In a touching story that highlights the deep bond between pets and their owners, a Cardiff woman has revealed she would rather go hungry than see her beloved cats starve. Fifty-year-old Miari Workman faces the harsh reality of the cost-of-living crisis daily, often making the difficult choice to skip her own meals to ensure her five cats don’t go without food. As a mother of two children, Miari considers both her children and feed her cats to be the most important things in her life, and she’s determined to keep her feline family together despite mounting financial pressures.
The Difficult Choice to Feed Her Cats Before Herself
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“Although sometimes I really struggle with money, I would rather starve than give my cats away,” Miari explained, revealing the depth of her attachment to her five feline companions. This sentiment reflects the view of many pet owners who consider their animals to be family members rather than disposable possessions.
For Miari, the decision to prioritize her cats’ nutrition over her own comes from a place of responsibility and love. “I got these animals because I wanted them, it’s not their fault that I can’t afford stuff. Why should they suffer?” she questioned, highlighting the ethical commitment she feels toward the animals in her care.
The financial strain has become a daily reality for Miari as she juggles the needs of her human and feline family members. On multiple occasions, she has found herself making the difficult choice to skip meals, ensuring that both her children and cats have enough to eat while she goes without.
This sacrifice demonstrates the often-unseen emotional and physical toll of financial hardship on pet owners who refuse to abandon their animal companions during tough times. For many like Miari, pets provide emotional support and companionship that becomes even more valuable during periods of stress.
Pet Food Banks Provide Crucial Support to Feed Her Cats
The holiday season proved particularly challenging for Miari as she struggled to balance festive expenses with everyday necessities. “My money was running out and I had to get presents for everybody and food. I was concerned my cats would need food over Christmas as well,” she recalled of her difficult situation.
Fortunately, a friend informed Miari about the animal welfare charity Blue Cross, which operates a pet food bank in Cardiff. This timely information provided a lifeline, allowing her to obtain food for her cats when her own resources were depleted. The service continues to be a vital support for Miari and her pets.
Pet food banks like the one run by Blue Cross have become increasingly essential resources as more families struggle with rising living costs. These services operate similarly to human food banks, providing free pet supplies to owners facing financial difficulties, helping them keep their beloved animals rather than being forced to surrender them due to economic constraints.
Georgie Riley, the 34-year-old center manager at Blue Cross Cardiff, confirmed they’ve observed a significant increase in people utilizing their pet food bank services. More concerning, she noted many families are making the heartbreaking decision to rehome their pets purely for financial reasons.
The Growing Cost of Pet Ownership Crisis
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The situation Miari faces is far from unique. The 12.6 percent rise in pet care costs over the past year represents a substantial additional burden for households already struggling with inflation across all essential spending categories.
For many pet owners, these rising costs create impossible choices. Food, veterinary care, medications, and other pet essentials have all seen price increases, forcing some families to make difficult decisions about their animals’ future.
The emotional toll of these decisions can be devastating. Many pet owners report feelings of guilt, grief, and failure when financial circumstances force them to consider rehoming animals they consider family members. This psychological impact often goes unrecognized in discussions about economic hardship.
Organizations like Blue Cross play a crucial role in preventing these painful separations by providing temporary assistance to help people feed their cats and other pets during financial crises. By offering pet food and other essential supplies, these charities help preserve the human-animal bond during difficult times.
Miari’s story highlights both the challenges and the deep commitment many pet owners feel toward their animals, even when facing significant personal sacrifice. Her determination to feed her cats despite her own hunger demonstrates the powerful connections that develop between people and their pets—connections that remain resilient even in the face of economic adversity.
For those in similar situations, pet food banks and animal welfare organizations can provide vital support, helping ensure that beloved companions don’t become casualties of financial hardship.
