Great Feed, House and Keep Your Pets Hunt

quickstepqueen

I love Wilko's wood pellet cat litter. Love the smell, is good value for money and I don't have little white balls (catsan sort of thing) that get stuck in cats paws and then all over my carpet!!

My cats also love string. Bought them a furry wriggly snake thing which had feathers attached to the end. As soon as they'd ripped off the feathers they lost interest! Obviously they'd accommplished their mission!

Our cats are predominantly housecats and because they'd also been ill vet would not recommend vaccination against cat flu. (For a variety of reasons was told it could make them worse.) He said to water spray any stray cats. However, if you wish to house your cat in a cattery at any time they will only take your cat if they have been vaccinated. (thank goodness for FIL who cares for our cats when we are away.)

My pet insurance renewal notice arrived yesterday and I noticed that it stated the cats have to wear a collar. (Can't remember seeing this before.) Ours don't now (stressed them out) but they are microchipped. Am now concerned our cats may not be covered (and noticed that Direct line also specify this in their policy.)

Will also check out M&S pet insurance (thanks to other posters for this tip) as am looking to possibly change Ins Co as policy has increased by £1.10 per month despite no claims.

sluggy1967

My pet insurance renewal notice arrived yesterday and I noticed that it stated the cats have to wear a collar. (Can't remember seeing this before.) Ours don't now (stressed them out) but they are microchipped. Am now concerned our cats may not be covered (and noticed that Direct line also specify this in their policy.)


Insisting cats wear a collar is a strange stipulation considering the type of collar my cats wear is specifically designed to come off to prevent strangulation if they got stuck!!!!!

sluggy1967

sorry, my last reply should have shown the 1st paragraph as a quote from quickstepqueen!!!!

gavinroach

I own a pet shopand advise anyone wanting to save money on dog food to try 'working dog food'.
We sell some in our shop which is made to an old recipie of a leading dog food manufactor.
We also sell the manufactors food which retails at £24.00 for 7.5Kg where as the 'working dog food' costs £21.00 for 15Kg
Happy Saving:money:
Gavin

gavinroach

I own a pet shop and advise anyone wanting to save money on dog food to try 'working dog food'.
We sell some in our shop which is made to an old recipie of a leading dog food manufactor.
We also sell the manufactors food which retails at £24.00 for 7.5Kg where as the 'working dog food' costs £21.00 for 15Kg
Happy Saving:money:
Gavin

rita-rabbit

CHEAPEST/BEST litter: Aldi or Liddles @ 1.69 per 10kg bag (better than sainsburys/tesco/asda) - it clumps well 2. Use rubber gloves - cheap @ Liddles.

Currently pets at home is doing special offer & I am experimenting with mixing the 2 kinds together. Catsan, 20l bag @ £7.79. http://www.petsathome.co.uk/

Investing in a cat loo - Argos cheapest place to get one - saves smells/cost/cleaning up: carbon filter & catflap door stops alot of grit being kicked all over the floor, give you a break from cleaning it (I do mine every other day) and means you don't have to view their `doings' when you come home from a nite out! Don't bother with liners as they get scratched to pieces & it's messy.

Dry food is cheapest/healthiest way to feed cats - esp Burns (less stools/smells in litter tray too). They will give you stockists near you or order online
http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/
remember foils/sachets/tinned contains alot of additives/colours & is 75% water!

DON'T buy food from your vets - use pet shop or online or supermarket - as it's the most expensive way to buy pet food.

DON'T overfeed your pet or on demand - alot of people do - bad for them/expensive. Vets DO stock free food measuring cups tho!!

RSPCA, Blue Cross, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, PDSA may be able to offer reduced cost or vouchers for spaying/vaccinations/flea & worming treatment.

rita-rabbit

CHEAPEST/best cat litter @ Aldi or Liddles = 10kg bag for about £1.68, it clumps better than Asda, Sainsburys or Tesco's own brands and is far cheaper (about £5).

Pets at Home are currently doing a special offer on Catsan non-clumping - £7.79 for 20 litres - am doing an experiment and mix the two (to see what the smell is like - I clean out `doings' every other/two days - catloos with doorflaps & carbon filters reduce smells/keep out sights! - 1 cat loo per cat). http://www.petsathome.co.uk/

One thing that minimises the smell, cost & is far better for your cat is dry food. I think Burns is the best (but I do sometimes treat the cats to Go-cat, Iams, & v ocasionally tinned Butchers choice) as it is organic, no additives & if you measure (get a free measuring cup from your local vets - but don't buy food from them as they are too expensive) what you give them it by far the cheapest & healthiest thing (my cats don't have dry skin & are slimmer/livelier since I changed from tinned, foil containers, sachets. Just make sure you change their water v regularly & give them lots of it in a separate bowl - at least once a day (or use the money u save on a water feeder/fountain!). http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/
Often cheapest way to buy food, equipment etc is online but take into consideration the deliver charge & if you only have one pet it may be false economy. Keep the food in airtight containers or put into a large bag and decant it.

Lastly do NOT feed your pet on demand or overfeed it (most people do this) find out from your vet how much it should be eating per day and do not exceed it. It may not appear fat or it may get fat but it is a waste of money & bad for it too!

I have two cats - one goes outdoors when he feels like it, the other just wanders my flat & the external walkways. The sometimes outdoors (tom) is a rescue cat & had never eaten dry food b4 I had him - just hand fed him & if they are hungry enough they will get used to it (just don't offer them wet food instead or they will refuse it every time).

Alot less smells in litter tray, less solids, cheaper & a healthier pet. Cheapest way is to order in bulk (sometimes delivery charge waived) or ask for a list of shops that stock it in your area.

Sparky67

secondhandsusie6cats wrote:

As a nation, we 'over' vaccinate our pets (for those who take their pets to be vaccinated).

If you have cats that are indoor only and are not used for breeding purposes, then you do not have to get them vaccinated for FelV (leukemia) as long as they don't come into contact with other strange cats that is. Saves me a few £s!

If you do have pet insurance check the T&Cs though, because this is usually one of the requirements (I do pay for insurance because I'd rather have the peace of mind)

jimmer_2

We give our dog Hills Science Plan, it's expensive but we were recommended it by friends and our vet. We have been paying around £42 for 15kg(jolleys and Pets At Home). found on https://www.zooplus.co.uk that it is £36.50 and free delivery(orders over £29), plus at moment get 6 free chew sticks too. New customers get £3 coupon. Hope this helps.
P.S.Also they give discount (5%) on orders over £75.

Becster

Hi,

I have a cat who has just recoverd froma nasty dose of stomach upset. Spent £50 + at the vets on treatments, even though the Vet said he didn't really know what it was. Kind of got the feeling it may have just been a case of prescribing something anyway. Who knows, but you just don't want to take the chance.

Should have had a look online for the treatments but just wanted to get him better ASAP, so didn't want to wait for delivery.

Sod's law, the pills didn't work for him and distressed him taking them so it was £50 down the litter tray anyway. Literally!

Pleased to say he's better now.

Will def look for Frontline online now. Thanks for that!