How Much Does a Pet Cost?

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Owning a pet in the UK costs far more than most people expect. A medium-sized dog typically costs £1,500–£2,000 per year in ongoing expenses, a cat around £1,000–£1,500, and a rabbit pair £800–£1,000. Over a pet’s lifetime, total spending (excluding the purchase price) commonly reaches £18,000–£24,000 for a dog and £13,000–£18,000 for a cat.

These estimates are based on data from the PDSA PAW Report 2024, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the RSPCA, and MoneyHelper (a gov.uk-backed service).

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Pet ownership costs break down into two parts:

1. One-off setup costs — vaccinations, microchipping, neutering/spaying, beds, crates, bowls, and other initial equipment
2. Recurring annual costs — food, vet checkups, flea/worm treatment, insurance, grooming, litter/waste, toys, and optional services (boarding, dog walking)

The calculator estimates annual ongoing costs based on pet type, size, and care level, then projects monthly, daily, and lifetime totals.

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Cost breakdown by pet type

Dogs

Setup costs: £450 (small), £600 (medium), £750 (large) — includes vaccinations, microchip, neutering, bed, crate, bowls, collar, lead, toys.

Expected lifespan: 14 years (small), 12 years (medium), 10 years (large).

Cats

Setup costs: £250 (small), £300 (medium), £350 (large) — includes vaccinations, microchip, neutering, carrier, bed, bowls, litter tray, scratch post.

Expected lifespan: 16 years (small), 15 years (medium), 14 years (large).

Rabbits

Setup costs: £280 (small), £350 (medium), £420 (large) — includes hutch/enclosure, vaccination, neutering, bowls, carrier.

Expected lifespan: 10 years (small), 9 years (medium), 8 years (large).

Worked examples

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• Pet type — dog, cat, or rabbit. Each has different cost profiles, lifespans, and care needs.
• Size — small, medium, or large. Bigger pets eat more, cost more to insure, and (for dogs) cost more to groom and board.
• Care level — budget (essentials only), standard (typical owner), or premium (best of everything). This affects food quality, insurance cover level, vet care frequency, and accessories budget.
• Insurance — whether to include pet insurance. Average UK premium is ~£27/month but varies enormously by breed (£8/month for a mongrel vs £37/month for a French Bulldog).
• Grooming — professional grooming. Essential for some dog breeds (poodles, spaniels), optional for short-haired dogs. Cats rarely need professional grooming.
• Boarding — kennels (dogs), cattery (cats), or small animal boarding (rabbits) when you go on holiday. Cost is per night × number of nights.
• Dog walking — professional dog walker during working hours. Typically £14–£20 per hour.
• Number of pets — scales all costs linearly (1–5 pets).

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• Annual cost — total recurring cost per year for all selected categories and number of pets.
• Monthly / daily cost — annual cost divided by 12 (monthly) or 365 (daily).
• Lifetime cost — annual cost multiplied by the expected lifespan, plus one-off setup costs. This is the most eye-opening number.
• First year total — annual cost plus setup costs. The first year is always the most expensive.
• Cost breakdown — bar chart showing what proportion of spending goes to each category.
• Verdict — a contextual message comparing your spending level against UK averages.

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• Costs are UK averages. London and South-East prices are typically 35–50% higher for boarding, grooming, and vet care.
• Purchase/adoption price is excluded. The calculator covers ongoing ownership costs only. A pedigree dog can cost £500–£3,000+ to buy; rescue adoption fees are typically £150–£300.
• Emergency vet bills are excluded. A single emergency can cost £1,000–£3,000+. The calculator models routine care only.
• Inflation is not modelled. Lifetime costs assume current-year prices throughout. Vet costs have been rising ~8% per year.
• Rabbit costs are for a single rabbit. The RSPCA and PDSA recommend keeping rabbits in pairs; double the cost for a pair.
• Insurance premiums increase with age. Premiums typically double by age 7 and triple by age 10. The calculator uses a single average premium.
• Breed-specific variation is not modelled. A French Bulldog costs significantly more to insure and treat than a Labrador. The calculator uses size-based averages.

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