For my last Reducing Pet Costs post, I’m turning it over to you! But not before I wax nostalgic about my inaugural Queercents series. I’ve really enjoyed writing these posts, and I’ve learned so much as well. As a re-cap, I’d like to share with you the little tips I’ve taken from each post and applied to my own life.

In the first post of this series, we talked about saving money on pet food. Since writing the post, Grace and I have only bought our pet food in bulk. In addition, a quick call to the vet has us feeding Francie and Hammy only the amount they need, instead of the insane amount we were feeding them before. I had not realized that even if a cat still wants to eat, that doesn’t mean it needs to. If left to their own devices, they would stuff their faces all day and we would be broke.

Researching about pet medical expenses was a little disheartening, especially coming across story after story of people going broke only to have their pet pass away. Grace and I started putting away an extra $75 per month in a high yield savings account to cover a medical emergency for Francie or Hammy. Luckily, there has not been one yet and since they are both young (under 2 years), hopefully it will be a long way off.

It was tons of fun to try out the DIY pet toys for the third post. Hammy particularly liked the obstacle course made up of cups; he chased a shoelace through it until he was panting! Who knew that a solid 30 minutes of amazing adventure for our cats was hidden in our drawers?

Due to the post on pet sitting and boarding, we now have (count them!): Hope, Jen, John, Brian, Sheryl, Leigh and Laura lined up as potential cat sitters. We also know each of their food preferences in order to leave them little treats. And, on the receiving end, I’ve got to know some delicious salsa through my cat-sitting our friends’ cats: Sylvia and Theo. I think they must have read my post!

Another sad post to write was about end-of-life care. Grace and I had a long talk about what our priorities are surrounding their quality of life and I feel assured that we are on the same page. Now I can be confident that we will be able to make those hard decisions and hold each other to our commitments.If my cats wrote this post, I’m sure they would say that the luxury and extras post was the most beneficial for them. They now get brushed every other day, which in addition to reducing my allergies, also is a pleasant and relaxing time for them. They also LOVE the frozen peas in their beds during hot evenings- I just put a dishtowel over the bag so they don’t tear through it. It keeps them cool and it is hilarious to see!

When I first started budgeting for my pets, I estimated it would cost around $50 per month. I was wrong. Now, I have a much better understanding of how much each aspect of pet ownership costs, and I can go into another pet owning decision with much more information. Hopefully, the Thinking Through the Budget post was helpful in doing the same for other people.

I am still unsure how I feel about Tax-Deductable Pets, but Nina made a great point in the comments of the post about the legitimacy of the whole deductions and exemptions part of the tax code. It is the topic of a whole other post, but the complex process of how tax deductions are determined has recently become fascinating to me.

Now it’s your turn- What did YOU take away from this series? Is there something you do differently- big or small- that you learned here? Is there a glaring tip I forgot to mention? In your mind, what is the single most important thing you can do to be a great pet owner? Let’s share!

For the penultimate post in the Reducing Pet Costs series, let’s talk about another great American tradition (besides pet ownership) – Taxes! While we may treat our pets like our children, we don’t have the benefit of claiming them as a dependant on our tax forms. Is this fair?

One of the most-emailed articles from this week’s New York Times, titled Pill- Popping Pets (requires free login) has this illuminating paragraph:

Marketers have a new name for the age-old tendency to view animals as furry versions of ourselves: “humanization,” a trend that is fueling the explosive growth of the pet industry and the rise of modern pet pharma. Americans forked over $49 billion for pet products and services last year, up $11.5 billion from 2003; other than consumer electronics, pet products are the fastest-growing retail segment. The market expansion is being driven both by more pets and by more spending per pet, especially by affluent baby boomers whose children have graduated from college. “I get asked all the time, ‘What is it with this humanization — do we suddenly love our pets a whole lot more?’ ” says David Lummis, who analyzes the pet industry for the market research firm Packaged Facts. “My theory is that it’s always been there, but it’s been sanctioned now. It’s not just the crazy cat lady. It’s marketers and all of this consumer advertising that have made it O.K. to spend tons of money on your pet.”

While it’s becoming more and more socially acceptable to spend money on our pets, those of us in a pets-only household are still disadvantaged when it comes to our taxes. Most of us take this fact in stride- we never expected to be able to claim our pets as dependants. However, there is a movement of people who are lobbying for pets as dependents based on quality-of- life issues. In Defense Of Animals is one of these groups, and from their website, they write:

Americans spend over $9 billion a year on veterinary care for their animal companions. Additional expenditures such as food, shelter, and other necessities collectively cost billions of dollars more. People can claim children and other human dependents on their taxes and pay the government less money. Yet animal companions remain ineligible for deductions, despite the fact that they depend on their guardians no less than children depend on their parents.

The government has been taking more steps toward recognizing how important animal companions are in people’s lives. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, in which hundreds of guardians refused to leave the disaster zone because rescue units would not allow them to take their animals to safety, legislators passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act. The recent Menu Foods recall that has killed nearly 4,000 cats and dogs may prompt new laws to protect animals from future foodborne diseases. Allowing tax deductions for animal companions would fall squarely in line with this growing trend.

I’m marginally persuaded that tax deductions for pets makes sense when I remember some of the other crazy tax deductions allowed, such as gambling losses, a pro-body builder’s deduction of mineral oil and those crazy, large, over-a-ton SUV’s. But on the other hand, I wonder if passing this law would increase the number of un-cared for animals by people abusing the system in order to qualify for a tax break. And would different pets (and different breeds) have different values? Overall, is it just plain silly to think we should get a tax deduction for our pet expenses- especially since we Americans are spending more and more on pet luxuries than necessities? The jury is still out for me- what do YOU think?

Life is funny sometimes, because here I am seven months later, trying to shoo a kitten off of the keyboard. My journey to pet ownership was very unique – while it worked perfectly for me, it was clearly a very rushed process, leaving me little time to consider all the implications of what this new responsibility meant. Had I done it all over, these are the things I should have thought about before I jumped in. And then I’d probably have jumped in all the same, but with a little more foresight and the knowledge of what I was getting into- at least financially!

Having a pet has improved my life immeasurably, but not knowing the costs associated with them has definitely put an unexpected dent in my budget.

Type of Pet
I know I’m always so excited to see a baby French bulldog, or a beautiful Maine coon cat, but since purebred animals are exponentially more expensive than shelter animals, my pets will probably always be rescues- not to mention the emotional reasons I have for getting a shelter animal. If you are interested in purebreds, do some homework regarding costs- they vary greatly depending on location and type of animal, anywhere from $200 to $800 and up from a breeder. Similarly, there are many rescue organizations that specialize in a certain kind of pet and may have a purebred available for less than half the cost. Even if you’re not interested in a purebred, most animal adoptions have costs associated with them, so be aware that almost any adoption will cost something- probably in the range of $50. If you are interested in buying a more exotic pet, note too that they often costs a little more than a traditional adoption.

First Year
While $50 doesn’t seem unmanageable- especially to a child!- the first year costs, when tabulated realistically, can be prohibitive. National statistics show that dogs cost approximately $1,260 during their first year, while cats are a little less at $1,070. A lot more than the $50 adoption fee! If you do decide to get a pet, using this handy spreadsheet can go a long way in understanding the true costs of pet ownership.

In our household budget, we projected that Francie and Hammy would each cost us $50 a month, which at first we thought was more than generous. But with yearly vet visits, litter for two cats, and an inordinate amount of kitten food, this number is pretty realistic. Over the course of the year, we expect to spend $1,200 on both of them combined- not including emergencies!

Annual Expenses
In addition to the first year costs, there are the annual costs to think about. Again, national estimates put it at about $700 per animal. If your pet has a 15 year lifespan, the overall costs of your pet over it’s lifetime will be between $10,000 and $15,000. I’m sure by following some of the advice in the previous posts, you could reduce your costs, but there will still be a significant investment involved in owning a pet. Make sure you take into consideration your other financial plans- are you saving for a home, paying down school debt, or starting a new career? $10,000 can go a long way to making those dreams come true.

For me, the ROI of owning a pet is far more than any other financial instrument I know– the consistent companionship, entertainment and emotional connection is something I have yet to get from any other part of my life. That is a decision to make for yourself. However, taking into account the financial aspect of pet ownership will allow you to be a more responsible and prepared pet owner and companion.

However misinformed my actions are, they are not misguided: we all like to be able to do something special for the animal members of our family once in a while. For this week’s Reducing Pet Costs post we move on to a much happier topic: the little extras we indulge in for our pets. From spa treatments to clothes, here is a list of ideas for pampering your pets at a fraction of the cost of traditional luxuries. You might even save enough to get yourself a pedicure!

The advantage of having high-end pet spas cropping up all over the country (you think I’m kidding?) is the fact that information about the services they offer is more readily available for replication. You can find out what they offer, and provide the same experience for your pets at home, just by doing a little homework. You’ll be surprised, as I was, at how much helpful and interesting information can be found at your local library and with a quick internet search.

Massage
Admittedly, it sounds a little silly, but giving your furry pet a massage has proven to reduce stress, increase blood flow and range of movement, and help with behavioral issues. Basically, it can have the same effect a massage has on us humans. You can find licensed practitioners for animal massage through a variety of schools and professional associations, but you can also learn a few easy techniques in your own home and slowly introduce it to your pets. Massage may not be for all pets, but it can provide you and your pet another opportunity for bonding and relaxation. I picked up a book at the library about cat massage when my kittens were smaller and now they respond with great pleasure at the few techniques I picked up. Take a look here, here and here for a start.

Grooming
Having your pet professionally groomed can be a costly endevor. Many of the typical services a groomer offers can also be done in your own home for a fraction of the cost. Most animals will respond positively to grooming if it is introduced slowly, and with a great deal of positive reinforcement. Nail clipping, bathing and brushing should all be introduced in small doses; we spent two weeks putting Hammel’s paws in water before he was ready for a full-blown bath. However, this build-up pays off – you can eliminate the extra costs of grooming and turn a potential aniexty producing experience for your pet into another relaxing time to bond. Just make sure you do your research beforehand in order to avoid any problems…especially with nail-clipping! Now Hammel loves his baths, even going so far as to stick his paws in any glass of water you have laying around, and is always happy to be brushed and clipped.

Providing Comfort
While being woefully uninformed about how to help my cats through the heat wave, a quick Google search turned up a bunch of great suggestions: rubbing them down with a damp towel, dropping ice cubes in their water, giving them a pillow of frozen peas. If your pet is uncomfortable in any way, an internet search or a quick call to your vet can give you some great tips for how to deal with the situation. I was going to continue with my own crazy ideas, until I realized that I’m not the only one out there with cats who are hot. A good realization in general- that you’re not alone in your situation- that’s applicable in all parts of life.

Extras
In my Brooklyn neighborhood, Park Slope, there is a fancy bakery/boutique that specializes in animal treats, toys and clothes. They bake up “pup-cakes” and have cookies with animal-friendly ingredients in the shape of fish and bones. You can do this too at home if you have a lazy afternoon and can stand the smell of cooking liver. It would also be a great gift for pet-loving friends. And I can’t imagine any pet that wouldn’t be excited by a birthday treat made especially for them. Also, if your pet has a wardrobe as big as yours, there are a bunch of websites that offer free patterns and step-by-step sewing intructions for a plethora of different outfits.

With some extra time and research, it is easy to provide a little luxury to your pets. Do you do something special for your pets you want to share? Are there other suggestions for inexpensive pet luxuries? My cats are hooked on massages now…!

1. Start an emergency fund: In the second post of this Reducing Pet Costs series, I mentioned having an emergency pet fund as an alternative to having pet insurance. If you have an older pet, or one with a history of chronic illness, having an emergency fund will largely buffer you from the initial sticker shot if your pet needs an emergency procedure. In addition, this emergency fund provides a built-in warning about additional expenses- if the costs of caring for your pet exceed the amount in the emergency fund, you have to have a conversation about how much additional money you are willing to spend.

2. Talk to yourself: If you do only one thing to prepare yourself for caring for an older pet, it would be to have a conversation with yourself about what your beliefs are toward end-of-life care. Since most people have not thought about this beforehand, they are unprepared to make informed decisions based on what they want, and instead just follow their vet’s advice. As Mark, a commenter on the “Reducing Medical Expenses” wrote

“remember, it’s not just a financial issue for you…it’s also a quality of life issue for your pet, particularly as you begin to treat a geriatric pet…when costs skyrocket…and quality of life can plummet.”

Start by asking yourself about your goals in caring for your sick pet: is it length of life, or quality of life, or something else? Being clear with yourself, and your family, about what you want for your pet, will allow you to make more informed decisions even during the most emotional moments.

3. Talk to your vet: Once you feel comfortable with your objectives in caring for your pet near the end of its life, have a conversation with your vet. Although you may have very clear objectives in mind, your vet may take a different approach. If you wait to have this discussion when your pet is already ill, misunderstandings about treatments options may ensue. Make sure you and your vet are on the same page regarding potential treatment. This is especially important for small-animal vets, who very rarely make the same recommendations than large-animal vets do.

4. Set general guidelines: An interesting article in Slate about the guilt and confusion around spending a great deal of money on pet medical expenses. Each of us will have a different opinion on the threshold of cost we are willing to spend on pet expenses- why wait until we get to those hard decisions to discuss them? The comments on the Slate article have a myriad of opinions on the subject, most from people who have been in this situation. It would be helpful to set down general guidelines about the upper limit of your spending capacity on pet expenses, just so you can be aware of what you are spending as you go along. Of course, these guidelines can change, but having a benchmark will keep you aware of your pocketbook in an otherwise distracting time.

5. Saying goodbye: Unfortunately, there will most likely come a time when treatment is no longer an option. I always get teary when I think about this, and vow in my next life to adopt a land tortoise, whose lifespan is usually over 80 years. For those of us with furry or feathered friends, this moment is something we all dread. Being aware of your options before you have to make those hard decisions will help eliminate regrets and guilt from the whole process. Hospice care has recently become a more acceptable way to care for pets for whom treatment is not a good option. More a philosophy of care than an actual location, hospice focuses on making sure your pet’s quality of life is maintained until the very end. And naturally, when that comes, be aware that there is usually a cost of about $50 per pet for euthanasia, if you decide to go that route.

6. Commemorating your pet: To end on a happier note, a memorial service can be one of the most loving and special moments in your relationship with your pet. When talking with friends about doing this post, one friend left me with a very dear story about an inexpensive, but very sweet, memorial for a recently passed cat, whose name was Rita. “When my friends lost their cat Rita, one of my other friends planted a flower in her honor and named it Rita. We all gathered around while it was planted and they read a eulogy listing all the ways Rita brought them joy, and afterward, in commemoration, we drank marga-Rita’s.” A memorial service can be as unique as your pet itself, and doesn’t have to break the bank either. The internet can be a great source of support and ideas.

I absolutely hate thinking about the day when I’m going to have to say goodbye to Francie and Hammel. Just thinking about it makes me so sad and upset, which just underscores my need to start facing some of these issues now—I can’t imagine how I would be able to make rational decisions when I’d be so emotional. Have any of you had to deal with this already? How did you do it? Also, do you have any other suggestions for thinking about this difficult time? Let’s try to make it as easy for us as possible—it will be hard enough!

I never expected my dad’s rejoinder to all my childhood pet requests to come back to me so strongly; he’d always say I’d never want to go on all my beloved vacations once I got a pet. While this is partly true- I do feel a pang of guilt and regret for leaving- having a pet to come home to is also the perfect antidote to post-vacation blues. Now that vacation season is upon us, here are some tips and considerations for making sure your pets have as nice of a time as you do when you’re gone.

Pet Sitting
1. Develop a network:
If you, like me, are just starting out in your pet ownership, you may not have thought a lot about a pet sitter. This is one of those things in life that is better thought about beforehand, like your choice of heels for fancy dinner. You don’t want to get stuck with one that makes you uncomfortable and also cost you a lot of money. The best way to get around this is to develop a network of people who you know and trust with your pets. It is helpful to make sure they are comfortable with being on your pet sitters short list. Make sure you have a good array of people, in case you are away during a busy holiday season. You don’t want to get stuck with someone who doesn’t work out, just because you failed to plan ahead. Now, good luck with those shoes!

2. Make pet-sitting special: Leave out treats for friends and pets
I’ve only been asked to pet sit twice in my life. Once it was for a neighbor, who left dirty dishes in the sink and made sure to tell me that I’d be responsible if anything broke. Another time, it was for friends, who left instructions on how to use their television and home-made cookies. Guess whose house I stayed at the longest? It’s not hard to make the pet sitting experience great for the pet sitter, but it might be hard to remember to do it- after all, you’re not going to be there. But a few small touches can make all the difference. Leaving out snacks for your sitter, like fresh-baked cookies (even if they’re from a roll) makes your sitter want to hang around. Even if it’s just oreos and milk, along with instructions for your TV, try to make your sitter feel like hanging out with your pets is a fun retreat, instead of a chore. Similarly, you might ease some of your pet’s anxiety about someone new by leaving them some special treat, or a new toy. It might cost you a little more, but it is cheaper than boarding or getting a professional pet sitter.

3. Professionals vs. Friends: Who is providing the best care?
It seems easier to just ask friends to watch cats, or caged animals, for a day or two. If you ask them twice in a month, or for a longer period of time, it might not be so easy for them. Grace and I have friends who are also a couple and also have two cats, so we feel comfortable asking them to pet sit- it’s a great barter system! We feel like they are providing the best care to our cats; they truly love them just as we do, as we love their cats. However, other than this reciprocal relationship, we feel uncomfortable asking any other friends else to pet sit, so when Hope and Jen are out of town, we often turn to professionals. For me, the standard for deciding between friends and professionals is to evaluate who will provide the best care to your animals. If you feel as if your friends will be burdened with the responsibility, and be unwilling to care for your pets as you would, going with a professional might be a good option. Many of them are affiliated with larger companies, or associations, and have been trained and insured. The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International are two of these organizations. You’ll want to interview and find the pet sitter that best relates to your individual situation. And you’ll often find the price is not entirely prohibitive- especially if they are affiliated with something you are too- like a food co-op, or you both frequent the same grocery store.

Pet Boarding
1. Choosing a kennel:
There are as many different types of kennels are there are types of pets. However, whichever kennel you choose should be insured and bonded. It is also a good idea to review this checklist of information about boarding your pet put together by the American Boarding Kennels Association. As always, word of mouth and in-person interviews will help you ensure you picked a reputable and comfortable kennel. Also ask if your veterinarian is affiliated with any kennels- they might be able to get a discount.

2. Are you getting what you paid for?
In addition to your standard boarding kennel, there are also quite a few other, more upscale, versions. Grace’s parents board their two dogs, a feisty Norwich terrier and a loopy Brittany, at a kennel that has treadmills for the dogs. Treadmills! However, they also have quite a bit of personalized attention- so much that Bessie and Truman came back knowing how to jump rope! It is up to your discretion how much you want to spend on boarding your pet, as there are a huge range of costs. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you know what types of services are being provided to your pet.

Tip for leaving all pets
1. Understate your goodbyes:
My instinct upon leaving my cats is to be very demonstrative with my goodbyes. There is a lot of petting, some re-assuring talks, and, I’ll admit it, some attempts at a hug. However, according to most research, pets will pick up on this anxiety from you, and it will increase their level of stress on being left behind. What you (and I) should be doing instead is to treat the boarding/sitting experience as coolly as possible, and make no big show of saying goodbye. While this can be hard on us, it is much easier on our pets in the long run.

2. Leaving your scent behind for comfort:
While pet sitting is ideal for most household pets, as they can remain in a environment most comfortable to them, sometimes it is not an option. When you chose to board your pet, you’ll want to make sure they feel comfortable in an uncomfortable environment. Consider wearing an old t-shirt for a day, and giving it up to go with your pet to the new location. They’ll appreciate feeling like you are nearby.

What are some things you do to make your vacation a good one for your pets as well? Do you have any money saving tips for pet sitting and boarding? Please share your secrets for enjoying (and paying for!) that margarita on the beach when your pets are back at home!

For me, shopping is the hunt of finding something new; something unique and something perfect. Crafting is the art of making those things. With a little extra time and effort, I can feel so much better about my materialistic desires. This applies very nicely to pet toys and accessories, since most pet toys are easy and inexpensive to make. Now if I can just find the receipt to return that remote controlled mouse!

Cats

Easy
Almost all pet books will tell you this, but cats love nothing more than a crumpled up ball of paper or a ping pong ball (make sure it’s not cracked!). They also like paper bags with a hole in them, so they can jump in and out. Non-toxic bubbles are fun for them and putting plastic cups on the floor as an obstacle course gets them moving around. I save my empty toilet paper rolls; my cats love to run around the apartment after them.

Advanced
A packet of small toy mice can go a long way. For a couple of dollars, you can make a host of different toys. Tie one to the end of an old shoelace and use it to lure your cats through the paper cup obstacle course. Use some old elastic from a pair of sweatpants to tie it to a doorknob or a stick—cats will play with it for hours! Use this tutorial from Martha Stewart to make a fish out of an old, shrunken sock and some organic catnip. If you really want to go all out, you can attempt to make some cat furniture. There are some great IKEA hacks on IKEA hacker, including this clean looking and easy wall cat ladder. One of my friends took on the seemingly daunting task of making a cat tree. Not only was it loads cheaper, but it was also a fun weekend project- it is a lot easier than you think. This website is great resource if you’re going to attempt it. If you are nervous about all the carpentry involved with the more advanced cat trees, you can also just get an old wire spool from your local hardware store and coil sisal rope around it.

Dogs

Easy
Filling an empty paper towel roll with peanut butter and then twisting it to make a candy-like shape is about as easy and DIY as it gets. Be careful of the ingestion of the paper though. More detailed info from Instructables: A common frustration dog owners have about dog toys is their cost vs. longevity. Even the most expensive ones are short-lived in the home of a particularly determined dog. Here’s a great idea from RealSimple to take old dish towels and put them to a new use in a dog rope toy. Double your use for one cost, my favorite kind of craft!. From wrapping sticks with old t-shirts to stuffing tennis balls in socks, this site for making and building dog stuff is a great one-stop resource.

Advanced
Dog beds can be a costly item for pet owners. Especially if you own more than one dog. And especially if that dog is fond of mud, scaring skunks, and ripping things up with his teeth, like a dog I know. If you attempt to buy a pricey bed to replace every discarded one, the costs add up. Consider making your own dog bed with a replaceable, washable cover. At least you won’t feel so bad when it gets destroyed.

For all you scaly and feathered parents out there, here are a couple of links of great toy ideas for you and your pets too.

Crochet Patter Central is a clearinghouse of cute and easy crochet patterns for pet toys, bedding and clothes. Very very cute and inspiring for those of us who don’t know how to crochet. I hear it isn’t that hard.

Animal Planet has six great toy ideas for dogs, cats, bunnies and birds. I particularly like the monogrammed catnip pouch, because pet’s whole names are often longer than the usual three, which would make the monogram hilariously long. My kitten has 5 names and his monogram would be HMWDG. Ha!

The Martha Stewart site I linked to previously also has some instructions on how to make dog biscuts, a gift basket for rabbits, and a swing for parrots. The decorations for the fish tank are pretty cute too!
If you’re a bird owner (and I know at least one reader is) here’s a great link for DIY bird toys. I like the shirt with randomly sewn buttons and zippers; it seems so festive to wear particular clothing to play with your pet.

And last but not least- not particular to just pets, but paper silhouettes of your whole family should also include one of your pet. This is a great rainy day idea for you and your kids to do.

Are any of you shopping lovers? How do you cope with your urges to buy things? And if you’ve found some other cheap DIY pet entertainment ideas, please do share. My cat has taken to watching TV, and I’d like to give him something better to do! What cheap toys have you noticed your pet loving?

All in all, it’s been an expensive winter. Obviously, it is not typical to incur all of these costs in such a short period of time, but the average yearly medical cost for pets is still upwards of $300. Here’s a breakdown of different options for making sure your pet still gets the care it needs despite high costs and difficult financial times. After all, we don’t want to be these people. (Don’t click on that link if stories about abandoned animals upsets you, I was really saddened)

1. Pet Insurance

Gaining in popularity in the past five years, insurance for pets is very similar to our medical insurance. You find a provider (there aren’t many, but here’s a great starting list), pay a premium that depends on your pet’s age, health, etc, and have all expenses covered after your set deductable amount. However, like our medical insurance, there are many serious procedures or treatments that are only partially covered and there is difficulty in getting a pet with a serious pre-existing condition covered. Additionally, if you have a breed with a known predisposition to a certain disease, e.g. hip dysplasia in German Shepherds, you may not be covered for the condition. Despite all this, there is a good chance that getting pet insurance can save you upwards of $1000 over the lifetime of your pet.

2. Pet Wellness Plan

It walks like a duck and talks like a duck, but is it a duck? That’s the question with pet wellness plans. If your pet only has routine expenses, a wellness plan can function exactly like pet insurance; you pay a monthly fee and certain treatments are covered, often at lower fees. However, a wellness plan is unlike an insurance plan in one very traumatic way- if your pet needs emergency care and dies, you may still be stuck with the fess. Unlike insurance, you are still liable for any fees, because a wellness plan actually works like an auto maintenance program. If you sign the contract for a year, you have to pay for a year. This usually works best for preventative care and pets without a history of chronic illness. Vets usually offer wellness plans, but make sure to read all contracts carefully.

3. Discount programs

If you are wary of insurance or wellness programs, there is yet another option: discount programs. For one annual payment, you receive pre-set discounts on veterinary services. The discounts range from 20-35% and cover almost any treatment your pet may have. The catch is that you have to see a participating veterinarian, which may not include many of our independently owned veterinarians. Pet Assure is the largest of this programs, but a quick internet search yields many more.

4. Pet Emergency Fund or Credit Card

If you’re not planning on any of the above options, you should at least plan on being able to provide some financial coverage for emergency pet expenses. One of my friends recently found out her cat needs a $600 blood test right out of the blue. When life hands you a financial lemon like this, make sure you have a plan of attack. Hopefully, you have an emergency fund you can dip into, or barring that, you have a credit card that can be used for pet expenses. The last thing you want is your furry (or reptilian) friend suffering unduly because of a lack of financial planning.

5. Vet emergency fund or payment plan

In the case you are really in a financial pickle (and with the high costs of vet services these days, it’s not unlikely), veterinary offices often have emergency funds for clients who are unable to pay their pet’s expenses. Don’t count on this money, because it is doled out on the basis of various factors that you don’t have any control over, but certainly ask about it if you find yourself unable to pay. Similarly, many vets will accept your payment in the form of a payment plan, allowing you to pay what you are able over a given time period until the service is paid in full. You may have to pay additional interest to offset the time it took for you to pay in full.

6. Non-Profit Funds

Another solution if you’re in a pickle is funds from various non-profit agencies. Depending on where you live, the pet you have, and your affiliations, you may be eligible to apply for emergency funding from a non-profit group. This process takes time, so is probably best coupled with being able to pay your vet up front with a credit card, but can help fund costly emergency expenses. A partial list of these non-profits can be found here.

7. Preventative Care

This is probably glaringly obvious, but still worth repeating. My mom is always bugging me about getting my teeth cleaned every six months, so that I can avoid the dental problems she has had as a result of poor hygiene. Despite that, I don’t think I’ve been to the dentist in at least a year (don’t tell!). As much as we *know* that preventative care will lead to a happier, healthier and cheaper pet, we need to force ourselves to remember to schedule that yearly appointment. Go and do it now. I’ll wait.

The next six months of my pet expenses will hopefully be a lot less than my first six months. However, my kitten needs to get neutered, and there probably needs to be some teeth cleaning too. How do you cope with unforeseen pet medical expenses? Does anyone have an insurance provider they love? Have you found another way to cut costs on pet medical expenses?

Pets, in addition to being invaluable emotional support, proven stress reduction and overall adorableness, cost money. And if you believe the media portrayals, we as queer people are particularly lavish with our pets, treating them to fancy hotel stays (Best in Show) and acupuncture (Flipping Out). Like Paula said “Pets are our furry children”. Of course, having a pet doesn’t have to break the bank, so let’s talk about some ways to save money while still being the best pet owners we can be. And if you’re still in the process of considering the financial implications of owning a pet, please read Nina’s post “Are Pets Worth the Price?” I’ve already said yes to that question and so in the next couple weeks I’ll be posting a series of topics on saving money on pet expenses, starting with food.

The biggest recurring cost of pets is, naturally, their food. And in this economic climate, when we are cutting or curbing many of our expenses, we may be thinking about reducing this cost as well. After all, a can of cat food can range from 40 cents to $1.50, so there is a lot of wiggle room. There is also a very wide range of quality when it comes to pet food and just as many theories about the merits of various diets. While we all want to save money, we can also all agree that no one wants to make their pets ill by feeding them tainted food. So my first suggestion is to make sure you check The Pet Food List before you buy any food for your pet; this list compiles information about various pet food brands and their level of involvement in the recent recalls. Of course, as they say themselves, you should only use it as a starting point for your research if you are unsure about a particular brand.

1. Check The Pet Food List before buying any food to ensure safety

2. Pay attention to caloric density; some brands may be cheaper, but require more food

Last time I was at the vet, they alerted me to the fact that different brands may vary in density, meaning your pet may need to eat more or less for the same amount of nutrients. They called this caloric density and compared it to the difference between a rice cake and a protein bar. Be sure to check this; you might be saving buying cheaper food, but you might have to give your pet more of it. On the flip side, you may be able to save some bucks if you’re already buying premium food; you may currently be feeding your pet more than necessary. Take a look at breakdown on the packaging for more information.

3. Consider making your own food, or supplementing store-bought food

If you actually crunch the numbers, feeding your pets home-made food is the cheapest way to go. You are not paying for packaging and are in complete control of the quality and quantities of the ingredients. So why don’t we all do it? It takes time, careful research, planning, and a willingness to open a cookbook to something called “Liver Delight.” My upstairs neighbors have a large pitbull/bulldog mix and make all their own food for her because she has such terrible allergies. They also both work from home. If you are like me and have some liver you bought six months ago in your freezer and the book “The Whole Pet Diet” sitting guilty on your shelf, consider some easier options, like making food once a month, or once a season.

4. Buy your pet food in bulk quantities

Buying in bulk is a great way to reduce costs if you know you will continually be using something. However, make sure you know your pets will continually eat that particular food; my cats are picky and won’t eat the same flavor of cat food more than a couple times in a row. No one told them that beggars can’t be choosers. Also, places like Sam’s Club and Costco have membership fees, so make sure you know that your savings will offset those fees. Other places, like local pet stores, or my food co-op, will offer to order you a case of food and charge you near wholesale prices- this amounts to a great deal!

5. Comparison shop: Look at ingredients and prices

As with almost every purchase, comparing products and prices is a smart move. Especially with pet food and the large range of prices out there, it is easy to correlate quality with price. This may or may not be the case, and it is possible to find inexpensive, high quality food if you do some research. The Organic Pages is great place to start comparing different products, and I’m sure a quick internet search of the pet stores in your area will turn up varying prices for the same product. One quick note before you jet off to the store to pick up that amazing deal- call ahead to verify they have the food in stock and it is exactly what you saw online.

6. Look online for steep discounts and free shipping

If you are diligent comparison shopper, you will notice that often times you can find great deals online that you cannot find in stores. And if you are committed to buying in bulk, many places will waive the shipping charge for a minimum purchase. The downside of this is that you may not have the opportunity to allow your pets to try the food before purchase, although some companies will mail you a small sample, especially if it is dry food. PetNetDirect and PetFoodDirect are good places to start, as is PetSuppliesGuide.

7. Use manufacturer coupons

My cats really love one particular brand and I think it’s great nutritionally, but it’s a little expensive. In the predicament where you’re pretty wedded to one brand or type, consider contacting the manufacturer to inquire about frequent buyer coupons. Often if you buy straight from the manufacturer, they will offer discounts or membership to their newsletter, which in turn can alert you of deals, special offers, and discounts.

8. Join the club at your local store

Most big pet store chains have frequent buyer clubs that offer select items for less or special promotions. Some of the biggest ones, like Pet Co. and PetSmart even have cash back rewards on certain purchases, which is a great, and easy, way to start saving.

I’m pretty new to this pet food thing, and finding it to be very confusing at times. Do any of you more seasoned pet owners have any tips or tricks for saving money on pet food? What are some of your recommendations for recipe books, online guides or pet food stores? Does anyone cook for their pet and have any tips for the rest of us? Please comment!

And for more pictures of my cats and the whole rescue story, see my blog.