to own a cat while on benefits?

[ReputableBiscuit]

My MiL says we are. We don't smoke, drink or go out, don't buy books or have a Sky package. We have a low rent and receive tax credits (working and child), disability benefits for DC and child benefit. Apparently we shouldn't have a pet cat?

Yanbu, unfortunately some people seem to think that anyone claiming benefits should be sent to the workhouse.

On a side note, this whole 'Sky' thing seems to be the new goat/wide screen TV.

Most people would say that Internet/landline is pretty much bog standard these days, well a basic sky package can cost little more than this anyway. Having Sky doesn't make you benefits scum.

What's worse is it seems to be 'Sky' associated with benefits scum, if you have Virgin or BT then that's ok?

I've never paid more than £30 a month for Sky including the Internet and landline rental/basic tv package.

I'm sick of all this competitive poverty. So poor people have a few nice things, so what?

YY to the recommendations for insurance. Our cat has cost us over £1,000 recently in vets bills. Fortunately she is insured but because of her age we have to pay 20% of all vets bills as well as the excess, so do bear in mind it can cost more as they get older.

That apart, echo what the others say about the emotional benefits of having a pet.

Thanks everyone. The cat brings us all happiness so I'm glad you see the point of her!

If you can still live within your means and own a cat then do it. As others have said, if owning cat suddenly means you are struggling then don't do it. It is only your MIL business if you start complaining to her.

Reputable, I think that the best way to deal with people like your mil is to just not tell her any of your business.

Just tell her the government have stopped all your benefits and they're coming round to repossess your cat to sell it to raise cash for some bread and gruel. That should make her happy, then never tell her anything again.

as long as you can afford to care for the cat either having insurance or money put away if something happens then it is ok. if you can't you shouldn't have an animal. a friend of mine had three dogs a cat and a horse and when one of the dogs attacked the other for food she couldn't afford a vet to have him seen to.I got guilted into paying the fees and of course never saw the money again.

You know when you think you have heard it all well this is one of those, bloody hell get a cat fgs silly woman her not you .

Pyjama Repossess the cat :)

If I had to choose between a cat and a more expensive broadband package, I'd have the cat. I'd not have one myself as my budget wouldn't extend to unexpected vets fees if he got sick/had an accident. But if that's something you can take into consideration, why the heck not.

i already had a cat when i ended up on benefits i didn't want to punish them by having them put to sleep they didn't make me lose my job!

make sure you register with the PDSA for vet treatment pay full price if you can and a donation when you cant its better for the cat if you dont have to stress about bills in an emergency x

hang on - this is a cat you already have? So your mother in law is actually saying that you should get rid of your cat?

She is even MORE of a pig then. I thought she was giving her stupid view on a planned cat, not one already in your home.

Blimey, your mil would have a meltdown if she met me. Should I get rid of my 6 cats and 2 dogs now that my DH and I are on benefits? Of course since the dogs and two of the cats have health problems they'll be hard to rehome and could get put down, but hey, at least they're not goats. Fwiw an old vet once suggested I'd be better putting my money into a credit union account and if my pets need help they're very good at giving an immediate loan.

None. Of. Her. Business.
Ignore.

You sound as if you live very frugally already and your cat is one thing that gives you pleasure. They are quite cheap pets to run, so your DCs are hardly going to starve because you have her. It is not as if you have a house full of large dogs. What does your MiL suggest you do with your cat? She sounds like a total cow, BTW.

Of course you're not being unreasonable.

I had 5 cats whilst on benefits (ESA - major depression).

I already owned them and loved them, hardly going to chuck them out on the street because I couldn't work.

Admittedly I wasn't buying them fancy cat sweatshirts at the time and we were using Tesco own brand litter rather than the posh stuff but they were still looked after.

Everyone knows that when you're on benefits you should "look" poor and be only eating beans and rice.

Pets are good for disabled people and children, they give unconditional love which everyone needs. They make you laugh and cheer you up. Which is more than your MIL does. Ignore her

If you can still live within your means and own a cat then do it.

rule for everything non-essential in life, really!

So you are getting assistance because you have someone disabled in the house, child benefit because you have a child and other assistance to top up your wages from work. I am glad that we live somewhere that all this happens!

I think the best unnecessary item to get rid of if you're on benefits is your mil OP.

Rather than have a go at you for not working she should question a society where two wages is now necessary and mothers often no longer have the luxury of being able to stay at home with their young children. Tax credits should be seen for what they are .....a subsidy for poor wages which don't keep in line with inflation. A few years ago one wage was enough to live on, now even 2 wages coming in need to be propped up with tax credits.

Irrespective of benefits, YABU. Owning a cat is impossible. The cat owns yoy, not ghe other way around.

Argh! The cat owns you, not the other way around.

If you didn't have a cat she'd find something else to have a go at you about.