New research from specialist pet insurance provider, Insure Your Paws, conducted by Opinium among 1,000 UK pet owners*, reveals that dog owners spend almost twice as much as cat owners each year.

Dog owners expect to have spent an average of £2,101 on their pets in 2025, compared with £1,124 for cat owners. Owning a dog often involves extra costs such as grooming, walking and training – expenses not usually needed for our feline friends.

24%* of all pet owners say money is no object when it comes to their pet’s health and happiness, while the same proportion admit they would rather cut back on spending for themselves than for their furry friend. 23%* who use a groomer spend more on their dog’s haircut than their own.

Dog and Cat Owners: Average annual spend in 2025

1. Vet bills including vaccinations, flea and worming, annual health check, Pet Health Plan, treatment for illnesses or injuries, medication and anything reimbursed from pet insurance
2. Adding rounded averages results in a total of £2,102 for dogs, but the accurate total is £2,101.

While the survey found the average annual routine vet bills are £370 for dogs and £250 for cats, serious health problems can cost far more. Insure Your Paws’ claims analysis** shows that treatment for a dog swallowing a household item can cost over £7,500, a fracture over £4,500 and liver failure over £7,600.  Treatment for a cat with urinary tract disease can cost over £6,000 and a cat injured in a road accident may need treatment costing over £6,600.

Andrew Simpson, Head of Pet at Insure Your Paws, said: “From toys to treats, it’s easy for spending on pets to mount up, but the biggest costs often come when we least expect them. Having the right pet insurance in place means that if your pet becomes ill, or is involved in an accident, you can focus on your pet’s wellbeing, rather than worrying about how you are going to pay potentially significant unexpected vet bills.”

He continues: “We listened to our customers and relaunched Insure Your Paws this year with more flexible, customisable pet insurance. Pet owners can now adjust vet fee limits, add optional extras, and choose a voluntary excess to build a policy that works for them.”