The hidden costs of owning a dog or cat include emergency veterinary care, medications, dental work, grooming, training, boarding, pet sitting, insurance, housing fees and replacing damaged or worn supplies. Food and routine vet visits may be predictable, but one medical emergency or a recurring health problem can push the cost of pet ownership far beyond a basic monthly budget.
That does not mean pet ownership is unaffordable. It means prospective owners should budget for the animal they are actually bringing home—including its size, coat, health risks, age and lifestyle needs—rather than assuming every dog or cat costs roughly the same amount to maintain.
How Much Does It Cost to Own a Dog or Cat?
There is no single annual figure that accurately describes every household.
Published estimates also differ because organizations measure different things. The ASPCA’s publicly available cost table, updated in 2021, estimated recurring annual costs of $1,391 for a dog and $1,149 for a cat. Its categories included food, routine medical care, preventive medication, insurance, toys, treats and several other expenses.
The American Pet Products Association (APPA) reports individual spending categories rather than one all-inclusive annual ownership figure. Its 2024–2025 National Pet Owners Survey data reported average annual spending of $293 for dog food versus $194 for cat food, and $331 in total veterinary spending for dogs versus $179 for cats. APPA specifically cautions that its listed categories are not an all-inclusive annual total.
That distinction matters. Two legitimate sources can produce very different-looking numbers simply because they are measuring different baskets of expenses.
Published Pet-Cost Figures
| Expense or estimate | Dog | Cat | Data year/source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASPCA recurring annual cost estimate | $1,391 | $1,149 | ASPCA, 2021 |
| Food | $293/year | $194/year | APPA, 2024–2025 |
| Total veterinary spending | $331/year | $179/year | APPA, 2024–2025 |
| Medications | $97/year | $47/year | APPA, 2024–2025 |
| Treats | $60/year | $42/year | APPA, 2024–2025 |
| Toys | $37/year | $25/year | APPA, 2024–2025 |
| Accident-and-illness insurance | $749.29/year | $386.47/year | NAPHIA, U.S., 2024 |
Sources: ASPCA pet-care cost estimates, APPA’s 2024–2025 National Pet Owners Survey figures as reported by the Insurance Information Institute, and NAPHIA’s 2025 State of the Industry data. APPA’s expense categories should not be added together and treated as a complete cost-of-ownership estimate because the survey does not include every possible expense.
Veterinary Care Is the Biggest Financial Wild Card
Routine veterinary care can be planned for. Emergencies are much harder to predict.
An otherwise healthy pet can suddenly require diagnostic imaging, laboratory testing, emergency treatment, hospitalization or surgery. Chronic conditions can create another type of financial pressure because the expense may continue for years rather than ending after one visit.
A sensible pet budget therefore needs two separate medical categories:
- Expected care: wellness examinations, vaccinations, parasite prevention, medications and routine dental care.
- Unexpected care: injuries, acute illnesses, emergency visits, surgery and treatment for newly diagnosed conditions.
This distinction is particularly important when comparing breeds. A low purchase or adoption price does not necessarily make an animal inexpensive over its lifetime.
Pet Insurance Is Another Recurring Cost
Pet insurance can shift some of the risk of a large veterinary bill to an insurer, but the premium itself becomes another ongoing expense.
According to NAPHIA, the average U.S. accident-and-illness premium in 2024 was $749.29 per year for dogs ($62.44 per month) and $386.47 per year for cats ($32.21 per month).
Those are averages, not quotes. NAPHIA says premiums can vary according to factors including location, breed, sex and age. Veterinary costs in the owner’s market can also affect pricing.
Age deserves particular attention. NAPHIA notes that coverage generally becomes more expensive as pets get older and that premiums, deductibles or co-pays may increase as the animal ages, depending on the insurer and policy.
That means a premium that comfortably fits your budget when your dog is two years old should not automatically be treated as the amount you will pay throughout the dog’s life.
Before buying a policy, compare what is actually covered, the deductible, reimbursement percentage, annual or lifetime limits, exclusions and how the insurer handles pre-existing conditions.
Food Costs Change With Size and Health
Food looks simple until you compare a small indoor cat with a large, active dog.
Larger dogs generally consume more food, so even modest differences in daily feeding requirements compound over a year. The cost can climb further if a veterinarian recommends a therapeutic diet or if an owner chooses a more expensive formulation.
APPA’s 2024–2025 figures put average annual food spending at $293 for dogs and $194 for cats, but an individual animal can fall well outside those averages.
Food is therefore one of the reasons breed selection matters financially. Size affects not only feeding costs but potentially the size and price of crates, beds, carriers and other equipment.
If you are still deciding what type of dog fits your household, our guide to choosing the right dog breed for your lifestyle looks beyond appearance and considers the practical demands of living with different breeds.
Grooming Can Become a Major Recurring Expense
Some pets require little professional grooming. Others need coat maintenance throughout their lives.
A short-coated dog that can be brushed and bathed at home creates a very different budget from a dog that needs regular professional clipping. Long-haired cats may also need substantially more coat maintenance than short-haired cats, although individual needs vary.
The expense is not limited to appointments. Brushes, combs, nail-care equipment, shampoo and other grooming supplies eventually need replacement.
Before choosing a breed because you like its coat, find out what is required to keep that coat healthy. Grooming is both a financial commitment and a time commitment.
Training, Walking and Daycare Are Easy to Underestimate
Dog ownership can generate service costs that many first-time owners do not include in their initial budget.
Puppy classes or professional training may be useful during the first months at home. Some dogs need more specialized behavioral help. Owners who work away from home may also need dog walkers or daycare.
These expenses are highly household-dependent, which is precisely why broad national averages can be misleading.
A person working from home with a low-maintenance adult dog may spend very little on outside care. Someone with long workdays and a young, energetic dog could face an entirely different monthly budget.
Training also requires time even when you do not pay a professional. Before bringing an animal home, it helps to know what to expect during your first 30 days with a new pet so the initial adjustment period is part of your planning rather than a surprise.
Boarding, Pet Sitting and Travel Can Change the Math
Vacations become more complicated when another living animal depends on your daily care.
Depending on the pet and trip, you may need a boarding facility, house sitter, drop-in visits or other arrangements. Frequent travelers can therefore spend considerably more on pet ownership than someone who rarely leaves home.
Traveling with the animal does not necessarily eliminate the expense. Transportation rules, pet-friendly accommodations and other trip-specific requirements can introduce their own costs.
This is one reason lifestyle fit matters as much as the adoption fee.
Housing Costs Can Follow Your Pet
Renters should investigate pet policies before adopting.
A landlord may have restrictions on animals, and housing arrangements can change during a pet’s lifetime. Moving with an animal can therefore reduce the number of suitable housing options available to you.
There can also be household costs associated with scratches, chewing, accidents and additional cleaning.
These expenses are difficult to express as a meaningful national average because they depend heavily on the individual animal, property and housing agreement. They are still worth considering before adoption because they can affect the owner’s finances for years.
Supplies Are Not Really One-Time Purchases
The first shopping trip is only the beginning.
Beds wear out. Toys are destroyed. Collars and harnesses need replacing. Cats continue to need litter and litter-box supplies. Scratching surfaces deteriorate. Carriers, crates and other equipment may need to be replaced as a young animal grows.
Individually, many of these purchases look minor. Together, they become another recurring part of the household budget.
Buying every accessory available is unnecessary, but budgeting for replacement essentials is realistic.
Which Dog Breeds Tend to Cost the Most to Own?
There is no credible universal ranking of the “most expensive dog breeds” because lifetime cost depends on the individual dog’s health, location, lifespan, services used and owner choices.
However, several characteristics can make some breeds more expensive to maintain.
Large and Giant Breeds
Large dogs typically require more food and larger equipment. Beds, crates and other size-dependent supplies may also cost more.
Size alone does not tell you what a dog will cost medically, but it can raise the baseline cost of everyday ownership.
Breeds With High Grooming Requirements
Dogs whose coats require frequent professional grooming can accumulate substantial grooming costs over many years.
A breed that needs clipping every few weeks should therefore be evaluated differently from one whose coat can largely be maintained at home.
Breeds With Known Health Predispositions
Breed-related health risks can affect both veterinary expenses and insurance pricing. NAPHIA notes that breed is one factor insurers may use when determining premiums and that some breeds are predisposed to particular medical conditions.
The French Bulldog is a good example of why the purchase price should never be the entire financial calculation. Prospective owners should research the breed’s physical characteristics and care requirements alongside temperament; our French Bulldog temperament, energy level and lifestyle fit guide provides a broader look at living with the breed.
The same principle applies to every dog: research the actual breed rather than assuming all similarly sized dogs carry similar long-term expenses.
Cats Can Have Breed-Specific Costs Too
Cats are often assumed to be the cheaper choice, and APPA’s reported food and veterinary averages are lower for cats than dogs. That does not make every cat inexpensive.
Coat maintenance, health needs, medications, diet and insurance can all change the calculation.
If you are considering a specific breed rather than adopting based primarily on the individual cat, use our guide to choosing the right cat breed for your home to compare practical lifestyle considerations before committing.
Senior Pets Can Become More Expensive
The financial picture can change significantly as a pet ages.
An older animal may need more frequent veterinary attention, ongoing medications or management of chronic health problems. Insurance may also become more expensive with age. NAPHIA specifically identifies age as a factor in insurance pricing and warns that obtaining new coverage may become more difficult for older pets with some insurers.
This makes lifetime planning more useful than asking only, “Can I afford this pet this year?”
A puppy or kitten could remain part of your household well into a very different stage of your own life. Your financial plan should leave room for the animal’s needs to change.
The Hidden Cost That Isn’t on a Receipt: Your Time
Not every cost is measured in dollars.
Dogs may require walks, exercise, training, social interaction and bathroom breaks throughout the day. Cats need feeding, litter-box maintenance, enrichment, play and regular care as well.
Grooming and medical needs add more time.
This becomes especially relevant when comparing breeds with different exercise, training or coat requirements. Saving money by doing grooming, training or pet care yourself can be perfectly reasonable, but you are exchanging money for your own time.
That trade-off should be intentional.
How to Build a More Realistic Pet Budget
Start with recurring essentials such as food, routine veterinary care, parasite prevention where appropriate, litter for cats and any predictable grooming expenses.
Then create separate allowances for costs that are less frequent.
A practical budget should account for:
- routine medical care and medications;
- emergency veterinary expenses;
- food and treats;
- grooming and coat maintenance;
- litter or waste supplies;
- replacement toys, beds, collars and other equipment;
- training or behavioral support when needed;
- boarding, pet sitting or dog walking;
- insurance premiums if you choose coverage; and
- additional expenses that may develop as the pet ages.
Do not use the cheapest possible year as your definition of affordability. The question is whether you have enough flexibility to continue caring for the animal when the year does not go according to plan.
It is also worth reviewing the biggest mistakes new pet owners make before adopting, because financial preparation is only one part of responsible ownership.
Dog vs. Cat: Which Usually Costs More?
Dogs often create more opportunities for additional spending because size, training, walking, daycare, boarding and professional grooming can all enter the budget.
APPA’s 2024–2025 survey figures also show higher reported average spending for dogs than cats in food, veterinary care, medications, treats and toys.
But species alone cannot tell you what your pet will cost.
A healthy, small, low-maintenance dog may cost less than a cat requiring ongoing medical treatment. An owner who pays for daily dog walking faces a different budget from someone who provides all daytime care personally.
Breed, age, health, location and lifestyle are ultimately more useful planning variables than a single dog-versus-cat average.
Verdict: Who Is Financially Ready for a Dog or Cat?
A dog or cat is a reasonable commitment for someone who can comfortably cover routine care and maintain a plan for expenses that do not arrive on schedule. That means having room in the budget for veterinary care, food, supplies and the animal’s breed-specific needs without depending on every year being inexpensive.
Pet ownership is a poor fit right now for someone whose budget can cover only the adoption fee, food and the cheapest expected monthly expenses. The largest financial problem is rarely the bag of food you knew you needed—it is the veterinary emergency, aging pet, recurring medication, professional care or lifestyle change you did not expect.
Choose the animal based on the cost of caring for it for years, not simply the cost of bringing it home.
