How much does a dog or cat cost a year?
Food, vet care, insurance, grooming and boarding — a realistic yearly budget and the one-off costs of the first year.
$2,265 a year
About $189 a month
- Food$500
- Routine vet care, vaccines and parasite control$500
- Insurance$550
- Grooming$150
- Toys, treats and bags$250
- Boarding or pet sitting$315
Plus around $900 in the first year for neutering, microchipping and equipment — and keep an emergency fund if you don’t insure.
Where the numbers come from
These are typical mid-range US prices in dollars, rounded, for a healthy pet. Your area, your vet and your pet’s health will move them — sometimes a lot. Insurance premiums rise with age and vary by breed; unexpected illness or injury is the cost most owners underestimate.
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts