How Much Does a Pet Cost?

Summary

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).

How it works

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.

The formula

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

Inputs explained

• 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).

Outputs explained

• 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.

Assumptions & limitations

• 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.

Verification