Financial Resources for Cats
If you’re looking for assistance with cat care, Alley Cat Allies may be able to point you in the right direction. We have lots of approaches and resources to support your efforts so you can get back to what you do best: caring for cats!
Cat Food Donations
1. Check for surplus cat food at your local animal shelter or even at a food bank or food pantry. Some animal shelters also have animal food banks. See our Community Resource Tool to find cat food banks in your area.
2. Ask your local grocery store or pet supply store to donate cat food.
3. Ask local veterinary clinics if they have surplus foods they are willing to donate.
4. Hold a cat food drive. Pick a day and location and publicize your event on social media. Try to involve clubs you belong to or your workplace. You can also see if local high schools or volunteer organizations are interested in holding a drive. Or, ask local grocery stores and pet supply shops if you could put out a bin to collect cat food donations.
5. Ask on neighborhood social media platforms or local online groups if your neighbors can donate food.
Outdoor Cat Shelters
1. Check out instructions for building shelters in our Shelter Gallery. There are some DIY options that may allow you to make use of materials you already have.
2. Ask for scrap lumber from building supply stores or contractors. You can sometimes get this for free.
3. See if your local garden supply or feed store has surplus straw to use as insulation.
4. Look for used dog houses at garage sales or online community boards. They can easily be made into cat shelters by adding a little insulation and creating a smaller door.
5. Host a shelter-building party with others in your community. This way, you can split the cost of supplies and make even more cozy cat homes.
Resources for Spaying and Neutering
1. New Resource: For low-cost spay and neuter in your area, please see our Community Resource Tool.
2. Check with your local veterinarian.
Ask your veterinarian if they would be willing to spay and neuter cats for a reduced price or on a payment plan. You can also ask if they have any funds held in reserve for clients in need.
Need to spay or neuter community cats as part of a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) effort? See our tips on Funding Trap-Neuter-Return below!
Assistance with Veterinary Care
1. New Resource: For low-cost veterinary care in your area, please see our Community Resource Tool.
2. Many veterinarians accept Scratchpay, a financing service that provides loans for veterinary care.
3. Some veterinarians hold donations from clients in a reserve fund to assist other clients in need. Ask your veterinarian if they have a fund like this available.
4. Veterinary colleges near you may operate low-cost clinics or emergency assistance programs.
More low-cost, high-quality animal clinics open in communities every year. Many offer spay and neuter services, vaccinations, and even ongoing wellness services.
Find a clinic near you by searching online using key terms like “low-cost veterinary clinics” or “spay and neuter animals clinics” plus the name of your city or county and state. Also, local animal shelters or municipal animal services may be able to refer you to a program or affordable veterinary option.
Trap-Neuter-Return Resources
1. Set up a savings plan.
You know your budget better than anyone, so decide how much money you can afford to save each month for the cost of spay and neuter services. Talk to your veterinarian to estimate what the cost will be based on the number of cats you will be helping.
2. Hold a local fundraiser.
TNR benefits the whole community, so it should be a community-wide effort. Community members can support TNR through fundraising events like bake sales, garage sales, and car washes. Learn more with our Organizing and Promoting Events guide.
3. Fundraise online.
You have a network of friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and others who might be willing to help fund your TNR efforts. There are many online fundraising tools (like GoFundMe.com, Crowdrise.com, and YouCaring.com) you can use.
Be sure to explain your plan to spay and neuter the cats in your community and share pictures of the cats whose lives donors will help to improve. Outline your financial goal to fund all TNR costs, and ask them for a reasonable donation. Of course, any donation is great, but it’s best to provide a specific number that you feel will help you reach your goal.
4. Work with veterinarians and spay and neuter clinics.
Some veterinarians and clinics may be willing to provide spay and neuter surgeries at a lower cost because you are performing a service that helps the community. You can find low-cost spay and neuter services in your area by checking our Community Resource Tool or searching online using terms like “low-cost spay and neuter” and “spay and neuter clinics” plus your city or county and state.
Need more advanced fundraising tips?
We have resources to help organizations raise money for ongoing efforts to help cats.
- Most organizations receive the bulk of their funding from individual donors. See our guide on Creating Fundraising Appeals That Work.
- Watch our webinar Paw-some Strategies for Raising $$$, which covers the basics of how to fundraise, ways to spread the word about your good work, and tips and tricks for getting the most money out of your fundraising efforts.
- For more fundraising ideas and strategies on how to put these tips to work, take a look at our Getting Your Paws on More Money guide.