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6 Costs to Budget for Before Getting a Pet
By Liliana Hall MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
From adoption fees to boarding, the costs of a cat or dog add up over time. Here’s what to budget for before you bring one home.
Bringing a cat or dog home can mean taking on years of expenses. From kibble to grooming, boarding and vet bills, the costs add up. And as pet care gets more expensive, those financial pressures can start to shape bigger decisions about ownership.
According to a 2026 Healthy Paws Pet Insurance and Money survey, 55% of pet owners say rising costs have made them less likely to get another pet—or led them to decide against it altogether.
That makes it especially important to understand not just what you’ll spend upfront, but the ongoing financial commitment that comes with caring for an animal over time. Some expenses are predictable; others can catch new pet owners off guard.
Here’s what to budget for.
The cost of bringing a pet home
Adoption fees can range from nothing to several hundred dollars, while buying from a breeder can cost substantially more.
But the price you pay to get a pet isn’t necessarily the full upfront cost. Shelters and rescues often provide veterinary exams, vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery and microchipping before a pet goes to their new home. Petfinder estimates those services can add up to over $800, on average.
If those services aren’t included, you’ll need to budget for them yourself — and that’s where the initial cost of a pet can climb quickly, depending on what care the shelter or breeder has already provided.
Before you budget for a new pet, find out exactly what’s included in the adoption price to get a more realistic idea of what you’ll spend right off the bat.
Food and supplies
Food is one of the most obvious recurring expenses, but it’s not the only one. Thirty-six percent of pet owners spend at least $100 a month on food and treats, according to survey research by Healthy Paws and Money.
You’ll also need to account for cat litter or dog waste bags and supplies that need to be replaced periodically, from toys and beds to leashes and collars.
What you spend can vary significantly from one pet to another. A 90-pound dog and a 10-pound cat won’t have the same food bill, for example, and specialty or prescription diets can cost considerably more than standard food.
“Large dogs usually cost more than people expect because food, medications, anesthesia, grooming and boarding are often priced by size,” says Melinda Fleming, a veterinarian with pet telehealth provider TelaVets.
There are ways to keep some of these recurring costs in check. More than 40% of pet owners surveyed say they shop around for the best prices, while 30% buy in bulk and 32% groom their pets at home.
Rather than relying on a guess, price out the food and supplies you’ll actually buy regularly for your pet. Then multiply the cost of a typical month’s supply by 12 to get a starting point for your annual pet budget.
Routine vet care
Regular veterinary care is part of being a responsible pet owner, but those checkups and preventative treatments come at a cost. Even a healthy pet needs routine exams, vaccinations, dental care and more.
Veterinary costs have risen 43% since 2021, Healthy Paws and Money data shows. In a single month, 29% of pet owners surveyed spent at least $100 on veterinary care.
Preventative veterinary care is one of the costs people often overlook when budgeting for a pet, Fleming notes. In addition to regular checkups and vaccines, she recommends budgeting for flea, tick and heartworm prevention, dental care, lab work and occasional sick visits.
How much you spend really depends on your pet’s age, size, health and where you live. Older pets, for example, may require frequent visits, testing or medications, while a pet with an ongoing health issue may need significantly more care than a healthy one.
One way to make routine care more affordable is to look for low-cost veterinary clinics in your area. Animal shelters, humane societies and nonprofit clinics may offer discounted vaccinations, microchipping, spay and neuter procedures and other basic care. Nonprofit Emancipet in Austin, Texas, for example, operates low-cost veterinary clinics and offers some free services at community events.
Before paying full price, check what lower-cost options are available in your area.
Insurance and emergency funds
Even if you budget carefully for routine care, there’s no way to know when your pet might need urgent medical care — or how much that could cost.
Emergency vet bills for dogs average about $1,800 for a broken bone, about $3,000 for bite wounds and more than $13,000 for a life-threatening stomach condition, according to Healthy Paws claims data.
That’s why Fleming recommends having pet insurance, a dedicated emergency fund or both. If you don’t have insurance, she suggests building an emergency fund of at least $1,000 to $2,000, with a higher amount for larger dogs or pets with known health risks. A fund that size can cover a smaller emergency but may fall short of surgery or a hospital stay, which is where insurance comes in.
Pet insurance can help cover eligible costs from accidents and illnesses, but you’ll still need to understand your policy’s deductible, reimbursement rate, exclusions and coverage limits. She also recommends getting coverage while your pet is young and healthy, before a condition becomes pre-existing.
Grooming and training
Your pet’s breed, coat and temperament can all affect how much you’ll spend. Some pets need little professional care, while others may require regular grooming or training to be happy and healthy.
According to research from Healthy Paws and Money, nearly half of pet owners spend little to nothing on grooming in a typical month, but 15% spend $100 or more. Certain dog breeds may require professional grooming every six to eight weeks, adds Fleming.
Training is another major expense, particularly for puppies or dogs with behavioral issues. Professional training can cost anywhere from $50 for a small group session to more than $5,000 for an intensive program, according to dog-training company Sit Means Sit.
Boarding and lifestyle expenses
Your pet’s expenses can also depend on how you spend your time. If you travel frequently, work long hours or regularly spend nights away from home, you may need to budget for boarding, pet sitting, dog walking or daycare.
Dog boarding costs an average of $40 to $50 a night, according to online pet-care platform Rover, but prices vary widely by location and type of care. Boarding with a sitter can cost $25 to $45 a night, while overnight daycare that includes more individualized attention for your pet can run $55 to $80.
Those costs can add up quickly if you travel often or need regular help while you’re at work. If family or friends live nearby and can help, that can significantly reduce your pet costs. But if you’ll need to rely on paid care, price out the services you’re most likely to use in your area and factor them into your budget before bringing home your new four-legged friend.
Never forget: they’re family, too. Make sure they’re protected!
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Liliana Hall is an Austin-based reporter for Money, where she covers a range of topics, including financial news, policy, banking, investing, passive income, financial planning and student loan debt. Passionate about accessibility and financial literacy, she’s dedicated to helping readers navigate the complexities of money management and feel empowered to make informed decisions about their financial futures. Previously, Liliana covered all angles of personal finance as a writer and editor at CreditCards.com, Bankrate and CNET. Before she ever wrote about money, she worked in a handful of newsrooms across Austin, Texas, covering everything from the Texas Legislature to SXSW and the 2019 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Her work has been featured in The Daily Texan, Austin Chronicle and KUT. A Texas native, Liliana graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. When she’s offline, you can probably find her paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake, riding her moped around town or reading for her book club.