Annual Pet Costs and A Money Saving Tip (Get a Cat)

When I point out the cost of pets (as I'm apt to do once every two weeks or so), the biggest reaction I get is, "I don't spend anywhere near that on my pet." IN my view, people who make this comment are either 1) really good savers (which means everyone else is spending a TON on pet costs because the averages are the averages), 2) unaware of what they're really spending on pets, or 3) lying. My guess is that most people fall into group #2. It's the reason I keep bringing up the issue: people just don't realize how much their pets are costing them.

But know one believes me -- they think I'm just an animal hater (which I'm not) or a cheapskate (which is not true, though closer to the truth than the animal hater thought). So I've gone out and found pro-animal sources to see what they estimate as the cost of having a pet. I'll be sharing their thoughts with all of you over the next few weeks.

Our first source in this series is Paw Prints and Purrs, a group that rescues and cares for dogs and cats. Here are their thoughts on annual pet costs:

• Large dog -- $1,500
• Medium dog -- $1,115
• Small dog -- $780
• Cat -- $640
• Rabbit -- $885
• Guinea Pigs -- $745
• Gerbil or Hamster -- $455
• Bird -- $235
• Fish -- $185

These are costs for the first year. Some of these costs (spaying, fish tank, etc.) are one-time only. Also, since they are for the first year, the medical costs (which are the REALLY big animal care expenses) are probably understated. As animals get older, they can need some pretty major medical care. Don't believe me? Check out Comments: Sell Your House to Save Your Pet's Life, Comments: How Much Would You be Willing to Spend to Save Your Pet's Life?; A Lot, or Financial Horror Stories from Pet Owners.

It's also interesting to see the cost of a cat. Many people have suggested "get a cat" as a pet money saving tip, and it looks like that is the best choice of the dog/cat (the two most popular pet choices) decision. A cat's even a better deal than a small dog (though some cats are bigger than small dogs -- all my cats have been!)

In the end, having a pet is a financial choice like anything else (in that saying "yes" to some things means you'll have to say "no" to others) and totally up to you. I'm just pointing out the cost of such a decision.

Comments

[Blaine Moore (Run to Win)]

I haven't done the math, but I would estimate that the $640 is probably accurate; I probably spend about $500-$600 on my cat every year.

[Linda]

My son has had two gerbils for over two years now and they haven't cost anywhere near $455 total including two vet visits for one of them. And really, who spays/neuters a gerbil like they recommend?

I have two cats and I think the cat costs are high, too.

I appreciate this post. I don't think I'm one who's unaware of what my pets cost but I am going to start keeping track of their expenses to know for sure.

[Brian]

For anyone who considers their pet's medical costs to be high, I urge them to check around for vets in a more rural setting. A coworker of mine recently adopted a cat and was calling vets in his area to check out the costs of spaying, shots, etc. We both live outside of Atlanta, but I live about 25 miles further away than he does. His vet of choice in his area quoted him around $700 for all of his cat's medical needs. I gave him the name of my vet, which he also called to get a quote from. He ended up going to my vet because the cost was only $130!!!

[Amanda]

Thanks for this info! The Great Pet Debate is obviously a hot topic and likely to continue!

[My Boaz's Ruth]

Ah, growing up -- if our pets required that much intervention, they got put to sleep. My dad did not believe in spending money on pets better put towards kids.

[Mary]

I just realized that my cat is costing at least $480 a year and that does not include the cost of boarding when we go on vacation. I'm spending about $40 a month on litter and food. In the past, I did not realize how much she cost because I was not paying attention. I just loved my cat so much that I did not care to pay attention to the cost (i.e. money, time, energy). Since I had a baby two years ago, I have realized how much resource (time, money, energy) is also being spent on the cat.