Pets come first: US pet parents cut lifestyle spending as care costs rise
A survey reveals that the monthly budget for pet care rose 20% in one year, with preventive care and wellness spending driving much of the increase.
Over 3 in 5 pet owners in the United States would cut back on their own lifestyle expenses before sacrificing their pets’ needs, according to a new survey by Talker Research conducted on behalf of MetLife Pet Insurance.
Pet owners say they tend to splurge on high-quality food (66%), new toys (40%) and grooming sessions (24%).
The survey also asked what they do to support their pets’ long-term well-being. The most common measures include staying up to date on vaccinations (48%) and purchasing high-quality food (46%), in accordance with the spending patterns. Others ensure their pets get regular exercise (45%) and are regularly groomed (42%).
The research was conducted among 2,000 dog and cat owners aged 18 and above across the US in December 2025.
Preventive care
Regular vet visits are a priority for more than 6 out of 10 (61%) pet owners. Notably, 60% of these visits are preventive, while 40% are reactive when something is wrong.
Regular checkups helped more than a third of pet owners (37%) identify a health concern early, according to the survey.
At the same time, owners are preparing for emergencies, as more than 1 in 5 reports that their pet experienced a major unexpected health event in 2025 (22%), nearly double the 13% recorded in 2024.
While pet owners were more financially prepared for these costs (71% vs. 52%), the average bill still reached $555 (€511).
Rising costs and spending
According to the survey, in 2025, pet owners spent $1,135 (€1,044) on health-related expenses for their pets, with $472 (€434) allocated to insurance and the remaining $663 (€610) to vet visits.
This marks an increase from $998 (€918) in 2024, when $348 (€320) was spent on insurance and $650 (€598) on vet visits. Talker Research surveyed 2,000 dog and cat owners between 25 and 28 November 2024.
Due to rising pet care costs, owners are increasingly creating budgets, with nearly half setting a spending limit in 2025 (48%), up from 42% the previous year. However, the average monthly budget rose 20% to $138 (€127) in 2025, compared to $115 (€106) in 2024.
Looking ahead, 37% of pet owners expect to spend more on their pets in 2026.
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