Pet Care Articles

Dogs More Expensive to Keep Than Cats
January 7th, 2013

Courtesy of Yahoo! Finance...  Dog and cat owners don’t pay the same amount for their four-legged family members. The ASPCA did a study on the average cost of owning a dog or a cat. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
 

  • Small dog – $1,314 the first year, $580 per year after
  • Medium dog – $1,580 the first year, $695 per year after
  • Large dog – $1,843 the first year, $875 per year after
  • Cat – $1,035 the first year, $670 per year after


These totals include the following first-year costs: spay/neuter, other initial medical, collar/leash, litter box/scratching post for cats, cage/crate for large dogs, carrier bag for small dogs/cats, and training class for dogs. Annual expenses include food, recurring medical, litter for cats, licenses for dogs, toys/treats, health insurance, and miscellaneous.


Of course, those are averages – the ASPCA says, “You shouldn’t expect to pay less than this, and you should definitely be prepared to pay more. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of unexpected veterinary care, as well as boarding facilities, pet sitters and dog walkers, if you plan to use them.”