This article is from the K9 Magazine archives, subscribe to our newsletter & get our best dog news, tips and articles ---->Having a pet of your own is a wonderful experience. It can be a companion, a playmate, or even just a source of entertainment. But there can also be significant costs involved in pet ownership, and it’s vital that you understand the financial requirements before you welcome a new animal into your home.
Firstly, there’s the price of the pet itself. True, if you’re just getting a goldfish or a hamster, your initial outlay won’t be more than a few pounds, but if you’re looking for something a bit bigger then you may have to prepare your wallet. Dogs and cats can cost anything from £50 up to several thousand if you want a pedigree breed, and if you’re thinking about getting a pony then you’re looking at a four-figure sum for even the cheapest of animals. If you want to get an animal cheaply – and in a socially responsible way – check out your local animal shelter, which will have a number of animals looking for a loving home.
Next up is their environment, and this is where expenses can really mount up. Smaller creatures, such as gerbils or guinea pigs, will need a cage plus all the bits of equipment that go in it. These can cost upwards of £50, although if you hunt around the internet and on eBay, you should be able to get one for less. If keeping fish or reptiles is going to be your thing, then a tank with a filter system and lighting starts at around £80, and can pretty much go up to any amount depending on the size you want. Pets that have the run of your home such as cats and dogs will still need a basket they can call their own, as well as some toys.
Food costs again depend on the pet. Fish are probably the cheapest creatures to feed, costing a pound or so a week, and rodents don’t cost much more. But if you’ve set your sights on a cat, you should put aside at least £5 a week. Dogs will cost around twice that, and more if you choose a bigger breed. While snakes and reptiles don’t eat much, some will require specialist feed, so make sure you have a local pet shop that can supply you.
Then there’s healthcare. Many animals will need vaccinations and ongoing medical treatment, and this can be expensive. For healthy cats and dogs, put aside at least £100 a year for annual injections and treatment. If your cat or dog becomes ill, or has an accident, their medical costs can run into thousands, so it’s well worth considering a pet insurance policy, which will cover many treatments.
And don’t forget that your pets will need to be looked after even when you’re not around. So you’ll need someone to look after them when you’re on holiday, or during the day. Hopefully a friendly neighbour will be able to help, but if not, kennels or cat sitting services can cost £10-15 a day per animal, depending on where you live.
Issued by Sainsbury’s Finance
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