How to Pamper a Pet on a Small Budget

You don’t need millions, or even hundreds, of dollars to treat your parakeet like a princess, your cat like a lordship or dog like a king. Some easy substitutions and a little creativity will insure you can pamper a pet with little money. The biggest thing you need is love.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Quality food
• Old pillows, towels and blankets
• Creative substitutions
• Love

1. Show affection. Love will fill all the gaps where a costly cat condo could be. Lots of snuggling, petting and praise will make the dear animals forget all about not having the latest $52 dog toy.
2. Keep up a quality food. Don’t cut back to a generic or non-trustworthy pet food. Remember the pet food recalls. Even if it costs a little more, it’s worth the little money you do have for a shiny coat, or feathers, and peace of mind.
3. Forego costly pet-specific items. A $200 dog bed can be made instead from old towels, pillows or blankets. Cat condos can be constructed out of cardboard boxes. You need not brush your pet with a $15 dog brush when a dollar store brush gets the same results. A feather tied to a piece of string works just as well as a $20 cat toy. Have a carpenter friend construct an otherwise $30 bird box.
4. Research home remedies. Often over-the-counter medication for a pet’s known ailment can fix it just as well as a $200 vet visit can. Make sure, however, you know what you’re treating. You can cut costs on shots at clinics or even doing them yourself. Talk to local pet and feed stores on how to go about it. Learn how to groom and trim nails yourself.
5. Look for sales. Pet stores will often put several items on special, especially those that have not sold well. You can often get otherwise costly items at a massively reduced price. Just make sure the store is not trying to get rid of the items because they suck.
6. Play. A hefty playtime, in addition to the ongoing love, will insure your pet feels no lack whatsoever in any area of his or her life.

Tips & Warnings

• Unless the vet recommends against it, cutting out the canned food, which costs more than $1 per can, is an easy way to cut the pet budget. If your dog still pines for wet food, put water on the dry and pop it in the microwave for a minute or two. Let cool and serve. He might not like it right away, but he’ll come around.
• Make safe substitutions. Don’t go hurling any type of bone at your dog or stringy thing at your cat just because it’s cheap. Only give the pets items they will not choke on or could otherwise hurt them. When in doubt, call and ask a pet store or vet’s office.
• Have fun with furniture. Remember that fort you made as a kid and hook one up for your dog or cat. A blanket draped over a couch and chair will do exceptionally well.
• Heck, let your dog on the couch and bed already, will ya?
• Don’t try to keep up with the Jones. Just because poochie Penelope next door has a $97 jeweled collar doesn’t mean she’s more pampered than your Sawyer. Sawyer’s just fine in a $12 nylon collar because he has plenty of love and affection. Besides, he’d look dumb in jewels.