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Pet Care Costs
How much is that doggie (or kitty, rabbit, rat, goldfish or guinea pig…) in the shelter window? In addition to the initial cost of adoption, there’s a whole litany of expenses that the average pet owner will incur within a year. To make it easier for you to plan for your new arrival, we’ve prepared a financial breakdown of the annual costs of caring for a variety of species.
You can also download as Pet Care Costs (pdf) or Pet Care Costs (doc) version.
| Costs | Notes | Small Dog | Medium Dog | Large Dog | Cat | Rabbit | Guinea Pig | Small Mammal | Small Bird | Fish |
| Annual Costs | ||||||||||
| Food | 1 | $55 | $120 | $235 | $115 | $190 | $105 | $50 | $75 | $20 |
| Recurring Medical | 2 | $210 | $235 | $260 | $160 | $70 | $70 | $85 | ||
| Litter | 3 | $165 | $415 | $415 | $210 | |||||
| Toys/Treats | $40 | $55 | $75 | $25 | $40 | $30 | $25 | $25 | ||
| License | $15 | $15 | $15 | |||||||
| Health Insurance | 4 | $225 | $225 | $225 | $175 | |||||
| Misc. | $35 | $45 | $65 | $30 | $15 | $15 | $15 | $15 | $15 | |
| Annual Total | $580 | $695 | $875 | $670 | $730 | $635 | $300 | $200 | $35 | |
| Capital Costs | ||||||||||
| Spay/Neuter | $190 | $200 | $220 | $145 | $160 | |||||
| Other initial medical | 5 | $70 | $70 | $70 | $130 | |||||
| Collar/Leash | $25 | $30 | $35 | $10 | ||||||
| Litter Box | $25 | $25 | ||||||||
| Scratching Post | $15 | |||||||||
| Cage | $100 | $70 | $40 | $70 | ||||||
| Carrier Bag | $40 | $60 | $40 | $40 | ||||||
| Crate | $35 | $95 | $125 | |||||||
| Aquarium Eqpt. | 6 | $200 | ||||||||
| Training Class | $110 | $110 | $110 | |||||||
| Capital Total | $470 | $565 | $560 | $365 | $325 | $70 | $40 | $70 | $200 | |
| Special Costs | ||||||||||
| Long Hair Groom | $264 | $320 | $408 | |||||||
| First Year Total | $1,314 | $1,580 | $1,843 | $1,035 | $1,055 | $705 | $340 | $270 | $235 |
1. Premium brand dry kibble
2. Exam, vaccinations, heartworm preventative & topical flea/tick preventative
3. Scoopable litter for cats, scooped daily; hardwood shavings or recycled paper products for rabbits, guinea pigs and small mammals, changed at least weekly
4. Insurance coverage varies: some policies cover spay/neuter, vaccinations and heartworm medication. The annual deductible will also vary depending on the policy.
5. Deworming, basic blood tests & microchip
6. Basic twenty gallon set up with light/hood, outside filter, undergravel filters, air pump and gravel. Does not include fish.