Compare And Contrast The Cost Of Pet Ownership

Pet ownership has grown in popularity. Today, over half American households owns a pet. Every year, many people face the challenge of what type of pet to adopt. Usually the top two contenders are cats and dogs. When determining what type of pet to adopt, there are many factors people need to consider such as: affordability, maintenance, and self-sufficiency. Although dogs are considered better companions, ultimately cats are less expensive, low maintenance, and more independent than dogs. Probably the most important factor when deciding to adopt a pet is affordability. Whether a person chooses a cat or dog, adopting a pet is a serious financial commitment. Granted pet ownership is expensive regardless, owning a cat is less expensive.
When comparing the cost of adoption, spay or neutering, and housing essentials, the costs associated with cats are significantly less than dogs.
When comparing the cost of pet adoption, one important consideration is the size of the pet.
Overall, adult cats are similar in size. It’s safe to say, they’re relatively small animals. Dogs however, range from toy breeds to giant breeds. The size of a dog usually affects the cost of adoption. Pet adoption varies state to state, but generally it’s cheaper to adopt a cat than it is to adopt a dog. The size of a pet is usually also the determining factor of the cost of spaying or neutering. Spaying or neutering a pet is an additional cost pet owners must consider when adopting a pet. Spaying or neutering is a suggested procedure because of the health benefits and to prevent unwanted litters. Most adoption clinics require a pet to be spayed or neutered before adoption. Sometimes the fee is added to the adoption cost, while other times it’s an additional cost. Either way, most of the time the cost of spaying or neutering is based on the gender and size of the pet. As stated earlier, cats are generally small animals and are relatively similar in size. Dogs, however, aren’t. Costs associated with spaying or neutering will be less for cats. When considering all the costs associated with pet ownership, a large expense is spent on housing
essentials. An important expense to consider when choosing between a cat and dog is housing essentials. Dogs need more housing equipment than cats. Upon entering a pet store, one can observe that the dog section is much larger than the cat section. Dogs have entire aisles dedicated to leashes, treats, and toys, while cats usually have only a couple aisles that combine their housing essentials. Therefore when choosing between a cat and dog, if affordability is a large concern, cats are the best option. Another factor when selecting a cat or dog is maintenance.
Pet maintenance is both time-consuming and costly.
Pet maintenance includes grooming, feeding, and exercising. Cats require less maintenance than dogs. Cats are very clean animals and rarely require a bath. Only certain cat breeds require professional grooming. Dogs require regular bathing and a lot of breeds, especially hypoallergenic dogs, require professional grooming. The cost of weekly or monthly grooming adds up fast. Cats generally eat less than dogs because of their size. As a result, their portion sizes are smaller. A person has to buy less cat food and it lasts longer. Cat food is also less expensive than dog food. Another part of pet maintenance is exercising. When walking down the street, a person rarely sees a cat being walked. That’s because cats are capable of exercising and entertaining themselves. Dogs require a lot of attention. They want to play, go on walks, and like to be around humans. Cats aren’t like that, which leads to the final comparison. Cats are more
self-sufficient.
When adopting a pet, most potential owners don’t consider self-sufficiency. People don’t consider how much of their time pets actually need. Pets need attention, some more than others. Potential pet owners don’t consider how their pet will be affected when they leave, whether it’s for work or a vacation. Cats are known for their independence. Cats can go long periods of time without a human. Cats don’t need the constant affection dogs require. When leaving for vacation, a pet owner doesn’t have to be as concerned with a cat compared to if they left a dog. Dogs are known for their dependency. Dogs can’t be left alone for too long, especially if they are inside dogs. If they are inside dogs, they need to be walked, let out to use the restroom, and need daily attention and affection. Each time a dog owner leaves for vacation, the thought of dog sitting is an added stress. Dog owners need to consider if they’ll have someone watch their dog or have them boarded. Dogs are more likely to become stressed when their owner leaves, another consideration when choosing between a cat and dog. A cat’s lack of dependency allows a pet owner to go as they please. As long as they have food and water, a cat is fine. Even then, cats are natural hunters. If necessary, cats are able to hunt birds and rodents. It’s not so simple with dogs. Dogs need to be fed, bathed, and exercised by humans. Therefore when considering adoption, the three factors a person should consider are affordability, maintenance, and self-sufficiency.
Pet ownership is a huge responsibility. There are many factors to take into consideration before adopting a pet. There are several pets available to be adopted. The two most popular pets are cats and dogs. Most people know whether they are a cat or dog person. This most often is the determining factor when adopting. Others aren’t so sure. When that’s the case, it’s important to consider three factors: affordability, maintenance, and self-sufficiency. Although dogs are great pets, when taking into account the three factors, cats are the obvious choice. Cats are less expensive, require less maintenance, and are independent animals. For that reason, people considering adoption should adopt a cat.