Skip to main content

Here’s the Truth When Comparing the Cost of Babies to Pets

Every bundle of joy is special, but babies, puppies, and kittens all come with a price.




The question is, how much? Whether your newest family member learns to walk on two legs or four, money is unfortunately something everyone needs to consider. Those who are ready to take the next step to expand their families have a couple of options. Between babies and pets, there’s a lot of love to go around. If your new addition is human, canine, or feline, the first year of their life will require a financial commitment.

SafeWise, one of the leading names in home security, wanted to know exactly how much raising babies and pets really costs. Their team of researchers searched Amazon looking for the highest-rated products every new parent needs. They estimated the annual average cost for items that need to be purchased more than once, and they added it all up to find total amounts for babies, puppies, and kittens. SafeWise left out medical fees, vet bills, and adoption costs from animal shelters. And obviously there will be extra costs if the dog has health issues. Some purebred dog breeds have more health problems than others. Here’s what they found when it came to baby costs versus pet costs.


Even with the $1,700 for formula being optional, SafeWise proved once and for all human babies are far more expensive than fur babies. After formula, the second most costly item is diapers. Tack on essential gear like a stroller, baby clothes, car seat, and baby monitor, and you’re looking at several thousand dollars to keep your little human happy and healthy.




Second up on the list of most expensive family members is the dog. With dog food costing an average of $390 a year, dogs also need a comfy place to sleep, lots of treats, and basic grooming tools. And while SafeWise charts the annual cost of toys to be only $19, most dog owners spend more than that to keep their four-legged friends entertained.

SafeWise safety expert and copywriter Rebecca Edwards also pointed out to Wide Open Pets that keeping your pup comfy will cost you about the same as giving your baby somewhere safe to sleep. Expect to pay around $116 for a dog bed while your baby’s bassinet costs only a few dollars more.





Finally, cats are the least expensive on the list of little family members. Unlike babies and dogs, feeding your new feline friend won’t be the biggest charge on your card. SafeWise found a year’s worth of kitty litter is more expensive than a year’s worth of cat food, and that’s not even including the litter box and scooper.

Once you deal with the smelly clean up of owning a cat, there’s also the scratching post, cat bed, and cat carrier to buy. Add on smaller necessities like a collar and ID tag, and you’re looking to spend just under $1,000.




Whether you’re bringing home a new baby or have decided to adopt a puppy or kitten, there’s no denying your bank account will need to be prepared. There are ways, however, to save a few dollars. Rebecca told Wide Open Pets:

“Whether you take home a little human or a baby animal, you can always save money by connecting with other people who can pass along gently-used items. Trading for things that you need only during the baby, kitten, or puppy phases can save a lot.”

Besides physical items you can buy on Amazon, the cost of bringing up a baby, puppy, or kitten will also be affected by necessary services. There are some things you need a professional for, but there are ways to save money. Rebecca says;

“When it comes to pets, learn how to do things like grooming and nail trimming by yourself. If you don’t outsource those care taking tasks, you can have more money to spend on things like toys or little doggies sweaters.”

It doesn’t matter whether your newest addition to the family wears a diaper or is covered in fur, you’ll always have enough love to go around. They can be expensive, but they’re worth every penny. SafeWise helps us understand a little more about the potential price tags to make sure every bundle of joy receives the care they deserve.

Is there anything you’d add to the list of expenses? Let us know in the comments.


Infographics courtesy of SafeWise
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

“I’m Not Leaving You, Mama!” This is What Love Looks Like.

UPDATE: Lizzie and Phantom are currently recovering in an outdoor koala ward within the  Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital . They’re doing swimmingly; Phantom is both gaining weight and exploring his temporary habitat. And of course, mama and baby are sharing more adorable cuddles! For most species in the animal kingdom, the bond between mother and baby is incredibly strong. That's pretty much inarguable. But last week, two koalas in Australia further proved it. After they were hit by a car, Lizzie and her joey, Phantom were welcomed into the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Six-month-old Phantom had escaped the accident unscathed. Lizzie, however, wasn’t looking so good, what with facial trauma and a collapsed lung. In order to survive, she needed to go under the surgeon’s knife. But this marsupial mama wasn’t alone during the life-saving procedure. Phantom accompanied her and clung to her as she received treatment. The vets let them be; Phantom was too y...
Read more

The Sound Of This Baby Rhino Wailing After Its Mother Was Killed By Poachers Will Haunt You

It’s one of the most sorrowful sounds you’ll ever hear, but it’s also a sad reality check for anyone who thinks protected species are safe from illegal poaching. In a video released this in July, a baby rhino named Davi cries for his mother after she was shot and killed by poachers. Most rhinos spend at least three years with their mothers before weaning,  the Dodo  reports, but Davi’s childhood was cut short at just 8 months old. The baby rhino stood close by his mother’s lifeless body until rescuers arrived. They fitted her with earplugs and a blindfold to calm his anxiety on the way to The Rhino Orphanage in South Africa. Source: YouTube/Terrence Daniels Davi huddles close to his mother’s dead body. It was there that Davi spent the night crying. “His calls for mom echoed deeply and urgently throughout the night, but two carers have been with him every step of the way,”  caretakers posted . “At least he is in good physical condition [and] has no injuries...
Read more

SIGN NOW! BAN THE SALE OF CRUEL ‘LIVE ANIMAL’ KEYCHAINS

>>> Sign the petition now to tell China to ban live animal keychains! <<< Turtles, fish and lizards are being stuffed and sealed into plastic bags and sold on the streets as keychains in China. The cost of these animals lives? About $1.50. Swimming in a small pool of colored water, the animals only last until the oxygen is used up. Then, they can theoretically be released and kept as pets – although it’s doubtful that the same people who think an animal makes a nifty trinket have the slightest clue about how to properly care for them. In an interview with CNN, David Neale, animal welfare director of Animals Asia said, “Lack of food and diminishing oxygen concentrations within both the water and the small amount of air in these plastic pouches will cause the animals to die in a relatively short period of time after the pouches are sealed.” 😠So Cruel😠 ACTUAL REAL LIVE ANIMALS are being sealed into tiny plastic pouches and sold as f**king ke...
Read more