According to Money Helper, the average cost of owning a dog or cat ranges from £16,000 to £33,000! Therefore, before getting a pet, you should always consider all of the potential costs that come with it beforehand. So, let’s have a look at some of these…
Some of the Costs
The cost of a pet will vary depending on the type of animal. As an example, for a dog, you need to consider the cost of:
- Dog food
- Treats
- Microchipping
- A crate
- A lead and collar
- Poo bags
- Grooming fees
- Puppy pads
- Food and water bowls
- Pet insurance- for more information on this, visit Money Helper. Some people choose to pay out of pocket for veterinary bills to avoid paying monthly insurance premiums, whereas others decide that the insurance is worth the cost
- Pet sitting or kennels
- Veterinary expenses- not just for when your dog is sick, but also for things like neutering them, or for flea and worming treatments. Unfortunately, there is no NHS for animals, and veterinary bills can really rack up, adding up to hundreds or thousands of pounds
- The dog itself, or its adoption fee- with the RSPCA, your adoption fee covers a lot of veterinary expenses like microchipping and neutering so if adopting, make sure you find out what your adoption fee covers
Of course, these costs are just for a dog; different pets have different needs. A cat might need a litter tray or a reptile may need a heat light- it depends on the animal. For example, fish are rather affordable pets to have, but you would still need to consider the cost of:
- A fish tank
- Air pumps
- A filter system
- A net
- Gravel (fish-friendly of course)
- Water testing kits
- Tank cleaning equipment
‘Cost’ Isn’t Just Money…
You also need to think about the cost of a pet in terms of time, not just in terms of money. Pets deserve to be properly cared for and looked after.
You may have to feed them, interact with them and walk them, depending on the type of pet. All of these things are time-consuming and should not be overlooked.