic cat litter too - for our two cats, it costs us £6 per month, so for four it should only be £12, certainly no more than £20 if you do more changes than we do...

Good luck with the JC today, hope it all goes how you want/need it to.

gettingready

Thanks everyone, all replies very much appreciated - on my way to the JobCentre now, just wanted to quickly pop in here before leaving....

I must have been doing something very wrong with the cat litter, that is clear from everyone's replies, and I thought I was good with this... one learns all life.... Got 2 bags left, will be getting cheaper one what that finishes.

Can anyone recommend cat food I could use for my four instead of Orijen? I feed them dry mostly with a one tin of wet food (varius brands) between 4 of them per day.

It took me ages with Zara to get her onto dry food and tried several brands that she would simply not touch before coming across Orijen last year - Orijen she eats and it does not upset her stomach, her stomach is very sensitive and had problems with it several times before with different foods so may need to stick to Orijen for her..

No , I do not claim on insurance for her medication, it is Reraquin which is a joint "supplement" - we are going to the vets next week to have a look at her hips, she is only 4.5 years old but her back legs are getting very tired very soon so need a vet to look at her and possibly Xray...

Thanks again for all the posts - on my way to JObCentre for 09:40....

Hmmmm

adviceforall

""A bag of Orijen lasts more than a month for Zara, costs me about £40 per month to feed her. It seems expensive when you have to buy a bag but to feed a 38kg dog for £40 per month I think is pretty reasonable, am I wrong here?""

I know you have to be careful with her stomach but we were feeding 4 dogs ( 1 was 50kg) for well under £40, I large bag of dry food ( would last about 2/3 weeks) and some tinned meat added to it..Probably more like £20/£25 for 4 dogs

elsien

As far as the dog food goes, I know where you're coming from. Mutt is on JWB which is expensive - the 15kg bag lasts about 6 weeks and she's half Zara's weight (21kg). I stick to it because mutt gets colitis and I'd be reluctant to change unless I absolutely had to (I've had enough vets bills of late to last me a life time.) If you do find financially though that you don't have any choice, there's been a couple of threads on here for food for dogs with sensitive innards, have a look at them and see if there might be any alternatives.
Hope all goes as well as can be expected at the job centre. And definitely look at doing some of the survey sites - I don't get massive amounts, but enough to make it worth while. Even those that pay in vouchers you can use in the shops/supermarkets and save your hard earned cash for other things.

Edit - sent you a pm.

welshmoneylover

Hi

Sorry to hear you've lost your job, I understand your worry about your pets expenses.

Thinking outside the box.... have you thought about setting up as a self employed dog walker?

If you do it professionally, ie, workwear, cheapo website, proper insurance and full CRB check, and work 30 hours a week (consider the time and effort to put into setting up your business also counts) you can claim WTC and also earn an income.

Good luck.