The love and affection we get from our pets isn’t something that we can put a price on. However, not everyone can afford to get a pet because taking care of them and providing them with everything they need is definitely not cheap.
How Much Does it Cost to Keep a Pet?
If you’re considering buying or adopting a new pet, you need to consider adjusting your budget and putting aside the funds for all the extra expenses you’ll be taking on. So, how much does it really cost to keep a house pet? Well, to start off, here are some of the main expenses you should think about:
- Adoption/purchase cost
- Pet food and treats
- Bedding, crates, travel carriers
- Toys
- Leashes, harnesses, collars
- Microchipping
- Medical expenses (vaccinations, regular check-ups, spaying and neutering)
- Litter boxes and litter
- Grooming supplies
- Professional grooming
- Pet sitting
- Pet insurance
- Pet licenses
On average, you can expect to be spending anywhere between $100 to $200 every month on pet-related expenses. But that’s not all. Pets come with many hidden costs that many first-time pet owners don’t consider.
The Hidden Costs of Keeping a Pet
As much joy and happiness pets can bring us, they can also bring unexpected chaos, and along with that chaos, plenty of hidden costs. You must have heard horror stories of dogs and cats eating things they shouldn’t have and needing surgery that costs thousands of dollars. Or maybe you’ve heard stories of pets faking an injury for attention, leading to a huge vet bill for nothing!
The point is that all sorts of unexpected and hidden costs can be associated with keeping a pet. Here are some of those costs that you should keep in mind, especially if you are a first-time pet owner:
- Emergency surgeries
- X-rays and ultrasounds
- Teeth cleaning and extractions
- Training Classes
- Vet prescribed medications
- Vet prescribed pet food and diet
- Furniture reupholstery due to scratching
- Travel expenses
- Dog Walking
And this list is just the beginning. The thing you need to remember is that animals can always do something entirely unexpected and saddle you with some extra bills. So, when your budget for pet expenses, you should definitely create a “Pet Emergency Fund” and add a few extra dollars to it whenever you get the chance. When you’re prepared for the unexpected, your wallet will thank you!
