Compare And Contrast The Cost Of Pet Ownership

Pet ownership has grown in popularity. Today, over half American households owns a pet. Every year, many people face the challenge of what type of pet to adopt. Usually the top two contenders are cats and dogs. When determining what type of pet to adopt, there are many factors people need to consider such as: affordability, maintenance, and self-sufficiency. Although dogs are considered better companions, ultimately cats are less expensive, low maintenance, and more independent than dogs. Probably the most important factor when deciding to adopt a pet is affordability. Whether a person chooses a cat or dog, adopting a pet is a serious financial commitment. Granted pet ownership is expensive regardless, owning a cat is less expensive.
Overall, adult cats are similar in size. It’s safe to say, they’re relatively small animals. Dogs however, range from toy breeds to giant breeds. The size of a dog usually affects the cost of adoption. Pet adoption varies state to state, but generally it’s cheaper to adopt a cat than it is to adopt a dog. The size of a pet is usually also the determining factor of the cost of spaying or neutering. Spaying or neutering a pet is an additional cost pet owners must consider when adopting a pet. Spaying or neutering is a suggested procedure because of the health benefits and to prevent unwanted litters. Most adoption clinics require a pet to be spayed or neutered before adoption. Sometimes the fee is added to the adoption cost, while other times it’s an additional cost. Either way, most of the time the cost of spaying or neutering is based on the gender and size of the pet. As stated earlier, cats are generally small animals and are relatively similar in size. Dogs, however, aren’t. Costs associated with spaying or neutering will be less for cats. When considering all the costs associated with pet ownership, a large expense is spent on housing
Pet maintenance includes grooming, feeding, and exercising. Cats require less maintenance than dogs. Cats are very clean animals and rarely require a bath. Only certain cat breeds require professional grooming. Dogs require regular bathing and a lot of breeds, especially hypoallergenic dogs, require professional grooming. The cost of weekly or monthly grooming adds up fast. Cats generally eat less than dogs because of their size. As a result, their portion sizes are smaller. A person has to buy less cat food and it lasts longer. Cat food is also less expensive than dog food. Another part of pet maintenance is exercising. When walking down the street, a person rarely sees a cat being walked. That’s because cats are capable of exercising and entertaining themselves. Dogs require a lot of attention. They want to play, go on walks, and like to be around humans. Cats aren’t like that, which leads to the final comparison. Cats are more