Cost Of Owning A Dog Or Cat

What is the average cost of owning a dog in India?

Depending upon the breed, age and size of the dog it varies. It is not necessary to spend a lot of money but don't be stingy either. You are going to have to spend on food, a decent leash + collar, yearly vaccinations, food/water bowls.Things like bowls are a one time buy (unless your dog plays and destroys it) while food is a recurring expense. Leash and collar you may need to buy as the puppy grows and once it is fully grown, that also is not a major expense. Expense of toys and treats is all up to you.Having a dog and maintaining it WILL cost money. How much will depend upon how much are you willing to spend. There is no such thing as free puppy. It is an extra mouth to feed and an extra living being to care for.And then there are people like me

How much does it cost to own and care for a pet?

Annual pet expensesFood: Dog: $120/ Cat: $145Annual Medical Exams: Dog: $235 / Cat: $130Litter: Cat: $200Toys and Treats: Dog: $55 / Cat: $25License: Dog: $15Pet Health Insurance: Dog: $225 / Cat: $175Miscellaneous: Dog: $45 / Cat: $30Total Annual Costs: Dog: $695 / Cat: $705According to this report, the total first-year cost of owning a dog is $1,270 and for a cat it’s $1,070.As you can see, having a pet can cost you over $1,000 in the first year, and well over $500 each additional year. Depending on the food you buy and your actual medical expenses, the costs could be much higher. Furthermore, these tables are not inclusive. If you travel, tack on pet sitting or kennel services, and if you rent an apartment, expect to pay a sometimes no refundable pet deposit or cleaning fee, if your landlord allows animals at all.ResponsibilityWhile owning a pet is a wonderful experience, just make sure you're prepared for the responsibility. Before really purchasing a pet, consider fostering one for a half a month to get the feel for what kind of schedule you'll have to keep.And if you're ready to welcome a four-legged, wagging tail into your heart, this Pet Store will help you pick the best accessories for your pet.

How much does a pet dog (or cat) cost in India?

First of all don't buy a dog/cat.There are thousands of pups and kittens waiting to be adopted. By buying an exotic breed you are indirectly supporting backyard breeders and animal cruelty. Not to mention anything about the health of poor dog who was supposed to live in sub zero temperatures.I feel sad when I see rott,gsds,pugs going crazy because of the heat.If you are adopting you can get a pup for free. There are more than a couple of dog lovers groups in Facebook who do this.I am not sure which all places are dogs/cats allowed. Public transport is okay as far as I know,but passengers won't let you in if it is too crowded. Hotels, shopping malls don't usually allow animals in.Also if you are adopting you will end up with a medium sized dog(mutt) the most healthiest breed,but you can't simply carry him around everywhere.

What I the average cost of owning a dog vs a cat?

This will vary based on where you live and what kind of food you feed your pets, as well as your ability to take advantage of sales, etc. However, for a dog you should budget enough for monthly heartworm meds (without fail!), flea/tick protection, vaccinations, annual wellness check, licensure, doggie bags, and good food. Typically, this would average out to a minimum of about $1200–1800 yearly per dog. A cat requires flea/tick protection if it goes outdoors (like in the yard or patio, not wandering the streets). It also needs cat litter, good food and at least one annual vet check. Factor in vaccinations for rabies, etc. and licenses where appropriate. Cats usually cost less than dogs because heartworm meds are a big expense. Unfortunately, many cat owners skimp on felines as compared to canines, which is infuriating. All pets deserve the love and care of their owner. They rely on you to take them to the vet, fill their bowls and attend to their needs, even if they give you stink eye afterward.

How much does it cost per month or year to own a pet cat in the United States?

If I get a cat free from a shelter and it is already spayed or neutered, what are the ongoing costs? Is it basically veterinary, food and cat litter? Any other major costs? What is a ballpark yearly cost?Well, yes, basically it is veterinary, food, and cat litter.  But veterinary costs aren't always predictable.  We've shelled out several hundred dollars a pop on more than one occasion to have our fur babies nursed back to health.  These incidents aren't always expected.Of the predictable costs, you need food.  A medium-to-high-quality dry cat food (most cats do not need canned food, though a few may try to convince you otherwise) costs about $ 20 for 16 lbs at Pet Smart (that feeds our crew of 7 for about 3 weeks, so one cat presumably could last some months on that same amount).  Litter runs from $ 3.50 for 25 lbs at Wal-Mart for clay litter to a lot for the fancy stuff.  Lately we have been using pine litter, but not Feline Pine, since a competing brand is less than half the price.  A 40-lb bag of that is about $ 11 and lasts for a while, even with lots of cats.  I don't think I spend more on it than I did the clay litter, since it doesn't need changed as often and it's lighter.  Flea control is important if your cat goes outside.  It's $ 15-20 per cat per month in the cat-sized packets, but much less than that (about $ 5 per dose) if you get the Frontline packaged for large dogs and then remeasure it for the appropriate dosage for a cat.  Veterinary costs you can expect are a yearly exam, and occasional vaccinations, probably $ 150 per year on average total.If you plan on going away, your cat needs to have someone to check on it no less often than once every other day.  If you don't have this, you need to think about boarding costs.Honestly I don't know what the yearly cost is, but if you add all the above costs together, you might need to budget $ 50 or so a month and save any excess for emergency or exigent vet care.I completely echo Crystal's suggestion that getting a critter is a long-term commitment.  Nothing irritates me more than people who get pets and then decide to get rid of them for lifestyle reasons.

Why does cat food cost more than dog food?

Cat food typically costs more than dog food for two primary reasons:Dogs eat more than cats. That's true even for smaller dogs, because all that barking, running around and going for walks burns calories, while all that sleeping, lounging, stretching and yawning doesn't require much energy on the part of cats.Cats are obligate carnivores and can't properly digest fillers or plant material, which are cheaper ingredients than meat. The really junky cat food is padded with grain, but most cat food is almost entirely meat, and cat food usually has a minimum protein percentage listed on the label for increasingly picky owners who want to feed their cats properly.Most dog breeds are larger than cats, and pretty much all dog breeds are more energetic than cats. We’re talking about animals that sleep 16 hours a day. That's not to say cats are lazy, although they are in some ways. It's just a product of how they evolved.Cats are ambush predators who expend large amounts of energy in short bursts in order to catch prey. When the hunt is over and they've dragged their kill back to a quiet spot, they don't have to expend energy anymore. That's true of feral domestic cats, as well as wildcats and big cats — it’s why lions are so often seen lounging beneath Acacia trees on the African plains. They've conducted their hunt and fed their bellies, so they've got nothing but lounging and sleeping on their schedules.But house cats don't even have to expend energy for hunting prey, since their meat is served right up for them in a little bowl. That means they need even less energy, and it's also why play time is so important.Of course, any determined pet owner can spend more on their dog or cat these days, when even TV chefs are muscling into the pet food market.

What is the average cost of owning a pet in Hong Kong?

It's in the millions if you own it, or tens of thousands per month if you rent it.Don't be freaked out, I'm referring to your home.Many apartments in Hong Kong have strict prohibition on pet keeping, though you can secretly keep a cat or two if they are spayed. However you wouldn't want to keep your dog like I did, as we didn't dare take him out of our flat as it isn't allowed to keep dogs at our building.Buy or rent a flat that allows pet keeping before making your decision, and the rest is as affordable as you can go.My late mixed-breed was extraordinarily healthy throughout his 15 years of presence despite being overweight, we never took him to a vet and he basically lived off pet food only. It cost us less than $300 per month for food, and that's all.Of course it's almost the most frugal way one can keep a pet. Petting a purebred is vastly different than a mixed, extra electricity costs are incurred if you prefer furry canines. (I'm strongly against this as HK is too humid and hot even for humans). A pet spa or cosmetic session may cost up to thousands of dollars. Without hybrid vigour it's inevitable for a purebred to visit a vet several times in its life, with the cost ranging from a few hundred per visit to a non-profitable vet clinic to tens of thousands for major operations.After all it's totally up to you on the budget, some manage to feed their dogs totally on leftovers while some would spend more than $10000 per month per dog. Again, just make sure it's allowed to keep pets at your residence.