Lifetime Cost Of Having A Dog Or Cat

How much does it cost to care for a dog or cat over her lifetime? New data looks at the expenses and why they’re rising. 

Dogs and cats are living longer than they used to. This is wonderful, of course – the more years we have with our beloved animal companions, the better! But many people don’t consider the lifetime cost of having a dog or cat. Synchrony’s 2025 Pet Lifetime of Care Study shows that nearly 80% of animal parents underestimate the lifetime cost of caring for a dog or cat.

The study surveyed nearly 5,000 U.S. dog and cat parents and confirmed what many of us know: we see our animals as family and want to give them quality care. However, nearly half said unexpected expenses cause financial stress, especially as animal care costs have risen since 2022, when the last study took place. 

Over 15 years, caring for a dog can cost $22,125 to $60,602 — an 11.65% increase since the last study. For a cat, those figures are $20,073 to $47,106 (an increase of 19.4%). The research also shows a gap between perceived and actual costs among survey participants. Almost 75% say they have faced unexpected animal care costs exceeding $250, while only 31% admit they could comfortably manage a major dog or cat expense.

For dogs, costs are rising due partly to increased use of technology, such as GPS collars, smart feeders, televet platforms, and wellness plans. Dog parents are investing more in health insurance ($198 to $313 per year) and wellness plans ($422 to $701 per year), reflecting a growing emphasis on preventive and routine care.

The findings for cats parallel those for dogs. Tech investment for cats nearly doubled, with annual costs rising to $350 to $480. Cat parents are spending more on smart products like automated litter boxes, feeders, and telehealth tools.

Unexpected veterinary bills are a great cause for concern. Financial worry related to these expenses rose from one in three dog and cat parents in 2022 to nearly one in two in 2025. As financial worry increases, so does the demand for solutions such as pet insurance and credit cards. In fact, 58% of pet parents use credit cards for animal care, while only 20% have savings or insurance for emergencies.

The lifetime cost of having a dog or cat may be higher than you expect. But pet health insurance and groups that assist people with vet bills can help you afford the quality care she deserves.

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