Who’s a pricey boy, then?
FROM LAMPS FOR LIZARDS TO STABLES FOR HORSES, THE COSTS OF BEING A PET OWNER CAN SOON ADD UP, SAYS VICKY SHAW
HAVE you ever stopped to consider how much your furry or scaly friend is costing you?
The cost of owning a pet can quickly add up, new research suggests.
The first year of having a pet can set owners back nearly £3,500 on average, including the cost of buying the animal and set-up costs such as food, bedding and equipment.
That’s according to a survey of 2,300 pet owners from across the UK from Nationwide Home Insurance.
For many owners, a pet is like part of the family – which may explain why they are happy to fork out so much on their beloved animal.
Indeed, one-in-eight (12%) of those surveyed claim they love their pet more than their partner – and nearly a quarter (24%) say they love their pet more than their best friend.
WHICH PETS HAVE THE HIGHEST “RUNNING COSTS”?
OF course, the cost of buying and keeping a pet in the first year can vary significantly, particularly when it comes to what type of animal it is.
The bill for buying a pet in the first place was found to come to £147 on average.
But one-in-five (20%) pet owners will spend more than £250.
Even a goldfish, which might be seen as a “cost-effective” pet, can cost hundreds of pounds in the first year, the research suggests.
By the time the owner has forked out on a tank, a pump and a year’s supply of fish food, the cost can run to £769, Nationwide found.
The survey also suggests cat owners can expect to pay around half the amount shelled out by dog owners in the first year.
Cat owners pay £2,455 typically, while dog owners spend around £4,791 in the first year.
Meanwhile, a rabbit will set someone back around £1,802, the survey found.
A lizard was also found to be at the cheaper end of the spectrum, costing around £1,788 in the first year, while a guinea pig may set someone back £3,715 over the same period.
And the annual cost of keeping a horse was found to be £12,654 – perhaps not all that surprising given the money initially spent on the animal and the cost of livery yards.
ADDED EXPENSES
WHILE some costs of owning a pet are predictable, there are also the unexpected expenses, such as if a pet falls ill or causes accidental damage.
Nationwide found that among home owners who have made a claim for accidental damage caused by a pet, 7% had claimed for a damaged carpet, 5% had claimed for damaged sofas and chairs and 5% had claimed for replacing chewed wires. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), a record £706 million was paid out in pet insurance claims in 2016, with the average payout at £757. But the ABI says that while an estimated 40% of households have pets, the vast majority of pet owners are not insuring them. Cat owners are more likely than dog owners to risk expensive costs if their pet needs treatment. Rebecca Hollingsworth, general insurance policy adviser at the ABI, says: “There is no NHS for pets, and the cost of getting quality veterinary treatment can quickly run into thousands of pounds, particularly with rising veterinary costs and a greater range of medical treatments for pets now available.”