Can You Buy Cat Food with EBT?

Can you buy cat food with EBT? If you have pets and you’re new to EBT benefits, it’s natural to have questions. We’ll talk about the rules and what works with this program.

What is EBT?

Strictly speaking, EBT is an acronym for the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system. This is the method that the government uses to disburse money from different benefit programs, including:

• Aged Blind Disabled (ABD) benefits
• Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) benefits
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits

Usually when people refer to the EBT program, they’re talking about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). That’s because more people receive SNAP benefits than any other kind of EBT benefit.

Since SNAP also has the most strict rules about what you can and can’t buy, it’s important to understand the distinction.

Can you buy cat food with EBT?

Whether or not you can buy cat food with EBT depends on the source of your EBT benefits. If you receive cash benefits, you may be able to buy cat food with EBT. However, it is illegal to use food benefits from the SNAP program to purchase pet food.

Can you buy cat food with food stamps?

According to Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, “it is illegal to… use food benefits to buy non-food items. Examples include cigarettes, tobacco, beer, wine, liquor, household supplies, soap, paper products, vitamins, medicine, or pet food.”

Although SNAP benefits could technically buy tuna or other food that your cat would eat, it is absolutely illegal to use food benefits to purchase food for your pet. If you intentionally use food benefits to purchase food for your pets, you could lose your benefits and face other penalties (including criminal prosecution and fines). Don’t risk it!

Can you buy cat food with EBT cash benefits?

There are a lot fewer restrictions on EBT cash benefits. Those benefits are still intended to cover your necessary living expenses.

Necessary living expenses include:

• Clothing
• Employment costs
• Fuel
• Food
• Housing
• Home Maintenance
• Hygiene
• Transportation

It is illegal to use your EBT cash benefits to purchase, receive or participate in any of the following:

• Adult entertainment
• Alcohol
• Body art (tattoos, piercings, other body art)
• Cigarettes & Tobacco
• Gambling (including lottery tickets, casino games, etc)

Furthermore, you are not allowed to use your EBT benefits to buy any goods or services inside a bail bond agency, gambling establishment, liquor store, nightclub, tavern, or anywhere else that a person under the age of 18 isn’t allowed.

Interestingly, the only mention of pet food that I was able to find was closely tied with food benefits so it appears that you could legally buy cat food with EBT cash benefits.

You may be able to get free cat food!

There are several ways that you may be able to get free cat food that can help you feed your pet for free. You can find a complete list of resources, including veterinary care grants, in this directory.

Food Banks

Many food banks that offer free food for humans also offer free food for pets. Food banks rely on donations, so these offerings may not always be available… but if you are struggling to feed your pet, it helps to call your local food bank!

Veterinarians

If your pet sees a veterinarian in your community, they may know other resources that can provide free pet food. This is a great way to find resources in your local community!

211

You can also call the United Way resource line at 211 for more information about agencies and organizations that can help. They may be able to connect you with churches and other charities that have resources available.

Nicole Thelin

Nicole is the founder and lead researcher of Low Income Relief. After a personal experience with poverty and homelessness following her husband's sudden medical discharge from the U.S. Army, Nicole discovered the life-changing impact of community resources. This experience ignited her passion for empowering others to navigate similar crises. Nicole launched her writing career at age 16, working for various newspapers and publications. Her commitment to in-depth research and accessible content has been recognized by Google for Publishers and other industry leaders. For over 20 years, she has applied her investigative skills to uncover the most helpful, up-to-date information on benefits programs and community resources, ensuring Low Income Relief maintains the most extensive resource databases available.