Can you afford to own a dog or a cat in the UK? Here’s how much it will cost
Owning a pet is a dream for many in the UK, but keeping a dog or a cat can come with a hefty cost, with some pets costing their owners more than £20,000 over their lifetime.
Research shows that pets can bring great joy to your life and greatly improve your mental health, but they can be more expensive to take care of than many expect, whether they are dogs or cats.
A study conducted earlier this year by Aqua examined the most popular dog and cat breeds in the United Kingdom and found that the cost of owning a pet in the UK has increased substantially since 2024.
Popular dog breeds are far more expensive, with the average price of a Miniature Dachshund puppy now sitting at £1,450 – 50.5% higher than two years ago. The same is true for Rottweilers, which saw an average price increase of 30%.
For many, adopting a dog or a cat is a far cheaper option than buying a puppy or kitten from a breeder, with prices for an adopted dog starting as low as £200, including neutering and microchipping.
While both dogs and cats can have a high upfront cost, it is the ongoing cost of insurance, food, and care that makes up the bulk of the overall cost of pet ownership.
Aqua compared the lifetime, annual, and monthly costs of the most popular dog and cat breeds in the UK, providing an idea of the financial commitment required to own and take care of these pets.
Most to least expensive dog breeds
The most expensive dog on the list is the Doberman, which costs nearly £23,000 over its lifetime of 11.5 years. As a larger breed, it requires more food than smaller dogs and it is expensive to insure due to its higher risk of hereditary conditions.
Other expensive popular dogs included the French Bulldog and the Rottweiler.
The most affordable dog on the list is the Miniature Dachshund, which is a small breed and does not consume much food. They also have a short coat and do not require much in terms of grooming, reducing maintenance costs.
The table below shows the cost of owning some of the most popular dog breeds in the UK.
| Breed | Lifetime Cost | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doberman | £22,976 | £1,872 | £156 |
| French Bulldog | £20,641 | £1,604 | £134 |
| Rottweiler | £19,344 | £1,979 | £165 |
| Golden Retriever | £16,374 | £1,324 | £110 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | £15,288 | £1,067 | £89 |
| Border Collie | £15,263 | £1,013 | £84 |
| Labrador Retriever | £14,989 | £1,146 | £95 |
| Cocker Spaniel | £13,315 | £923 | £77 |
| Cockapoo | £12,824 | £850 | £71 |
| Miniature Dachshund | £12,734 | £800 | £67 |
Most to least expensive cats to own in the UK
You might have expected cats to be significantly cheaper than dogs to own in the UK, but their monthly cost can actually be quite similar.
The Siamese is the most expensive breed to own and boasts a lifespan of 17.5 years, the longest of any on the list. It is also the cheapest breed to buy initially, but the cumulative cost of its care makes its overall cost expensive.
Other expensive cats to own in the United Kingdom include the Maine Coon, one of the largest domestic cat breeds, and the Sphynx.
The cheapest cat on the list is the British Shorthair, which is the only breed on the list with a lifetime cost below £10,000.
The table below shows the cost of owning some of the most popular cat breeds in the UK.
| Breed | Lifetime Cost | Annual Cost | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siamese | £17.281 | £950 | £79 |
| Maine Coon | £16,236 | £1,104 | £92 |
| Sphynx | £15,762 | £985 | £82 |
| Savannah Cat | £15,078 | £972 | £81 |
| Scottish Fold | £15,042 | £950 | £79 |
| Russian Blue | £14,997 | £935 | £78 |
| Bengal | £14,890 | £989 | £82 |
| Persian | £13,961 | £968 | £81 |
| Ragdoll | £12,780 | £860 | £72 |
| British Shorthair | £9,761 | £876 | £73 |
