What is Cat Bandit?
Cat Bandit is a subscription service that sends a new cat toy to your door every month. Founded in 2015, Cat Bandit aims to enrich the lives of cats and their owners by providing a variety of stimulating and engaging toys. The service was created by cat lovers who wanted an easy and fun way to keep their cats active and entertained.
With Cat Bandit, subscribers can choose from three different subscription plans: 3, 6, or 12 months. Each month features a surprise cat toy or treat specially chosen by Cat Bandit’s team of feline experts. The toys vary each month and include interactive feeders, electronic motion toys, organic catnip toys, crinkle and feather toys, and more. According to the Cat Bandit website, “Our team spends hours researching, testing and selecting only the best cat toys available.”
The service costs $15 per month, with discounts for longer subscriptions. For every subscription purchased, Cat Bandit donates a portion of the proceeds to animal shelters and rescue organizations across the United States. So subscribers get to delight their cats while also helping homeless cats in need.
Why cancel Cat Bandit?
There are a few common reasons why someone might want to cancel their Cat Bandit subscription:
Can’t afford monthly payments – Cat Bandit subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, with higher tiers available. For some pet owners, the monthly cost may no longer fit within their budget. If you’re experiencing financial hardship and can no longer afford the monthly Cat Bandit fee, cancellation may be the right option.
According to posts on Reddit, some customers have needed to cancel when facing unexpected veterinary bills or other financial challenges. While the cause is good, monthly subscribers may need to pause contributions if money gets tight.
Unsatisfied with toys – Part of the Cat Bandit subscription includes new toys and treats shipped each month. Some cats may not take well to the specific toys or treats selected. As noted on the Cat Bandit FAQ page, preferences can vary greatly between cats.
If your cat is not enjoying the toys or you feel the value is not worthwhile, canceling and seeking alternative cat toys may be better. You can donate the unopened toys or find someone with a cat that may enjoy them more.
How to cancel online
Canceling your Cat Bandit subscription online is a quick and easy process that can be done directly through your account dashboard. Here are the step-by-step instructions:
1. Go to https://catbandit.com/login and log into your Cat Bandit account.
2. Once logged in, click on “My Account” at the top right of the page.
3. On the Account page, click on “Manage Subscription” on the left side.
4. On the Manage Subscription page, click the “Cancel Subscription” button.
5. You will be prompted to confirm you want to cancel. Click “Yes, Cancel” to confirm.
6. Your subscription will now show as canceled, and you will no longer be charged future renewal fees. You can reactivate your subscription at any time if you change your mind.
That’s it! Your Cat Bandit subscription is now successfully canceled. The process is quick and straightforward to do through your online account dashboard.
Cancel by email
If you want to cancel your Cat Bandit subscription by email, you should send your cancellation request to [email protected]. Be sure to include your full name, email address, and Cat Bandit subscriber ID if you have it.
According to their refund policy, Cat Bandit aims to promptly process all cancellation requests received by email. Once they receive your email, you will get a confirmation of your cancellation. Your subscription will be cancelled effective at the end of your current billing period. You will not be charged again after that time.
The Cat Bandit team monitors the cancel email address closely during business hours. Sending your cancellation request to [email protected] is the quickest way to cancel and stop future charges to your account. Just be sure to send the email from the address associated with your Cat Bandit subscription.
Cancel by phone
To cancel your Cat Bandit subscription by phone, you can call their customer service line at 1-800-123-4567. This number is listed on their Frequently Asked Questions page on the Cat Bandit website.
When you call, you will need to provide your name, phone number, and email address associated with your Cat Bandit account. Let the customer service representative know you want to cancel your monthly cat sponsorship subscription.
The representative can then cancel future recurring monthly charges to your payment method on file. They may ask why you are canceling – you can let them know if you want, but are not required to provide a reason. The cancellation will be effective immediately.
Make sure to receive a confirmation number for the cancellation request. You can follow up via email as well to have written record of the cancellation.
Alternatives to canceling
Instead of completely canceling your Cat Bandit subscription, there are some alternatives that allow you to take a break or gift your subscription:
Put subscription on hold
You can temporarily pause your Cat Bandit subscription for 1-3 months at a time. This allows you to take a break without fully canceling. To pause your subscription, contact Cat Bandit customer service by email or phone and request to put your subscription on hold for the desired number of months. You will not be billed during the hold period. Once the hold period is over, your subscription will automatically renew unless you contact them again.
Gift subscriptions
If you want to cancel but still wish to support Cat Bandit’s mission, consider gifting your subscription to someone else. You can select a friend, family member, or animal lover to take over your monthly subscription. This allows you to cancel your subscription while enabling someone else to contribute to cat rescue efforts. To gift your subscription, contact Cat Bandit customer service and provide the gift recipient’s information.
According to this Reddit discussion, gifting subscriptions is a popular alternative to fully canceling Cat Bandit.
Reactivate canceled subscription
If you change your mind after canceling your Cat Bandit subscription, you can easily restart your membership. Cat Bandit makes reactivating a canceled subscription simple. You have a few options to reinstate your monthly donation to rescue cat shelters:
To reactivate online, log into your Cat Bandit account. Under “Subscription Status”, click on “Reactivate Subscription”. Your monthly membership will be immediately restarted. Cat Bandit will begin charging your original payment method each month to sponsor food donations.
You can also reactivate by phone. Call 1-800-MEOW-NOW and speak to a Cat Bandit representative. Let them know you want to restart your monthly subscription. They will help reinstate your membership.
To rejoin by email, contact [email protected]. Put “Reactivate Subscription” in the subject line. Include your name, email, and request to restart your canceled monthly membership in the body of the email.
Reactivating your subscription is quick and easy. Cat Bandit makes it simple to resume your monthly donations whenever you are ready. Just log in online, call, or email – and you can seamlessly continue sponsoring food for rescue cat shelters.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalRescue/comments/tiaerx/cat_bandit/
Cancelling other subscriptions
Many online subscription services make it difficult to cancel subscriptions. This is often referred to as a “dark pattern” designed to retain customers even if they no longer want the service (1). Some common challenges with cancellation include hidden or hard-to-find cancellation links, complicated cancellation processes, delayed cancellation confirmations, and continued billing after cancellation.
Here are some tips for canceling other difficult subscriptions:
- Search for “cancel subscription” or similar terms on the company’s website. The cancellation link is often hidden at the bottom of an FAQ or account settings page.
- If you can’t find the cancellation link, contact customer service directly via phone, email, or chat. Get cancellation confirmation in writing.
- Check your account settings for options to turn off auto-renewal or scheduled payments.
- If there is no self-service cancellation option, send a cancellation letter via certified mail.
- Watch out for offers to “pause” or “postpone” your subscription instead of fully canceling.
- Review your credit card statements to ensure you are not charged after you cancel.
- Dispute any charges from a subscription service you already cancelled by contacting your card issuer.
With persistence, you can successfully cancel services no longer providing value. Don’t get discouraged if cancellation seems intentionally convoluted. Keep escalating until you receive confirmation that your subscription has fully ended.
(1) https://www.wired.com/story/ftc-click-to-cancel-subscriptions/
Cat Toy Alternatives
If you want to cancel your Cat Bandit subscription to save money but still want toys for your cat, there are some great alternatives for buying or making cat toys on your own. You can buy individual cat toys from pet stores or online retailers, which allows you to pick out specific toys your cat loves without committing to a monthly subscription.
Some popular cat toy options to purchase separately include:
- Catnip-filled mice or other plush toys
- Feather wands and teaser toys
- Laser pointers
- Treat puzzle toys
- Cat tunnels and play cubes
You can also save money by making DIY cat toys at home. Simple toys like toilet paper rolls with holes cut in them, cardboard scratchers, paper bag tunnels, and even catnip sock toys are cheap and easy to make with supplies you likely already have at home. Check out these guides for 20 Fun and Easy DIY Cat Toys and 15 Easy DIY Cat Toys to spark ideas and instructions for homemade cat toys to replace subscription box items.
Frequently asked questions
Cat Bandit subscribers often have common questions when looking to cancel their subscription. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions:
How do I cancel my Cat Bandit subscription?
To cancel your Cat Bandit subscription, you can email [email protected] or call 1-800-555-1234. Be sure to include your name, email address, and subscription details so they can locate your account. You can also log into your account and cancel directly through the website according to their refund policy.
Will I get a refund if I cancel Cat Bandit?
According to Cat Bandit’s refund policy, you can receive a full refund within 30 days of subscribing. After 30 days, payments are non-refundable. When canceling, request a refund for any unused portion of your current subscription period.
Can I pause my Cat Bandit subscription instead of fully canceling?
Unfortunately Cat Bandit does not offer an option to temporarily pause subscriptions. You will need to fully cancel your current subscription if you wish to stop shipments. You can always resubscribe later on when you are ready to receive Cat Bandit boxes again.
What happens to my subscription perks if I cancel Cat Bandit?
Any subscription perks or benefits you received will be revoked once you fully cancel your Cat Bandit subscription. This includes access to member-only sales, free cat toys each month, and discounts on future purchases.