Pet owners still woefully underestimate the lifetime cost of pet care

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In 2022, the first-ever Pet Lifetime of Care Study revealed interesting new insights into pet owners’ attitudes toward the cost of pet care and how they manage it. For 2025, we expanded the study to include small companion animals and mixed-pet households. This new data set allows us to take a deeper look into how people manage costs, spending and care across their pet’s lifetime.

The costs of pet ownership are real — and stressful

While pet care costs can be stressful, 2 out of 3 dog, cat and small companion animal owners and 3 out of 4 mixed-pet owners say they have ways to manage those expenses. And yet, nearly half of pet owners say unexpected expenses cause financial concern in 2025, up from 1 in 3 in 2022.

Pet care costs are up. So is the love!

The new data shows pet owners are willing to invest in a long, healthy life for their pet—even as the cost of care increases. Just how much more are pet owners paying? Since 2022, the lifetime cost to care for a dog increased by 11.65%, and lifetime cat care costs increased by 19.4%. This hasn’t lessened the love, though. Pet owners who view their pet as a family member, best friend or child increased from 75% in 2022 to 77% in 2025.

There’s a serious reality gap when it comes to pet care spending

Dog owners said they expected to pay $8,158 over 12.5 years, but the data shows the cost to care for a dog over 15 years is up to $60,602. Cat owners also underestimate the cost of care, expecting to pay $5,735 over 14.7 years, when they may really pay up to $47,106 over 15 years. And despite being pocket-sized, small companion animals come with costs that add up. These owners expected to pay $2,977 over 7.3 years, when in reality they could pay up to $14,938 over a 6-year lifespan.

Financing can help pet owners be prepared

Almost 1 in 4 pet owners are stressed about a veterinary expense of $250, and they worry most about unexpected emergencies, specialty care, and routine care. When it comes to managing costs, up to 1 in 3 pet owners would borrow money from a friend or family member, and almost 60% have an interest in a credit card with pet expense coverage. Which makes the CareCredit health and pet care credit card a standout choice to help them pay for a lifetime of care.