How the costs of owning a cat and dog compare

How the costs of owning a cat and dog compareHow the costs of owning a cat and dog compareIf youre thinking of becoming a pet parent, its important to consider the costs. Dogs and cats are great options, but one may be better for your budget. Before bringing Fido or Fluffy home, know what it could mean for your wallet.The Cost Of Owning A CatIf youre adopting, the first price youll pay is the adoption fee. This can cost as little as $410,according to Petfinder,though could be as much as $845. Adoption fees include a lot of the initial medical and care expenses. After the adoption fee, youll be responsible for the rest of what your cat needs to live and feel at home.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreAccording to the ASPCA, theaverage cost of owning a cat is $1,144in the first year. Think that sounds pricey? Heres the breakdown.Food$224Normal Medical Expenses$160Litter$165Toys/Treat s$25Health Insurance$175Miscellaneous$30Spaying/Neutering$145Other Medical Expenses$130Collar/Leash$10Litter packung$25Scratching Post$15Carrier$40These expenses are only averages, and prices may depend on your location. Many of these are also one-time expenses, so youll only pay them during the first year. After that, youll be responsible for the recurring charges, such as food, regular vet visits and litter. These could cost about $779 per year.According to Purina, theaverage life expectancy for a cat is 12 to 15 years, depending on the breed and if your cat is an outdoor or indoor cat. Owning a cat could end up costing you from $9,348 to $11,685, or an average of $10,517.The Price Of Owning A PupOn the other hand, owning a dog is also quite pricey. However, dogs dont often live as long as cats. In fact,themedian lifespan for dogsacross 165 breeds is 11 years and three months, accordingto a study published in theJournal of Small Animal Practice.Theaverage total price of owning a d og is about $10,994, if the dog lives 11 years and three months. Thats just $477 more than owning a cat, or about $4 per month over the course of your dogs life.Ultimately, owning a dog costs just a little more than owning a cat. Whichever furry friend you choose to bring home will cost you a pretty penny. But those dollars mean nothing in comparison to the companionship youll get for years to come. Just consider the cost andstick to your budgetso you can make getting a pet a stress-free experience.This article originally appeared on Swirled.