Pet Wombat
A wombat looking over the top edge of the page

A year with a Labrador Retriever

£1,263a year, before illness

Dog or cat

Starting weight 30 kg: middle of PDSA's range. Assumption Weigh yours and type it in.

Read about it

Everything under Food

1,436 kcal a day, 150 kg a year

£669

Assumption

Dry food: 3,500 kcal/kg, an assumption from four published labels, 3,500 to 4,050 kcal/kg. Price: £4.47/kg, the median of the first 48 dry dog foods on zooplus.co.uk, read 2 November 2026 from Portugal. Page order, not a market average. Type the figures off your own bag.

Calories: Merck Veterinary Manual, 70 x kg^0.75 x 1.6. Animals vary by 30% or more, so treat it as a starting point.

Read about it

Everything under Food

From the catalog

Calories: Merck Veterinary Manual, 70 x kg^0.75 x 1.6. Animals vary by 30% or more, so treat it as a starting point.

From the catalog

Treats

Battersea: £120 to £360 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle.

Battersea: £120 to £360 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle.

Flea and worm treatment, boosters, a yearly check. Illness is on top.

Battersea: £26 a month, £312 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. Fleas, worming, vaccinations and a yearly check.

Battersea: £26 a month, £312 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. Fleas, worming, vaccinations and a yearly check.

Blank until you type your own quote. Yours will differ from any average.

Blank on the bill. For scale: Which? reported £11.68 a month from Go Compare quotes, January to May 2025. Battersea says £20 to £60. Quotes vary by breed and postcode.

Blank on the bill. For scale: Which? reported £11.68 a month from Go Compare quotes, January to May 2025. Battersea says £20 to £60. Quotes vary by breed and postcode.

Battersea: £3.50 a month, £42 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'.

Battersea: £3.50 a month, £42 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'.

Professional grooming

not added

Battersea: £240 to £600 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle. Off by default, since short coats may not need it.

Battersea: £240 to £600 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle. Off by default, since short coats may not need it.

Pet sitting or kennels

not added

Battersea: £390 to £1,200 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle. Off by default.

Battersea: £390 to £1,200 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle. Off by default.

not added

PDSA, calculated 2024: £560 for a large dog, excluding the dog itself and the microchip. The size split at 10 and 25 kg is our assumption.

PDSA, calculated 2024: £560 for a large dog, excluding the dog itself and the microchip. The size split at 10 and 25 kg is our assumption.

Total a year

Before any illness. About £105 a month.

£1,263

To compare: Battersea says about £1,800 to £2,000 a year, page updated 13 October 2026. PDSA's minimum, calculated 2024, is £69 to £116 a month, with food and insurance included.

To compare: Battersea says about £1,800 to £2,000 a year, page updated 13 October 2026. PDSA's minimum, calculated 2024, is £69 to £116 a month, with food and insurance included.

What this assumes. Adult animal, kept at a steady weight. Puppies, kittens, pregnancy and illness aren't covered: ask your vet. Food prices are medians from one store's listing page, not a market average. Every assumption and source

Every assumption and source

The bill is a starting point for adult pets at a steady weight. Calories come from the Merck Veterinary Manual formula, which can miss by 30% or more for one animal. It leaves out vet treatment for illness, puppies and kittens, and pregnancy: ask your vet about those. Anything marked Assumption is our choice, not a published figure. You can overwrite any amount on the bill.

FigureUsedWhere it comes from
Cross-check, cat£1,500, not addedTo compare: Battersea says about £1,500 a year, page updated 6 July 2026. PDSA's minimum, calculated 2024, is £79 a month, with food and insurance included. PDSA: the cost of owning a cat
Cross-check, dog£1,800, not addedTo compare: Battersea says about £1,800 to £2,000 a year, page updated 13 October 2026. PDSA's minimum, calculated 2024, is £69 to £116 a month, with food and insurance included. PDSA: the cost of owning a dog
Dry cat food, caloriesAssumption3,500 kcal/kgDry cat food: 3,500 kcal/kg, an assumption. Few makers publish this, so check your bag. Royal Canin Academy: dry food runs 2,800 to 4,800 kcal/kg
Dry cat food, priceAssumption£6.00/kgPrice: £6.00/kg, the median of the first 48 dry cat foods on zooplus.co.uk, read 2 November 2026 from Portugal. Page order, not a market average. zooplus.co.uk listing
Dry dog food, caloriesAssumption3,500 kcal/kgDry food: 3,500 kcal/kg, an assumption from four published labels, 3,500 to 4,050 kcal/kg. Royal Canin Academy: dry food runs 2,800 to 4,800 kcal/kg
Dry dog food, priceAssumption£4.47/kgPrice: £4.47/kg, the median of the first 48 dry dog foods on zooplus.co.uk, read 2 November 2026 from Portugal. Page order, not a market average. zooplus.co.uk listing
First-year kit, cat£366PDSA, calculated 2024: about £366, excluding the cat itself. Battersea's one-off list adds up to £232.50. PDSA: the cost of owning a cat
First-year kit, large dog£560PDSA, calculated 2024: £560 for a large dog, excluding the dog itself and the microchip. PDSA: the cost of owning a dog
First-year kit, medium dog£531PDSA, calculated 2024: £531 for a medium dog, excluding the dog itself and the microchip. PDSA: the cost of owning a dog
First-year kit, small dog£415PDSA, calculated 2024: £415 for a small dog, excluding the dog itself and the microchip. PDSA: the cost of owning a dog
Insurance benchmark, cat£9.08/month, not addedBlank on the bill. For scale: Which? reported £9.08 a month from Go Compare quotes, January to May 2025. Battersea says £24. Quotes vary by breed and postcode. Which?, 29 July 2025
Insurance benchmark, dog£11.68/month, not addedBlank on the bill. For scale: Which? reported £11.68 a month from Go Compare quotes, January to May 2025. Battersea says £20 to £60. Quotes vary by breed and postcode. Which?, 29 July 2025
LitterAssumption£300Battersea: £20 to £30 a month, page updated 6 July 2026. We use £25. Battersea: the cost of owning a cat
Pet sitting, cat£140Battersea: £140 a year, page updated 6 July 2026. Off by default. Battersea: the cost of owning a cat
Pet sitting, dogAssumption£795Battersea: £390 to £1,200 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle. Off by default. Battersea: the cost of owning a dog
Poo bags£42Battersea: £3.50 a month, £42 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. Battersea: the cost of owning a dog
Professional groomingAssumption£420Battersea: £240 to £600 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle. Off by default, since short coats may not need it. Battersea: the cost of owning a dog
Routine health, cat£180Battersea: £10 a month plus a £60 yearly vet check, page updated 6 July 2026. Fleas, worming, vaccinations. Battersea: the cost of owning a cat
Routine health, dog£312Battersea: £26 a month, £312 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. Fleas, worming, vaccinations and a yearly check. Battersea: the cost of owning a dog
Treats, dogAssumption£240Battersea: £120 to £360 a year, page updated 13 October 2026, table costed 'at the time of writing'. We use the middle. Battersea: the cost of owning a dog
Wet food, caloriesAssumption1,000 kcal/kgWet food: 1,000 kcal/kg, an assumption, the middle of the 700 to 1,300 range. Royal Canin Academy