Keeping my five cats no matter what

[shengmei]

I make $700 a month. Lately, people kept telling me how I have way too many cats and I need to get rid of several of them.

No way. I am keeping all five of my cats no matter what.

[sweeps]

I wonder how many people in debt have used that phrase:
No way. I am keeping _________ no matter what.

Insert:
my gas-guzzling SUV
my big screen TV
my cable TV with HBO and Showtime
my Starbucks latte
...

[Lostsoul33]

What reason do they give you for thinking that you should get rid of your cats?

LOL @ Sweepsplayer, ain't that the truth!

[Amy752]

Amen! You can buy food and litter on sale (you can even use shredded newspaper if you can't afford it).

But as an animal lover myself, please make sure they're getting proper immunizations, even if you have to scrimp to get them!

No one should expect you to get rid of members of your family.

[locolorenzo24]

If their quality of life matches yours, ok....but I'm not living in poverty for any animal, no matter how much I love them....
AND
I am a pet lover....

[terry1156]

Originally Posted by shengmei

I make $700 a month. Lately, people kept telling me how I have way too many cats and I need to get rid of several of them.

No way. I am keeping all five of my cats no matter what.

There's not a problem. If that is your decision and you're currently not making enough to support all, then you need to get a better income. There are always choices, although they may not always be easy.

[katwoman]

Originally Posted by shengmei

I make $700 a month. Lately, people kept telling me how I have way too many cats and I need to get rid of several of them.

No way. I am keeping all five of my cats no matter what.

You can keep your cats on the amount of money you make!

Go to the couponing forum of this board and post a request for cat food coupons and kitty litter. One enterprising fellow on www.dealagogo.com put out a repeated request for a specific coupon for a free bag of Nutro cat food. Do you know that he now has enough cat food for a year! I think he owns 3 cats. Many other board members have scored free kitty litter with coupons and sales.

It can be done.

[Ima saver]

What do you do for a living? Having a pet makes living worthwhile! I would starve before I would give my puppy away!

[frugalfarmwife]

If you can afford them thats your choice, not anyone else's business. However as much as I love my pets they ARE a luxury (part of my family but a luxury). If I can't afford them then I should not have them.

I once had a Veterinarian tell me a story about a woman who's horse she was treating, the woman told her she'd have to wait to get her welfare check to pay the bill, the Vet straight out told her "if society is supporting you then you don't DESERVE a horse, society shouldn't be paying for your luxuries" (LOVED that Vet, she retired and is a scuba instructor in Aruba now)

kj

[Ima saver]

If it cost a lot to feed your pets, then I would have to agree with frugal farmwife. My little dog is 6 pounds and doesn't cost hardly anything to feed.

[nanamom]

People have a hadit of knowing what we should do when they aren't doing it! (present company excluded, you guys are doing what it takes) I have a dog and have had her during some lean times. She kept me sane more than once. Pets are very important at every stage of life. Once you have them they are family.

[Ima saver]

My puppy dog is all the family I have besides my dh. I guess I would go without eating in order to feed her first. You are right, nanamom, we need to walk a mile in people's shoes before we criticize.

[Fern]

Originally Posted by Sweepsplayer

I wonder how many people in debt have used that phrase:
No way. I am keeping _________ no matter what.

Insert:
my gas-guzzling SUV
my big screen TV
my cable TV with HBO and Showtime
my Starbucks latte
...

I don't think it's a fair comparison to line up the expenses of keeping 5 cats with a gas guzzling SUV or any of the other big ticket items on the list.

How much do you think you spend on the cats each month? Then decide for yourself whether the expense is worth it for the amount of enjoyment you derive from keeping them. As a fellow animal lover, I wouldn't think you'd need to give them up. Are they indoor only cats? If so, why spend the big bucks to keep their rabies, distemper, etc. shots up to date? Vets like to insist on that just becus it provides them an ongoing stream of revenue, but if the cats ALWAYS stay indoor, it's pointless to do so.

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by Fern

I don't think it's a fair comparison to line up the expenses of keeping 5 cats with a gas guzzling SUV or any of the other big ticket items on the list.

You're right, it's not fair comparing the big ticket items to keeping 5 cats. But it is fair comparing them to acquiring 5 cats. If someone has a very low income and takes on pets, then he or she should expect to make serious sacrifices.

[frugalfarmwife]

I hope you don't think I was criticizing your decision to keep your cats, just commenting on my opinion on keeping animals, and yes the animals come first at feeding time around here, we keep them so we owe it to them to keep them well.

kj

[Lemony]

"This is Bob Barker reminding you to control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered!!"

[frugalfarmwife]

Originally Posted by Lemony

"This is Bob Barker reminding you to control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered!!"

LOLOLOLOLOLOL giggle, giggle!

But if'n I did that with the farm animals I'd go broke!

but yes, spay, neuter, geld. wether and castrate those PETS!

kj

[markitcat]

RE: " Why spend the big bucks to keep their rabies, distemper, etc. shots up to date? Vets like to insist on that just becus it provides them an ongoing stream of revenue, but if the cats ALWAYS stay indoor, it's pointless to do so."

I figured this out a long time ago, but I've never said it out loud before because I thought some someone would accuse me of animal neglect.
I have four cats. They are all indoor cats. I haven't gotten any of them shots in years. If they need to go to the vet, I will take them, but I think it's ridiculous to pay all that money to prevent contagious diseases that they have almost no chance of catching. I say almost because I am allowing for the fact that some one could break into my house with an infected animal and expose my cats to rabies or distemper. Does anyone else have an opion on this?

[frugalfarmwife]

Originally Posted by markitcat

RE: " Why spend the big bucks to keep their rabies, distemper, etc. shots up to date? Vets like to insist on that just becus it provides them an ongoing stream of revenue, but if the cats ALWAYS stay indoor, it's pointless to do so."

I figured this out a long time ago, but I've never said it out loud before because I thought some someone would accuse me of animal neglect.
I have four cats. They are all indoor cats. I haven't gotten any of them shots in years. If they need to go to the vet, I will take them, but I think it's ridiculous to pay all that money to prevent contagious diseases that they have almost no chance of catching. I say almost because I am allowing for the fact that some one could break into my house with an infected animal and expose my cats to rabies or distemper. Does anyone else have an opion on this?

I don't do rabies for my indoor cat but do keep up on other shots because I'm around other cats and you CAN carry disease on yourself/your clothing, feline leukemia is notorious for being carried on clothing/shoes from one place to another.

Now also as a large farm I can't catch/vaccinate all the barn cats, some are wild and came with the farm, they are a part of a farm, rat/rodent control. I do feed them and keep an eye out for them but they are not "pets". I also have most of the neighbors cats here daily

Vaccinations are needed, but I believe the pharmacutical companies push them to much to make the almighty buck. With the horses they push yearly vaccines and boosters soon before foaling. I had a mare foal a few years ago that was a total suprise (stallion got out the year before, lol) I had a blood test done on the foal to make sure the blood titres were ok, his immunities were off the top of the chart and the mare hadn't been vaccinated for two years. Foals are born with NO immunity and recieve them from the mares milk in the first 24-48 hours of life.

kj

[Ima saver]

I am so glad someone brought this up. I don't keep up my dogs shots either and haven't for over 30 years. My poodle stays inside all day. I take her out to potty on a leash and that is it. I take her to the vets if she is sick. Of course I always get them all the puppy shots they need when they are puppies, but after that, I only do it when someone asks for her papers. I don't ever board my dogs either. My mixed bred dog has never had a shot and she is 15. I did have her spayed when I found her.