Costs of Owning a Pet
Estimated Yearly Costs of Pet Ownership
Stephen Zawistowski, Ph.D., Sr. VP Animal Sciences, ASPCA
|
Costs
|
Notes |
Small Dog
|
Medium Dog
|
Large Dog
|
Cat
|
Rabbit
|
Guinea Pig
|
Small Mammal
|
Small Bird
|
Fish
|
| Annual Costs | ||||||||||
| Food |
1
|
$150.00
|
$250.00
|
$350.00
|
$120.00
|
$110.00
|
$75.00
|
$50.00
|
$50.00
|
$20.00
|
| Medical |
2
|
$150.00
|
$175.00
|
$200.00
|
$150.00
|
$125.00
|
$50.00
|
|||
| Litter |
3
|
$150.00
|
$400.00
|
$400.00
|
$220.00
|
|||||
| Toys/Treats |
$50.00
|
$60.00
|
$70.00
|
$50.00
|
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
$10.00
|
$30.00
|
||
| License |
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
|||||||
| Misc. |
$35.00
|
$45.00
|
$65.00
|
$30.00
|
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
$15.00
|
|
|
Annual Total
|
$400.00
|
$545.00
|
$700.00
|
$500.00
|
$675.00
|
$565.00
|
$295.00
|
$95.00
|
$35.00
|
|
| Capital Costs | ||||||||||
| Spay/neuter |
$75.00
|
$100.00
|
$125.00
|
$75.00
|
$75.00
|
|||||
| Collar/Leash |
$25.00
|
$30.00
|
$35.00
|
$10.00
|
||||||
| Litter box |
$25.00
|
$25.00
|
||||||||
| Cage |
$80.00
|
$80.00
|
$35.00
|
$75.00
|
||||||
| Carrier |
$30.00
|
$50.00
|
$80.00
|
$30.00
|
$30.00
|
|||||
| Crate |
$50.00
|
$90.00
|
$160.00
|
|||||||
| Aquarium eqpt. |
4
|
$150.00
|
||||||||
|
Capital Total
|
$180.00
|
$270.00
|
$400.00
|
$140.00
|
$210.00
|
$80.00
|
$35.00
|
$75.00
|
$150.00
|
|
| Special Costs | ||||||||||
| Long Hair Groom |
$200.00
|
$300.00
|
$400.00
|
|||||||
|
First year total
|
$780.00
|
$1,115.00
|
$1,500.00
|
$640.00
|
$885.00
|
$645.00
|
$330.00
|
$170.00
|
$185.00
|
|
| Notes | |
| 1. | Premium brand dry kibble. |
| 2 |
Exam, vaccinations, heartworm medication. |
| 3 | Scoopable litter for cats, scooped daily; hardwood shavings or recycled paper products for rabbits, guinea pigs and small mammals, changed at least weekly. |
| 4 | Basic twenty gallon set up with light/hood, outside filter, undergravel filters, air pump and gravel. Does not include fish. |
**The above spreadsheet created by Steve Zawistowski estimates the costs of keeping a pet. It is a crude estimate since many of these costs can vary from place to place, or based on personal preferences and choices. It considers generally essential costs, and does not include boarding, walking, day care, etc. Veterinary costs will escalate for older pets. It does not include costs for the acquisition of the pet.
