How much does it really cost to own a pet?

We all love our pets – whether they’ve been a constant companion our whole lives or are a new addition to the family, they bring endless unconditional love and fun. As we found in our previous blog on how to give our pets a treat on a budget, there are countless benefits to owning pets, from keeping us fit to protecting our mental health.

That said, owning a pet is a massive responsibility which shouldn’t be taken on lightly. Many people forget that looking after a pet involves more than just feeding them, neglecting to take other costs into consideration. In fact, research from People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) discovered that a whopping 98% of pet owners underestimated the costs of owning a pet in the long term. So if you’re thinking of bringing a new furry friend into your home, you need to know how much it actually costs and what kind of pet will best suit your budget.

The cost of owning a dog

chocolate Labrador puppy

As a nation, the UK has a serious case of puppy love. According to PDSA, 24% of adults own a dog, with the dog population currently at a staggering 8.9 billion in the UK alone. We’re big fans of our canine companions, and seem to happily shell out the cash to prove it.

In fact, insurance company Protectivity recently discovered that the UK collectively spends £1.3 billion on their dogs every month. A lot of this is on special treats to show them how much we love them, with around 30% of dog owners saying they’ll spend more on gifts for their dogs at Christmas than they will on their partners.

But before the decadent gifts and novelty clothing, what basic costs should we be aware of when we think about getting a dog?

Initial costs

Getting a pooch may not seem like it’ll cost much at first sight. You can adopt a dog for £150 from shelters like Dog’s Trust, or £135 for dogs over six months old from Battersea Dog’s Home and the RSPCA. If you’re looking for a puppy it will cost slightly more, set at £165 from Battersea Dog’s Home and £200 from the RSPCA.

The benefit of adopting a dog means they come fully vaccinated, microchipped, neutered and will have had a full vet check. Your new pup will also come with a collar, a starter pack of food, a lead and a month’s worth of insurance to get you started.

However, if you opt to buy a dog from a breeder it can cost between £50 and £500 – though this can go up into the thousands for rare or pedigree breeds. You’ll then need to pay for vaccinations, which costs between £30 and £60 for puppies and then up to £40 each year for annual boosters.

Microchipping only costs £20, or just £10 to get the details updated to your address if the breeder or rescue centre have already had them microchipped. If you don’t get it done you run the risk of a £500 fine, making it an absolute essential to help keep your dog safe and avoid a hefty fee.

The Essentials

After these initial costs, you’ll need to consider everyday costs such as food, bowls, beds, toys and all the other small things your pup will need throughout their life. PDSA estimates these little bits add up to between £370 – £425 for small to large dogs.

Pet food alone can cost around £25 a month depending on the food you’re buying, coming to an estimate of around £200-£400 a year according to the Money Advice Service. When it comes to ongoing costs such as regular flea and worm treatments and yearly health checks, it’ll cost between £34-£330 a year.

Dog Insurance

Then there’s the money you should put aside ‘just in case’ so you’re prepared for the worst. If your dog gets injured or ill, you need to be sure you’ll be able to cover the costs. By comparing a range of insurance providers and cover at MoneySupermarket, pet insurance for a healthy young dog can cost between £8 and £86 a month depending on the cover you opt for and from which insurance company.

Which? estimates the average cost of a lifetime insurance policy at around £472 a year, but if you skip these prices you could end up with an even bigger fee if your dog has an accident or needs surgery. Thankfully there’s a wide range of options to suit a range of budgets, so it’s simple to get a fair quote which will still keep your pet safe. Keep in mind that these costs will increase as your dog gets older.

Extras

Plus, many of us will have to factor in costs of doggy daycare and similar schemes if we don’t have the luxury of a dog-friendly office. These daycare options are great as they keep your dog happy and socialised, and some even come with training classes thrown in – but with an average cost of £25 a day the prices stack up fast.

There are also extra expenses like pet grooming which can cost between £18 and £80, not to mention dog walking (average of £10.37 per walk) or kennels if you can’t bring them with you on holiday which cost an average of £17.35 per day. Some dogs may also need some training classes, but if you’re an experienced dog owner you may well be fine training your dog at home.

Overall cost

Ultimately, according to research by PDSA, owning a dog costs at least £6,500 – £17,000 over their whole lifetime, varying depending on their size, breed and age – and that’s the minimum. Others have estimated the total price at closer to £21,000, going as high as £33,000 for larger breeds which seems like a more realistic estimate when all things are considered. The initial cost of getting a dog is under £200 if you choose to adopt, but if you buy a dog initial costs can get to around £850 when you take into account all the medical necessities.

Naturally, costs will vary depending on the dog and its special needs. Olivia Williams from My Pet Needs That told us:

“When adopting a dog, ongoing costs will vary from breed to breed as their common conditions will vary. For instance, French Bulldogs are prone to many skin conditions and allergies. For this reason, the cost of keeping a Frenchie can increase throughout spring as the pollen count rises and products are purchased to maintain the dog’s comfort.

Similarly, English Bulldogs often need a speciality diet in order to maintain not only a healthy appearance but ensure that they steer away from suffering from the heart conditions they are prone to. All of this comes at a price, so it is an inaccurate assumption to assume that the cost will stay the same for every dog you may own.”

But if we’re looking at a healthy, fit, medium-size dog as an example, the average monthly cost comes to something between £120 and £180, depending on which insurance you get and how many toys you treat them to.

That’s not including extras like doggy daycare, boarding or occasional things like a new bed. Yearly looking after a dog can cost almost £1,500 – £2,000, and that doesn’t factor in the extras or unforeseen circumstances like surprise vet bills, so keep this in mind when you’re considering adding a dog to the family.

dog fees and expenses

The cost of owning a cat

person stroking a cat

Unsurprisingly, owning a cat comes out cheaper than a dog. They’re smaller, usually less expensive to buy or adopt and cheaper to feed. They also need less looking after generally. Unlike dogs, they won’t need daycare or walking, making them far less high-maintenance.

However, on the whole they still need everything a dog needs, including pet insurance, food, toys, vaccinations, boosters and microchipping. It’s also worth noting that cats usually live longer than dogs, meaning that while initial costs may be less, they still stack up in the long term.

Initial Costs

Adopting a cat from the RSPCA costs between £35 and £55 depending on the cat. Prices can be more or less depending on the cat’s age, breed and special needs. As with dogs, they’ll come fully vaccinated and microchipped from a rescue centre, along with one month’s free insurance. On Pets4Homes you can sometimes get a cat for free or as little as £10, but for rare breeds and pedigrees such as Maine Coons kittens the prices go up into the thousands.

After looking at Pets4Homes listings the Animal Health Company found that, on average, initial vaccinations will cost around £60 to £80, neutering between £30 to £50, microchipping £15 to £20 plus £50 a year for annual boosters and jabs.

The Essentials

Cat food works out cheaper than the cost for dogs, but still comes to around £100 – £200 a year depending on the food you opt for and whether you’ve got a picky eater. Extras like a cat basket, collar, litter tray, toys and a bed will usually be around £200 a year, and catteries only cost £5-£10 a day for when you’re going on holiday.

Cat Insurance

Which? estimates the cost of insurance for cats at £285 a year, but again you can shop around to find a quote which suits you.

It’s worth noting that, like dogs, cats have vastly varying personalities. Some may prefer to be indoor house cats who may need cat litter and more toys to keep them busy, but are less likely to get fleas, injured or lost which outdoor cats run the risk of. How much you spend on things like insurance and everyday necessities will depend on the personality of your cat. For example, if you need to buy more expensive food for picky eaters or install a cat flap, these could make them more expensive to look after.

Overall cost and ways to save

Overall, the Money Advice service estimates the cost of owning a kitty of your own is around £12,000 to £17,000 over their lifetime. This isn’t as much as owning a dog, plus there are still plenty of ways to save. Just take it from these money-savvy cat owners:

Jo Middleton, aka Slummy Single Mummy and author of Playgroups and Prosecco:

“Having three cats definitely comes at a price! The basics like food, flea treatments, pet insurance and of course treats, sets me back about £90 a month, but on top of that there are annual vaccinations and unexpected vet bills – I recently had to spend around £160 on antibiotics and steroids for a paw infection that annoyingly spanned two insurance years and meant I had to pay the excess twice.

I also pay a friend of my daughter’s to come in and feed them when we go away, so that probably averages out at around £20-30 a month, depending on how often I can justify a mini-break!”

Personal finance expert Mrs Mummypenny cuts costs with her cat Trev:

“I’ve got one cat Trev. He is mega cheap to look after. Aldi food pouches cost around £5 per week. We don’t have pet insurance. When we go on holiday the neighbours pop in to feed him. He cost £35 from the Blue Cross cat shelter. Oh, and don’t forget flea and wormer treatments at £20 every 3 months.”

cat ownership expenses

Cheaper options: Rabbits and fish

pet rabbit on bed

The cost of owning a rabbit

There are plenty of other options if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly pet. Rabbits and fish are popular options and great starter pets if you don’t have the budget or the space for a dog or cat.

However, unlike cats and dogs who can integrate happily into the family home, these pets will all need specialist environments such as cages, hutches or tanks which will need constant upkeep. They will also have more varied food which varies from cheap fish food to fresh vegetables.