Being a pet “owner” is both a moral and a financial responsibility. And, the biggest pet caring expenses they generally incur are food and treats, followed by veterinary care and then pet supplies together with over-the-counter medicines.

Every year, industry studies conducted in the United States reveal the latest statistics and calculate how much a pet parent is likely to spend on their four-legged companion. Here are the current figures. For a dog owner, that amount will be roughly $1,641 per year per pet and for someone with a cat, around $1,125.

The Entire Pet Picture

While I was researching data about canines and felines, I also came across this. So I thought I’d include it, just for fun. How about if we take a look at expenditures for the pet industry as a whole? 

These are the costs involving pet ownership of the entire group, which includes other species…birds, fish, reptiles, small animals and horses. For 2017, the projected amount is a whopping $69.36 billion. This is an increase of 24.5 percent over the last five years. And, interestingly, these figures have risen steadily each year since 1994, when spending reached a much lower, but still respectable, $17 billion.

Health Care For Pets

When it comes to our dogs and cats, this matter is also of concern to humans…access to affordable health care. In fact, providing proper medical attention happens to be one of the biggest expenses related to caring for pets.

The Cost Of Aging

Nowadays, many of our pets are living longer. And, with this extended longevity come age-related health issues, such as arthritis, cognitive disorder, diabetes, renal failure and cancer. In some instances, the necessary specialized veterinary care and medications can be rather costly. Consequently, a lot of pet owners are purchasing health insurance for their companion animals which is yet another expense to factor in to the yearly budget.

Annual Expenses

The following is a breakdown of the most significant costs that are involved with pet ownership. They are based on statistics gathered from a number of different sources that are know to be reliable.

• Vet surgeries

Dog: $474; Cat: $245

• Routine vet visits

Dog: $257; Cat: $182

• Food

Dog: $235; Cat: $235

• Treats

Dog: $72; Cat: $56

• Kennel boarding

Dog: $322; Cat:$164

• Vitamins

Dog: $58; Cat: $46

• Groomer services and grooming aids

Dog: $84; Cat: $30

• Toys

Dog: $47; Cat: $30

To Sum Up

As I mentioned at the beginning, pet ownership is a big responsibility. Our dogs and cats have no voice. It is up to us to ensure they have everything they need to lead a full and happy life.

More must-read articles in this category:

Three years ago I launched this site and wrote some articles on pet industry statistics. Now, I’m sharing the very latest trends so pet parents can stay well-informed https://petpeevesunmasked.com/spotlighting-pet-care-trends/

In this very first blog I ask a question. How many families in the USA have at least one pet? https://petpeevesunmasked.com/how-many-us-pet-families

Here I show how pet parents are impacting the economy in a big way https://petpeevesunmasked.com/pet-parents-economic-impact