Dollars and sense

I was at the grocery this morning cringing at the cost of groceries. Some of the simplest staples have doubled in price over the last couple of years. My kiddos have become young adults and moved up the street.  While they occasionally do their shopping in my kitchen, my grocery needs have severly declined. And yet, my gorcery bill seems to have remained the same as when I had a full house.  When I arrived home from the market, there were four boxes from Chewy on my front porch, one of my many autoship deliveries. I am pretty sure my annual Chewy purchases pay the salary of at least one staff member. Last year, with all of the showing the kitties and I did plus a few more veterinary costs than usual, my cattery business made zero dollars. I donated my time.  And I loved every minute of it. I was paid in purrs and kisses.  But it just isn’t sustainable. 

Yesterday I saw two things online that really set my wheels spinning:  One was a series of complaints on the social media page of the rescue I devote countless hours to. Commenters were complaining about the adoption fee. $180 for a kitten $300 for a dog. Well vetted, altered, microchipped, socialized. And all subsidized by thousands of volunteer hours and fundraising galore. The other thing I saw was a breeder complaining that the low cost spay and neuter clinic they use is charging a breeder surcharge  of $500 per kitten. Oh the outrage this person and some of the commenters were experiencing! And I simply said in response “Spay and Neuter clinics aren’t there to subsidize/financially support your breeding business”.  Now listen, anyone who sees my instagram choices knows I lean blue and a little socialist. I love sharing and supporting and being a good community member.  But as a business, one just has to figure out how to make it work. 

Recently, I noticed that many of my breeder friends and neighbors have significantly increased their prices.  And I know that some of them are still utilizing at a discount those same spay and neuter clinics for their kittens.  That’s a bummer. But I get it, we’re all trying to make the best of this strange world. I use local veterinarians paying their teams a living wage in an expensive area of the world. They’re kind to me and I appreciate it, but the dollars still add up. 

When I spent my day walking around the house to figure out what smelled like burning plastic, to find my 10 year old Bose soundwave fried thanks to an intact cat leaving a love note, I took a moment.  Living with free roaming intact cats is an expensive endeavor all on it’s own.  A surprising number of things must be regularly repaired or replaced.  The cost of doing business.  So, adoption prices have increased for 2026.  Because I want to be able to continue to offer happy healthy beautiful kittens.  And I need to be able to afford the many things required to support them.  

I carefully reviewed my numbers.  And I thought about the prices of my “competitors”.  I work to support myself, but the cats have to support themselves too.  I recognize that my new pricing is still significantly lower than some (and also higher than some) and that can make it look as if “my product” is somehow inferior.  I hope that won’t be the overwhelming perception.  I hope that those who choose My Lucky Day will see me, my plan, my kittes, and that all of it will speak for itself.  I hope to continue to offer the love of a ragdoll for many years to come.  Without losing my shirt.