Purrrfect Pet Savings

My kitten, Butternut, is one of my biggest blessings.  Every day when I get home from work, she begs to be picked up and then proceeds to lick my face, just like a dog.  Our pets enrich our lives.  But pets, as much as we love them, can be expensive.  Here are a few tips to save money when caring for your beloved four legged friend.

1. Save with coupons.  Right now there are plenty of coupons for Iams to be found on save.ca and in Canadian Living Magazine. (In save.ca there are coupons for $5 off Kitten and Puppy Chow and $2 off Cat or Dog Chow.)  Recently, I found a number of Purina $1 off coupons at Loblaws and of course grabbed a whole bunch.  Last winter, I registered my kitten with Purina and they gave me a coupon for a free bag of Purina One cat food.  Since the coupon arrived late, they apologized by sending me another coupon for my next purchase of Purina One.  Unfortunately, this great deal has expired, but keep your eyes out for further deals.  (When searching for coupons for pet food, just keep in mind that you should not abruptly or erratically change your pet’s diet.)

For my American friends, you’re in luck - there are plenty of coupons available at Purina.com. You can also subscribe to their newsletters or Snack Club using that same link, and be notified of future coupons or promotions.

2. Use Petsmart’s saving system.  Apply at the register.  You attach your loyalty tag to your key ring and it gives you special deals.  And if you call the number they give you within 48 hours and complete a brief telephone survey, you get $5 off your next purchase!

3. Make your own toys.  There is an abundance of crafts you can use - string, ribbons, toilet paper rolls, and other bits of packaging can be made into cute cat toys with very little effort.  I have done this myself on many occasions.  And like children, sometimes the simplest toys, like cardboard boxes, provide the most fun.

4. Wash cat toys in the machine.  Not all toys will survive but you can usually suss out which ones will be just fine.  This means that you can reuse the toys even when they get terribly dirty.

5. Shop at the Dollarstore - like Dollerama - for pet supplies like food and water dishes (and rubber mats to place under them to keep them from spilling).  They also have toys and treats, all for $1 each!

Josh and Butternut, sharing a tender moment

6. Store pet food in a a plastic container with a good lid - especially if you buy in large quantities.  It keeps food fresher for longer and reduces the smell to boot.  I love Lock n Lock products, but you can reuse containers from around the house.  For example, I recently used an old Epsom salt container to store Butternut’s pet food, after realizing I forgot her Lock n Lock full of cat chow at my parents’ place on the weekend.

7. Buy catnip in large quantities, and then store it in the freezer.  It’s cheaper in large quantities and it stays fresh in the freezer!

8. Consider pet insurance or keep your pet indoors. Butternut is an indoor cat, so her risk is reduced significantly. But if you have an outdoor pet, you might want to consider buying pet insurance, and President’s Choice seems to have pretty reasonable rates.

9. Take advantage of warranty rebates.  If you recently got your pet from a pet store, look carefully about the warranty that she comes with. Some pet stores will claim to refund your vet bill if your pet has contracted a disease at the pet store.  Diseases are rampant at pet stores, so this appears useful.  However, there is usually a clause that states that your vet bill must not only be signed by your vet but must also have a clear diagnosis written on the bill.  Since this is not common practice, you must explicitly ask your vet to do this for you, before you mail it in to make your claim. 

10. The best things in life are free.  Pet products are a big business these days, but I think what your pet really enjoys the most is your love and attention.  They don’t care how much you spend on them.  They just want to be loved and cared for.