Estimated Yearly Costs of Pet Ownership

Stephen Zawistowski, Ph.D, Sr. VP Animal Sciences, ASPCA

Costs
Notes
Small Dog
Medium Dog
Large Dog
Cat
Rabbit
Guinea Pig
Small Mammal
Small Bird
Fish
Food (Annual Cost)
Premium brand dry kibble
$150$250$350$120$110$75$50$50$20
Medical (Annual Cost)
Exam, vaccinations, heartworm medication.
$150$175$200$150$125$50N/A
N/AN/A
Litter (Annual Cost)
Scoopable litter for cats, scooped daily; hardwood shavings or recycled paper products for rabbits, guinea pigs and small mammals, changed at least weekly.
N/A
N/A
N/A
$150$400$400$220N/A
N/A
Toys/Treats (Annual Cost)
N/A
$50$60$70$50$25$25$10$30N/A
License (Annual Cost)
N/A
$15$15$15N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Miscellaneous (Annual Cost)
N/A
$35$45$65$30$15$15$15$15$15
Annual Total (Annual Cost)
N/A
$400$545$700$500$675$565$295$95$35
Spay/neuter (Capital Costs)
N/A
$75$100$125$75$75N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Collar/Leash (Capital Costs)
N/A
$25$30$35$10N/A
N/A
N/A
N/AN/A
Litter box (Capital Costs)

N/A		N/A
N/A
N/A$25$25N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Cage (Capital Costs)
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$80$80$35$75N/A
Carrier (Capital Costs)
N/A
$30$50$80$30$30N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Crate (Capital Costs)
N/A
$50$90$160N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Aquarium equipment (Capital Costs)Basic twenty gallon set up with light/hood, outside filter, undergravel filters, air pump and gravel. Does not include fish.
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/AN/A
N/A
N/A$150
Capital TotalN/A
$180$270$400$140$210$80$35$75$150
Long Hair Groom (Special Cost)
N/A
$200$300$400N/A
N/A
N/AN/A
N/A
N/A
First year totalN/A
$780$1,115$1,500$640$885$645$330$170$185


This spreadsheet created by Steve Zawistowski estimates the costs of keeping a pet. It is a crude estimate since many of these costs can vary from place to place, or based on personal preferences and choices. It considers generally essential costs, and does not include boarding, walking, day care, etc. Veterinary costs will escalate for older pets. It does not include costs for the acquisition of the pet.