Pet Expenses: How to Prepare

As far as investments go, pets are pretty great — cuddles, constant companionship, and unconditional love are all solid returns. But even though their company is free, there is a cost to giving your animal the best care possible. In just the first year of life, you can expect to spend around $1,675 for a dog and $1,101 for a cat for food, toys, vet visits, pet insurance, and more. 

We read all the pet questions you sent to our Mailbag and posted in our private HerMoney Facebook Group, and this episode, we brought in a pet expert to help us answer them. Rob Jackson is the founder and “Chief Pet Protector” at Healthy Paws, a pet insurance plan that has more than 550,000 pet parents on board. Rob also created the Healthy Paws Foundation, which has given more than $2 million to hundreds of pet rescues and shelters over the last 10 years.

Rob and Jean tackle questions about how to determine a pet’s temperament before you adopt, whether you should set aside savings in advance for unexpected treatments, how pet insurance works for older animals, and more. They also share stories of the adorable dogs in their own lives (including HerMoney’s resident cockapoo Norman) and muse on the difference between a pet owner and a pet parent. If your dog or cat spoons you, you’re a pet parent, says Rob. 

Visit the Healthy Paws website to learn more about pet insurance and get a free, instant quote today!