Privacy Policy
CatCosts is an independently operated UK information website about the costs of owning and caring for cats. Cal Atkinson is the data controller for the personal data covered by this policy.
Contact
For privacy questions or to exercise your data-protection rights, email hello@catcosts.co.uk.
Optional analytics
We use Google Analytics 4 only if you choose Accept analytics. Before you accept, CatCosts does not load the Google Analytics tag, create Google Analytics cookies, or send analytics data to Google. Rejecting analytics does not prevent you from reading the site, using its calculators or checklist, subscribing to the newsletter, or following affiliate links.
If you accept, Google Analytics helps us understand which pages and site tools are useful. It may process page paths (without the query string), referrer information, browser and device information at the configured granularity, approximate region following Google’s handling of IP addresses, and the limited events described below. We do not send calculator inputs or results, checklist items or state, names, email addresses, newsletter form values, full affiliate URLs, link text, product titles, prices, order details, User-ID, or user properties in these events.
The only custom analytics events currently used are tool_start, tool_complete, and newsletter_submit. They use controlled, non-personal fields such as the current page path, a tool identifier or newsletter placement. A newsletter event records only a valid submission attempt; the newsletter provider, not Google Analytics, is the source for subscription confirmation. CatCosts does not send GA4 affiliate-click events.
Cookies and retention
Your analytics choice is stored in the first-party ccuk_analytics_consent cookie as either accepted or rejected for up to six months. If you accept, Google Analytics may set client-identifier cookies such as _ga and _ga_*. CatCosts configures these for a maximum six-month, non-rolling life. Google Analytics user and event data retention is set to two months; Google may retain aggregate reporting data separately. See our Cookie Policy for details.
Changing your mind
Use the persistent Privacy choices control in the site footer at any time. Withdrawing consent closes CatCosts’ event gate, removes Google Analytics cookies where the site can remove them, stores a rejected preference, and reloads the page without the Google tag. Your browser’s cookie controls may also let you remove stored cookies.
Checklist storage
The new-cat checklist stores its ticked-off items on your device under ccuk-new-cat-checklist-v1 so the feature works between visits. This functional local storage is separate from analytics and is not sent to Google Analytics. Use the checklist’s Reset list control to clear it.
Newsletter and enquiries
If you contact us or subscribe to the newsletter, the information you provide is used to respond or provide the subscription you requested. Do not include sensitive information in an ordinary email. Google Analytics does not receive the contents of your enquiry or newsletter form.
Affiliate links and other recipients
Some pages contain affiliate links. Those links work without analytics consent. Once you leave CatCosts, the retailer or affiliate network may process the referral under its own privacy and cookie notice. CatCosts currently uses Amazon Associates and may use Awin routes where shown on a page. Google Analytics is provided by Google; Google and other service providers may process data outside the UK. Their own notices describe their processing and transfer arrangements.
Your rights and updates
Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights to access, correct, erase, restrict, object to, or receive a copy of personal data. Contact us first at hello@catcosts.co.uk. You may also raise a concern with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. We may update this policy when the site’s processing changes.
Last updated: 9 August 2026