When the Money Runs Short, Love Doesn't
Finding ways to care for your cats when finances are tight
My Story
Many years ago, when I was still single, I lived in a second story corner apartment in a moderately sized city. I had three friends nearby, two of whom were downstairs neighbors. My family was distant at the time, both emotionally and physically. And no one knew the struggle I was undergoing.
I grew up in a family where we gave help to others. In our family, pride replaced sensibility - to ask for or even accept help was shameful, though for others to ask us was an opportunity to bless them. Double standard for sure, but it definitely influenced my early adult life.
One particular summer, those many years ago, I had been without a job for months. I had looked, hard, to no avail to find any job, literally any. Nothing came to fruition. By the summer nearly every bit of my financial reserves had been depleted.
If it had just been me alone, the stress of the situation might have been different, but it wasn't just me. I was mama to three beautiful girls, my cats: Cajun Spooks, Stardust Escape, and Moz Bayou. They were my everything and whatever I had left I gave to them.
I ran out of litter, so they got my toilet paper shredded up as their litter while I used washcloths. I bought their food while I had none, sucking on a spoon to fool my brain into thinking I was eating. I turned the thermostat to settings uncomfortable for me but within their comfort and to save money. I got creative wherever I could with whatever I had to keep the girls healthy and happy and safe.
My story turned out for the better ... eventually. A former work friend felt led by Providence to reach out to me and connected me with a network of food pantries and financial aid sources that got me through another few months. But that time of having absolutely nothing left an impact that still resonates with me.
Lessons Learned
Some lessons that sit with me to this day: You are not a bad cat parent because you are poor. A difficult season does not erase the love you have for your cat. Before you decide you have no choice but to surrender your cat, let's see what choices might still exist.
I am not telling you this because I think you should do what I did. I am telling you because I want you to know that I understand what it feels like to look at your bank account, look at your cat, and wonder how on earth you are going to make it work.
If you, dear reader, are like I was and going through a time where the bank account is small and your cats are your world, you are not alone. Hear me! You are not alone!
Make what you have work. Get creative. Ask questions. Search for resources. Don't be ashamed. Don't assume that because you cannot afford everything, you cannot afford to care for your cat. And don't wait until you're completely out of options before you start looking for help.
You may not be able to solve everything today. You may not be able to afford everything you wish you could. But today is not forever. A hard month does not have to become a permanent decision. Before you give up, let's look at what options might exist.
Start with the Problem, Not the Program
Sometimes the hardest part of finding help is not knowing what kind of help to ask for.
You may know that you are struggling, but you may not know whether you need a pet food pantry, veterinary assistance, a spay/neuter voucher, transportation, or something else entirely. That's okay.
Start with the problem in front of you.
"I need cat food." Search: pet food pantry near me
"My cat needs veterinary care and I can't afford it." Search: financial assistance veterinary care near me
"My cat needs to be spayed or neutered." Search: low-cost spay neuter near me
"I can afford the appointment, but I can't get my cat there." Search: pet transportation assistance near me
"I am trying to keep my pet, but I don't know what help exists." Search: pet retention program near me
You can also start with the people who already work with animals in your community. Call or email your local humane society, animal shelter, rescue organization, veterinarian, or animal services department. Simply tell them: "I am trying very hard to keep my pet, but I'm experiencing a financial hardship. Do you know of any resources that might help me with food, veterinary care, spay/neuter, or transportation?"
You don't have to know the name of the program before you ask the question. You don't have to know whether you qualify before you call. And you don't have to be completely out of options before you ask. Let them help you find the words—and perhaps the resource—you didn't know existed.
If they don't have a particular program, don't assume that means no one can help. Ask: "If you don't provide that service, do you know who might?" Allow them to help guide you to the resources you need.
When I was experiencing this journey, in my city, at that time, there were no resources for helping pet parents. Today, many communities have organizations that can assist you. To find help near you, try the following search phrases in your web browser search engine.
Search Phrases
For pet food
Try combining your city, county, or ZIP code with:
pet food bank near me
pet food pantry near me
pet food assistance near me
free pet food near me
free cat food near me
free dog food near me
pet food assistance [your city]
pet food pantry [your county]
pet food bank [your state]
animal food bank [your city]
pet food giveaway [your city]
pet food distribution [your county]
pet owner assistance [your city]
pet retention program [your city]
keep pets in homes [your city]
pet assistance nonprofit [your city]
Do NOT stop at just "Pet Food Bank"! Try "pet food pantry," "pet food assistance," "pet owner assistance," and "pet retention." Organizations may call essentially the same kind of help by very different names.
For veterinary help
Try combining your city, county, or ZIP code with:
low-cost veterinary care near me
low-cost vet clinic [your city]
affordable veterinary care [your city]
financial assistance veterinary care [your city]
veterinary financial assistance [your state]
pet emergency financial assistance [your city]
help paying vet bill [your city]
veterinary payment assistance [your county]
pet medical assistance nonprofit [your city]
animal medical fund [your state]
pet medical grant [your state]
Other tips to try for veterinary help:
Ask your veterinarian about lower-cost alternatives or payment options.
Tell the vet honestly what you can afford before the appointment or treatment plan is finalized.
Ask whether there are generic medications or less expensive equivalent options.
Look for local rescue organizations that offer emergency veterinary help.
Ask your local humane society, shelter, or rescue whether they know of veterinary assistance programs—even if they do not provide assistance themselves.
For spay and neuter
Try combining your city, county, or ZIP code with:
low-cost spay neuter near me
low-cost cat spay [your city]
low-cost cat neuter [your city]
spay neuter vouchers [your county]
spay neuter assistance [your city]
free spay neuter [your county]
community cat TNR [your city]
feral cat spay neuter [your county]
mobile spay neuter clinic [your state]
If you need help getting to and from an appointment, ask about transportation. Some programs incorporate transportation into their services, while others may know volunteers or partner organizations that can help.
For transportation
Try combining your city, county, or ZIP code with:
pet transportation assistance near me
pet transport assistance [your city]
veterinary transportation assistance [your city]
transport to vet appointment [your city]
pet taxi low cost [your city]
animal rescue transportation assistance [your county]
spay neuter transport [your county]
pet transportation nonprofit [your state]
Ask the shelter or rescue directly. Even if they do not advertise transportation assistance, they may know volunteers, partner organizations, mobile clinics, or transport programs that do.
Need these search terms somewhere you can save or print them? Download our free Finding Help When Money Is Tight guide.
When I looked at resources across my home state of South Carolina, I found that help is not evenly distributed, and not every county offers every type of assistance. But I also found that many communities have at least one organization providing some form of help—from low-cost veterinary care and spay/neuter programs to food assistance and resource referrals.
Additional ideas to help in times of financial stretching
Use what you already have for enrichment. A cardboard box is still a box. A paper bag can still be interesting. A blanket can be a bed.
Make toys instead of buying them when appropriate and safe. Supervise homemade toys and retire anything that becomes torn, loose, or unsafe.
Repurpose household items for beds, hideaways, and climbing opportunities.
Stretch litter costs where it is safe and practical.
Buy in the most economical size when it makes financial sense and you can store it.
Watch for sales, coupons, loyalty programs, and local assistance.
You need to know: the number on your paycheck does not tell the whole story. If you are struggling to keep your pets fed or get them the veterinary care they need, you are allowed to look for help. You do not have to prove that you are destitute before you are allowed to ask a question. You do not have to wait until the bowl is empty before you search for a food pantry. You do not have to wait until your pet is critically ill before you look for a low-cost clinic.
Ask for help before you reach absolute crisis. Do NOT be ashamed to ask for help. Look early. Ask early. Search early
If you need a bag of food, ask. If you need help getting your cat to the veterinarian, ask. If you need someone to help you find a low-cost clinic, ask. If you need to tell someone, "I am scared I cannot do this," say it out loud.
Needing help does not mean you have failed your cat.
There are organizations waiting to help you, waiting to be a blessing. Ask.
Encouragement and Closing
If you are doing everything you reasonably can with the resources you have today, you are not failing your cat.
Our love for our cats will always be more than the money in our bank accounts, no matter how wealthy one is. But when the bank account is particularly small, the challenge of showing our cats how much we love and care for them increases.
If you are sitting somewhere tonight, looking at your cat and wondering how you are going to make it through the next week, I want someone to be there for you. I want that someone to be me.
I cannot put money in your bank account. I cannot pay your veterinary bill. I cannot promise that everything will magically be okay. But I can tell you this: I see you. I know what it is like to be scared.
And I want you to take one more breath, make one more phone call, ask one more person, look for one more option. Do not give up because you are ashamed to ask for help.
And please, do not believe that struggling financially makes you a bad cat parent.
You are allowed to have a hard season. So is your cat. And sometimes, getting through that season is enough.
We hope our story and tips help you through this journey. May the light of a new day bring joy and hope to you and your cat(s).
💜🐾 Keep Up Creations
💜🐾 Cat Care & Cat Parents
💜🐾 Budget-Friendly Pet Care
💜🐾 Pet Food & Community Resources
💜🐾 Veterinary & Spay/Neuter Resources
💜🐾 Encouragement
Budget Cat Care
Helpful Search Terms
If you're looking for help for your cat, you may also find useful results by searching for phrases such as:
pet care financial assistance · pet assistance programs · help paying for pet care · cat food assistance · pet food resources · help paying vet bills · veterinary financial assistance · affordable veterinary care · pet retention assistance · keeping pets in their homes · spay/neuter financial assistance · veterinary transportation assistance · help keeping my pet
You can search using ordinary language, too. Try phrases such as "help keeping my cat," "I can't afford my cat," or "help so I don't have to surrender my cat," along with your location.
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