Pet Q...would it be more expensive to keep a dog or a cat?

[Dancing Fire]

 

[sba771]

I think it depends on the owner. In our case though our dog is extremely spoiled and I know we take it to an extreme. Its embarassing but over Christmas we spent close to $800 when we brought him with us to visit family in the states

But a lot of that are boarding fees which add up SO fast, but we are crazy that we are so willing to spend it. He costs us a lot, by choice, but what I get back from him is priceless so its my pleasure to spend on him.

 

[MonkeyPie]

I have owned both, and I will say that cats are very independent - all they need is water, food, and attention when they want it. Dogs need water, food, a crate, attention (time taken to walk/play with them), and they tend to cost more at the vet because they are twice as likely to do things like eat they shouldn''t

Of course, it really depends on the dog or cat - any animal can cost an arm and a leg if they have health issues.

 

[NewEnglandLady]

It depends

The biggest expenses for our dogs are 1.) the daily playgroup and 2.) Their raw diet (which requires approximately 4lbs. of raw meat per day). In our case, dogs would be much more expensive because a cat would not require a playgroup and would eat considerably less.

 

[Maisie]

I pay approximately the same food costs for my dog and cat. My cat has to have a certain food because she has a sensitive tummy, so it costs more than the dog food (but it lasts a little bit longer).

The pet insurance is £10 for the dog and £8 for the cat.

So in my case the costs are around the same.

Are you thinking of getting a pet DF?

 

[Laila619]

I think cats are definitely lower maintenance. Expense wise, it might be about the same. Depending on the breed, dogs in general eat much more food, but then again you'd spend money on kitty litter for a cat that you wouldn't have to for a dog. You'd also have to factor in spending money on obedience training for a dog, whereas cats come trained.

 

[Novel]

I''ve found dogs to be more expensive, but maybe thats just because we took them to the vet more often... Yeah, DF, are you thinking about getting a pet? There are ways to make any pet more expensive, especially if you travel a lot.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

DF - are you thinking of adopting one or the other?

Rather than look at pets by cost, it's best to look at which kind of pet best suits your personality.

 

[tlh]

Dogs are by far more expensive.

Cats are cheap, and easy... except if you have a scratcher that ruins the furniture. THen you have to buy those claw caps...

But I''d still say cats are cheaper and easier, esp if you like to travel.

 

[Aloros]

I have a dog and a cat, same size. The dog comes out to be more expensive. The cat doesn''t need to be walked (no leash/harness/walking collar), he doesn''t need things to chew on, he doesn''t tear toys apart and have to be bought new ones (he''ll play with garbage, even!), and he has never chewed on furniture or the staircase. I''ve gone through two pieces of cat furniture in my cat''s lifetime, but I got them for a really good price.

Vet bills, food, and flea medication are all about the same. Cat treats are cheaper. Petsitting for cats is cheaper.

Oh, and of course DH and I love to get little items of clothing for our pup. She is so gosh-darn cute in them! I put her poncho on my cat once, and he flopped over and gave me that "Are you SERIOUS??" look. So no clothes for the cat. Hah!

 

[Dancing Fire]

no guys,i''m not thinking about getting a new pet,just wondering which one would cost more to keep. i have a parrot and koi as my pets now.

 

[upgrade]

I''d say dog. I know lots of people who''ve had huge vet bills for their dogs... not so many with cats.

 

[Bia]

I think dogs. Ours is 9lbs and she might as well be a kid, with the $$$ we spend on her.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

In my experience cats are cheaper, but my heart belongs to dogs

So, I have a much-loved, slightly spoiled....dog

 

[enbcfsobe]

At least where I live, dogs are more expensive. The vet fees are significantly higher for dogs, especially large dogs. Plus unless you work at home or have someone at home all day you need to pay a dog walker or send the dog to day care. Unless you have a long-haired cat it likely won''t need grooming, while many dogs (esp. some of the popular ones like poodle mixes, goldens, etc.) need regular grooming at home and/or from a pro to prevent matting. Cats can be kept indoors-only, but dogs need to go outside for exercise and bathroom business, which adds costs for things like parasite preventive meds and extra cleanup both of the pet and your house.
Just some thoughts (not that I''m biased).

 

[Haven]

For regular day-to-day expenses, I think dogs cost more. At least, ours does.

We food our three cats and our one dog a raw diet, but our dog eats 1.5 lbs of food a day, and our kitties don''t even eat that much combined. In addition to their food, vaccinations, and regular yearly checkups at the vet, cats only need litter. Dogs need training, protection from ticks and heartworm, and all sorts of accoutrement for walking (leashes, backpacks for extra weight and exercise, protection from the elements if they''re warm weather dogs, etc).

As for who costs more in old age, I think it really depends on the animal. Our kitty Geddy needed an emergency $1,500 dollar surgery when he was a kitten. My sweet little Bootsie was on hyperthyroid meds for three years before she died, and those meds cost at least $100 a month. Bootsie''s sister Mazi had kidney failure, so we had her on meds and saline injections for two years before she died. That wasn''t cheap. I have friends who have paid for multiple joint replacement surgeries for their pups in old age.
So, I think it''s really a toss up when they get older.

Whatever the cost, they''re worth every penny.

 

[risingsun]

I have one of each and it has been more expensive to have and care for our dog

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 1/15/2010 1:17:17 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
no guys,i''m not thinking about getting a new pet,just wondering which one would cost more to keep. i have a parrot and koi as my pets now.

With dogs, I think you''re looking at a lot more dedication to the amount of time they take up. Cats, by far are the easiest. Feed them, pet them, cuddle with them. Oh, yeah, and the litter box, too.

 

[Maisie]

Date: 1/15/2010 3:00:12 PM
Author: MC

Date: 1/15/2010 1:17:17 PM
Author: Dancing Fire
no guys,i''m not thinking about getting a new pet,just wondering which one would cost more to keep. i have a parrot and koi as my pets now.

With dogs, I think you''re looking at a lot more dedication to the amount of time they take up. Cats, by far are the easiest. Feed them, pet them, cuddle with them. Oh, yeah, and the litter box, too.

Thats my daughters chore. I would do it if I have to but would prefer not to.

 

[MonkeyPants]

I''ve never owned a cat but with my experience owning a dog, I''d say dogs are more expensive. I agree that cats are more independent. They just need food, water, and maybe a few toys to keep them entertained. My dog needs a crate, bed that she can''t resist destroying so we''ve just started buying cheap $5 Ikea fleece blankets for her..., dogs can vary in size but generally I''d say they eat more than cats, dogs need to be bathed and/or groomed whereas cats can and do groom themselves, you can leave a cat at home for a weekend with a litter box and food and fresh water and they will be fine. I would never trust my dog at home alone and would probably have to pay for a dog sitter...

These are major generalizations, but just from my experience with my dog compared to my friends'' experiences with their cats, I''d say dogs are more expensive to keep....

 

[Liane]

I''ve had both and dogs are way more expensive. Not even close.

Now I just keep rodents.

 

[monarch64]

Koi.

Kidding...between dogs and cats, I don''t know. I''ve had both and never had to spend terribly excessive amounts of money on them. I''ve been lucky to have healthy pets, I think.

 

[Kaleigh]

Grew up with both, dogs were more expensive then as they are now. I have Bichons which have to be groomed, that alone is an arm and a leg...

 

[yssie]

Dogs - no question. Even little dogs.



They''re more expensive in resources and time - cats are certainly much easier, budget-friendly pets.




Horses beat dogs

 

[Steel]

Keep it where ?

 

[Haven]

Date: 1/15/2010 4:23:43 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Grew up with both, dogs were more expensive then as they are now. I have Bichons which have to be groomed, that alone is an arm and a leg...

I didn''t even think of the grooming costs!
We bathe and groom our pup ourselves, thank goodness. My mom''s dogs cost her a couple hundred dollars every time they get bathed and groomed.

 

[zoebartlett]

I think a dog is more expensive. My family had a dog for almost 16 years, and there was more to pay for with her than my husband and I currently pay for our 2 cats on a regular basis.

 

[lulu]

I have both and I vote dog. This is my first(and last) purebred dog and he has lots of issues- allergies, arthritis, thyroid. I love him to death, but he''s expensive.

 

[Miss Sparkly]

Depends. I have a Rottweiler who eats through a 40lb bag of food per month. I''d like to see my cat do that!

 

[Gleam]

Our dog costs much, much more than my cat.

My fiance and I both work, and we spend about $5,000 a year on M-F daycare for our dog. He''s a 60 pound dog so his food also costs a lot more, especially because we feed him a high-quality food.