Are you considering adopting a fur baby? That would be great especially at this time of pandemic where you’re at home most of the time especially if you’re working from home! Adopting a pet is a great alternative rather than purchasing for not only you could save money but you can also save lives at the same time! Plus, there are lots of fur babies in need of a loving home especially in this time of Phase 2 ( Heightened Alert ).
The thought of adopting a pet itself can be very exciting but beyond that excitement, we should also keep in mind that it comes with many responsibilities and should not be based on impulsive decisions. Besides time and emotional aspects, there are financial aspects to think about too. If you would love to get a pet as soon as possible, whether a dog or a cat, then you should start gathering information about it right now and be prepared!
Here’s an overview of the costs you need to prepare before welcoming a fur baby into your life:
Cost of Adopting a Dog in Singapore
1. Cost To Adopt
Adoption fees can range from free to upwards of $350, depending on the breed, health condition, and age of the dog. Dogs from pet stores cost a lot more, with a small chihuahua costing more than $1000 and special pedigree dogs such as blue French bulldogs costing more than $10,000.
Here are some adoption shelters in Singapore we recommend for you to check out: https://www.sgsmartpaw.com/blogs/news/adopting-a-dog-in-singapore-part-ii?_pos=1&_sid=fd5d4aa16&_ss=r
2. Liscensing
You can apply for a one-time license that is valid throughout the dog’s lifetime. This applies only to sterilised dogs.
A one-year license for a dog below 5 months of age is $15. For your first three dogs, you can choose between a one-year license, two-year license, three-year license, or a one-time license.
Here’s AVA’s site to learn more about pet licensing: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/owning-a-pet/licensing-a-pet/dog-licensing-e-services
3. Sterilisation
Sterilisation costs about $150 to $500. Generally, it is more expensive to sterilise female dogs compared to male dogs.
4. Microchipping
The advantage of microchipping your dog is that you increase the chances of finding your dog if it gets lost or stolen for the microchip number acts as an identifier that cannot be tampered with by other people. If someone picks up your lost dog, they can bring it to the vet for a microchip scan where your identity would be established.
If your dog is not microchipped yet, you can bring it to the nearest vet clinic where it typically costs $50 to $90.
5. Initial Vaccinations
If your dogs are not vaccinated yet, the vaccination can be handled by most vet clinics which would cost anywhere from $30 to $60 per shot. Dogs need a series of vaccinations in their first year followed by boosters every few years.
Cost of Adopting a Cat in Singapore
1. Cost To Adopt
Adoption fees for cats can range from free to upwards of $150, depending on the breed, health condition, and age of the cat.
2. Sterilisation
A cost that is not always covered by shelters or pet shops, sterilisation can cost about $200 to $300. Generally, it is more expensive to sterilise female cats compared to male cats.
3. Microchipping
Typically, kittens are microchipped by 12 weeks old. Most shelters and breeders would have already factor in microchipping charges. Microchipping your cat is important and recommended by the AVS because it tracks pet ownership that allows easy traceability when our cats are lost.
The cost of microchipping a cat is about $70 and can be done at most vet clinics. It contains the owner’s contact information and even a brief medical history of the cat.
4. Cat Proofing Your Place
Cat proofing is essential for containing our cats at home in a safe home environment. It is important to ensure that areas cats should not wander to are well barricaded and that there aren’t any high objects that can be easily tipped over. Meshing up the house for any possible openings would help prevent our cats from wandering out. A meter and a half of plastic mesh with cable ties would cost about $20 which can be used to cat-proof our home openings.
If your cats are not vaccinated yet, the vaccination can be handled by most vet clinics which would cost anywhere from $50 to $60 per shot.
Average Cost of Owning A Pet in Singapore
Now it’s time to think in advance when you finally bring your fur baby into your home! According to www.valuechampion.com, it costs S$25,800 on average to own a dog over 10 years. Cats are less expensive, costing at least S$15,600 over 10 years. the average annual cost of the most common pet owner expenses in detail. If you're looking for an overall checklist of some of the expenses you may encounter as a pet parent, here’s the average annual cost of the most common pet owner expenses in detail:
Other Factors to Consider
It is also important to know that some costs also depend on the breed of your pet. For example, short-haired dogs such as pugs do not require many grooming sessions but are prone to medical issues such as hip dysplasia and Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome due to their body structure and short muzzle. And in contrast, dogs such as border collies require frequent grooming sessions due to their long hair but are not prone to as many medical issues compared to pugs.And for cat breeds, most cats are close in sizes and shapes but some breeds are very different compared to other breeds. For example, sphynx cats which is a breed of cat that lacks fur can lower your grooming fees but cats like these have very sensitive skin which can cause some medical conditions and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick. Short-legged cats such as munchkin cats and sausage cats can also be prone to medical conditions such as Lordosis due to their short legs.
Adopting a fur baby can be expensive in Singapore, but knowing that you can save one of the lives that were supposed to just go roaming on the streets, isn’t it worth a try? Leave a comment below and share your successful adoption stories, we would definitely love to read them!
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