No one's said anything yet on my favourite way to save.  I keep my three cats indoors.  It may not work for everyone, but I feel better knowing that they are safe from cars, other animals wild and domesticated, picking up diseases and parasites.  We have a real problem with feral and house cats roaming the neighbourhood, and I wouldn't want my girls to get beaten up or bring anything home.

I have been doing this for years, but I actually found it to be cheaper at Menards this year using one of there rebates.

 re: earmites.  at least for cats, i know this works!  years ago, i got talked into expensive antibiotic/pesticde eardrops for my indoor/outdoor kitty.  after i thought about how the little beggers live in the ear canal- they have to breathe, don't they?- i started this method.  baby oil!  a couple drops as deep as you can get them, massage a bit, and let go of cat before you get bit!  when kitty calms down, wipe out anything loose with a tissue.  once a week til cleared up.  don't use too much oil, they just shake it out.  the oil smothers the mites.

 That'll work. Also, apply a flea and tick spray (one safe for cats) to a cloth and rub it on your cat's neck and shoulder region a couple times per week while you're treating the ear mites. Faced with the baby oil, some of those mites may crawl out of the ears and temporarily camp out in your cat's fur in these regions. The spray will get 'em.

Yep, I remember my dm dosing all the cats' ears with oil years ago, that's one home remedy that works.  Good for cleaning out the dog's ears as well - our old family dog growing up would leeeeaaaannnnn into your hand while you rubbed the oil around, lol, must've felt good!  Thanks for bringing that one up.

I remember my df would put motor oil on the dog's tail base, too, for hot spots and to treat the fleas.  The idea's the same, it smothers the fleas - the baby oil probably smells better.  Liz. 

Your post is an important one. Like you said, the best way to increase the longevity of cats (and save you from expensive vet bills) is to keep them indoors. This spares them exposure to cat bite abscesses, feline leukemia, feline AIDs, other infectious diseases, parasites (some of which can be passed to people), stray dogs, stray cars, poisons, BBs and pellets, environmental extremes, fan belts, dietary indiscretions, and wild animals (including rabid ones)...did I forget some?

Just a quick note to the Dollar Stretcher Community: Do you know someone who has suffered economically this past year? If so, here are several programs that economically-strapped pet owners might be able to turn to for assistance with big veterinary bills or routine pet care. While there are no guarantees, these are worth checking out:

www.aahahelpingpets.org

United Animal Nations
www.uan.org/lifeline/resources.html

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
www.aspca.org/about-us/faq

Humane Society of the United States
www.hsus.org

Spay USA
www.spayusa.org/veterinarians/index.asp

 I try to give my furries the best of the two worlds. They are inside cats who can go out into my garden, which I have surrounded with sturdy 8' fencing with a cat barrier on top that reaches easily 14 feet into the air. Also I dug a trench around it 2' deep and sank chicken wire, so no burrowing animals can get in. My cat cannot get out, and no strays or other animals can get in.

I learned my lesson a couple of years ago. All my cats were inside except one. He was a stray who ws on the property when I moved, and it took a very long time to gentle him. At first, he went outside during the day and came back to sleep. I left the garden gate open for him so he could come sit on the porch.

I came home one day to find him bleeding and almost dead. He'd been attacked by a tom, fought for his territory and lot. After that, he never left that garden again.

A friend told me that two of her cats have disappeared. They are outside cats.

I am all for inside cats.

I agree, and it could save a lot more than the actual vet bill. The last time I had a cat spend the night she came home with fleas.. ugh!

 Hi ... I agree with using www.petmeds.com - mailed to your home and they price-match. Also, I can find a discount e-coupon code that can be used for $5.00 off or 5% off total bill - usually a 6 month supply of daily meds only costs me $11.00. She is a rescue kitty and came with allergies and severe asthma from living in a smokers-home.