A pet’s cost comes in three parts: the first-year setup (adoption or purchase, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, a microchip and supplies), the yearly running costs (food, routine vet care, grooming, boarding and supplies), and the unplanned ones, mainly emergency vet care. Dogs generally cost more than cats, larger dogs more than small ones, and some breeds carry known health problems that raise vet bills. This page goes through each part. It is part of our directory of what things cost in Canada.
The first year
| Expense | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Adoption or purchase | A shelter or rescue adoption fee vs a breeder’s price |
| Spaying or neutering | Often included in a rescue’s adoption fee |
| Vaccinations | A puppy or kitten series in the first months |
| Microchip and licence | One-time chipping; municipal licences for dogs (and cats in some cities) |
| Supplies | A crate, bed, leash, bowls, litter box, toys |
| A first vet exam | Plus deworming and flea and tick prevention |
| Training | Puppy classes |
The first year usually costs much more than the years after it.
Yearly costs
| Expense | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Rises with the dog’s size; prescription diets cost more | Lower than most dogs; wet food costs more than dry |
| Routine vet care | An annual exam and boosters, more often for seniors | The same pattern |
| Grooming | Depends on the coat; some breeds need regular professional grooming | Usually minimal |
| Boarding or pet sitting | When you travel | The same |
| Litter | Not applicable | A regular cost |
| Supplies, treats and toys | Ongoing | Ongoing |
| Insurance, if any | See below | See below |
How size, breed and age change the cost
Larger dogs eat more, and medication, anesthesia and some procedures are priced by weight. Purebred dogs and cats can be prone to conditions (joint problems, breathing problems, heart disease) that add vet costs. Older pets need more frequent checkups, blood work and dental care, and their insurance premiums rise.
Vet bills that aren’t routine
Emergency visits, diagnostic imaging (X-rays, ultrasound, CT or MRI), surgery such as a cruciate ligament repair, dental extractions, and cancer treatment can each cost far more than a year of routine care. Many owners keep an emergency fund for this, insure the pet, or both.
Pet insurance
The North American Pet Health Insurance Association’s (NAPHIA) 2026 State of the Industry Report puts the average accident and illness premium in Canada at $1,176 a year for a dog (about $98 a month) and $601 for a cat, for 2025. Premiums depend on the species, breed, age and where you live, and insuring a young animal is generally cheaper than insuring an older one. Whether insurance is worth it depends on the breed’s health risks, whether you would pay for advanced treatment, and whether you could cover a large bill from savings. The insurers, their reimbursement rates, deductibles and exclusions are compared in the best pet insurance in Canada.
The lifetime cost
The lifetime cost is the first-year setup plus each year’s running costs over the animal’s lifespan, plus any major vet bills. Because dogs and cats often live into their teens, the running costs add up to far more than the setup.
Example: if a cat’s yearly costs come to $2,000 and it lives 15 years, the running costs alone total $30,000, before the first year’s setup or any emergency care. The yearly figure is illustrative; your own spending decides the result.
Tax
Vet care for a pet is a personal expense. The cost of a specially trained service animal for a person with an impairment can count toward the medical expense tax credit, and businesses can deduct the costs of working animals.