How much will a pet really cost you? A cat vs dog breakdown.
Having听a pet can be an amazing experience. Nothing听beats听snuggling up for a nap with a听fuzzy cat, or coming home to an excitable puppy who has been听WAITING FOR YOU ALL DAY!!!听
But pet ownership isn't all kitten kisses and puppy love, and before you adopt a furry friend, you need to be sure you're ready for the responsibility that comes with keeping an animal alive and happy. Every year, thousands of animals are returned to shelters by听people who weren't adequately prepared to make the adoption in the first place, and sadly, most of the cats and dogs who get returned听. If you're going to听bring an animal into your home, you听need to be in it for the long-haul, and be prepared to make a significant听emotional and financial听commitment to this creature.
Seriously, I cannot听guilt trip you enough about this:听there听is听nothing sadder than giving a vulnerable animal a home and then taking it away because you听"bit off more than you could chew." If you want a good cry, check out听听on the lame excuses shelter workers听hear people when they give听up their pets--they're all pretty heartbreaking.
So now that you've decided you'll stand by your pet no matter what (don't make me link you to even sadder articles on听shelter life), let's crunch the numbers. Pets are a serious financial undertaking, so you need to budget accordingly before you take the plunge into parenthood. I'm going to focus exclusively on cats and dogs in this post, so听if you're looking to get another kind of pet, like a bird, ferret, rabbit or lizard, make sure to do your own research before heading to the pet store.
How much does a cat cost?
Initial Costs
Adoption Fee -- $60-$100*
Adoption fees can vary depending on the shelter, the age and general health of the cat, and how many veterinary services听have been provided prior to the adoption. Most shelters will charge more for kittens, and less for older cats who have health problems, and most provide standard veterinary care听(vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery/microchip insertion, etc) for every cat before they're adopted.
*You can also adopt a cat through a breeder, but听their fees are significantly higher ($500-$1,000). See my听note on how to pick a reputable breeder below in the section on dog breeders.
Spay/Neuter Surgery & Vaccinations -- $100-$150
You don't have to adopt a cat from a shelter, of course. Maybe a stray will capture your heart, or maybe a friend's cat will unexpectedly deliver a litter of kittens. In these cases, you'll need to pay for spay/neuter surgery and initial vaccinations yourself.
Litter Box -- $5-$30
You can get a standard litter pan for about $5 at听听辞谤听, but unless you have a basement or secluded place to put it, I recommend pricing up and going with a lidded box. Having a cover helps keep unsavory smells at bay, and a small entrance-way makes cleanup easier, because your cat won't be accidentally kicking litter over the side all the time.
We recommend:听听-- $18.38 at听
Collar听& Tag -- $10
This might not seem necessary if you're planning on keeping your cat inside, but if he gets lost, you'll be glad you invested in it.
Grooming materials -- $8
Trust me. You're going to want a brush for your cat. Fluffy cats can get mats in their fur that you have to cut out, and short haired cats shed more than you could ever imagine. If you'd like to keep your home from becoming clogged with cat hair, you should brush your cat a few times a week.
We recommend:听听-- $7.14 at听
Pet Deposit -- varies
Some apartment complexes听charge a monthly cat rent (anywhere from $10-$50), some ask for a lump sum up front (usually around $200), and some don't charge anything, but you need to find out what you听need to pay BEFORE you adopt a听cat.
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Food -- $20/month
Pro tip:听buying in bulk saves a lot of money, as does putting your cat on a regular feeding schedule. You might think you're being nice by keeping their bowl constantly full of food, but this might lead to overeating, weight problems, and dietary issues. Talk to your vet to see how much food your cat really needs.
Save on cat food:听听补迟听
Litter -- $12/month
Once again, buy this in bulk if you want to spend less.
We recommend:听听-- $10.99 for 27 lbs. at听
Vet visits -- $200/year*
A healthy cat needs a checkup about once a year, which typically run about $60-$70 per visit, depending on the vet. But accidents happen, so keep about $200 in budget for emergency vet visits.
*Keep in mind that serious stuff, like emergency surgery or long-term health problems, is going to cost a LOT more than this. If you don't have an emergency fund you'd be willing to dip into to help cover your pet's medical costs, you probably should think twice before you听adopt an听animal.
Toys -- $15/year
Cats are easily amused. Sure, they might love that squeaky toy mouse, but they're also just as content playing with a ball of crumpled up paper. Definitely invest in 2-3 fun toys for your feline friend, but don't feel like you need to spend a fortune on fancy cat toys that they might never touch.
We recommend:听听-- $0.99 at听
TOTAL FIRST YEAR CAT COSTS听听-- $1,035*
*.
How much does a dog cost?
Initial Costs
Adoption Fee -- 听$50-$400
Adopting a dog from a shelter is the cheapest option up front, but be aware that some shelter dogs have been through both emotional and physical trauma (like abuse and abandonment), and may require听additional love, training听and medical care.
Breeder Fee -- $500-$3,000听
On the flip side, if you decide to go with a breeder, always do your research beforehand. Make sure you're picking a reputable breeder who you're positive isn't running a puppy mill on the side. For more information on how to identify a responsible breeder,听.
Spay/Neuter Surgery & Vaccinations -- $200-$300
This will vary depending on the size and breed听of your dog, but most shelters and some breeders will take care of this for you, and will include the cost in the adoption听fee.
Crate -- $30-$125
No, I'm not saying you should keep your dog cooped up all day, but you might want to train your dog to sleep in a听crate at night, or at least have it around for when you have parties or need a bit of peace and quiet. And most听dogs actually like the coziness of curling up in a crate.
Shop crates at听听and find the right one for your dog听.
Baby Gates -- $30-$60听
If you want to keep your dog out of certain areas of the house, you'll want to invest in baby gates before you bring home an excitable puppy.
Food &听Water Bowls -- $10-$20
Dogs get VERY excited when food is around, so you're going to need two sturdy bowls to hold their food and water. Ceramic and glass bowls might be pretty, but they can break easily. If you don't want your doggie to accidentally eat a shard of her old food bowl while she feasts, invest in some heavy-duty metal bowls.
We recommend:听听-- $7.35 at听
Collar, Tags & Leash -- $40
You're gonna need these to take long, luxurious walks with your new pup! Get a leash that's 4-6 feet long, and make sure to get tags that have your phone number and address on them in case your dog gets lost.
We recommend:听听-- $10 at听
Training Classes -- $100
Unless you're a master dog whisperer, it will do you well to invest in some training classes for your dog. No one wants to be around a dog that can't sit, stay, or get off the couch when necessary, and this is especially important if you have children in the home.
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Food -- $20-$30/month
This can vary depending on how big your dog is. As always, buying in bulk helps keep food costs down.
Save on dog food:听听-- 10 for $10 at听
Vet Visits -- $250/year*
*Again, if your dog needs any emergency care or has serious health issues, this number is going to be a LOT higher. If you don't think you can afford a $2,000 emergency vet bill, please don't get a dog.
Toys & Treats -- $100/year
Unlike cats, dogs are usually SUPER into their store-bought toys, and they go through them听quickly. Make sure you always have a few bones, balls or chew toys on hand for your dog to entertain herself with.
Save on dog treats:听听补迟听听(with code AFURRYLOVE)
TOTAL FIRST YEAR DOG COSTS听--听$1,843*
*not including breeder fees.
Additional pet costs (you might not have considered)
Sure, you've got the basics covered, but听there are a few other pet costs that you may not have considered:
Babysitting & Boarding -- $20-$60/night
One thing to think about before you get a pet is how often you plan on going out of town. Cats are a little easier to deal with than dogs in this regard, because you can usually leave them on their own for one or two days and they'll be fine with a big bowl of food and water. But if you have a dog, or if you're planning on going away for more than a weekend, unless you have a very enthusiastic friend who will do it for free, you're going to need to pay someone to look after your pet.
Damage Repair & Replacement -- varies
Animals are adorable, but they can also be destructive little buggers. My cats went through a phase of clawing up the doorways in my old apartment (pro tip: stop this behavior by sticking double-sided tape to the places where your cats usually scratch, they hate the stickiness and they stopped immediately after I tried this), and I ended up paying for this mischief in the form of a significantly reduced security deposit. Animals are really good at ruining things, so if, for example, your dog likes to chew up leather shoes, or your cat is super into peeing on the couch cushions,听keep this in mind when arranging your budget.
Grooming -- $100-$400
If you have a huge fluffy dog, or a particularly mat-prone cat, you're probably going to need to hire a professional to keep their coats clean and free of tangles.
Professional Dog Walker -- $12-$20/walk
If you're thinking of getting a dog and you spend most of your day at work, you're going to听need to hire a dog walker to keep your living room accident-free and your pup happy and healthy.
Special Dietary Needs -- varies
Some animals, like people, have food allergies. Some need special food for weight management, kidney issues or听urinary tract problems. These foods tend to cost more than the regular bargain stuff, so听make sure you have enough in your budget to cover any unexpected dietary needs your new furry friend might have.
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