How much does a dog, horse or cat cost in Switzerland?

About 3 million fish swim in Swiss aquariums. More than 1.6 million cats and 500,000 dogs live among us and there are also around 80,000 horses in Swiss paddocks. Keeping an animal means taking responsibility and also incurring certain costs.

But how much does a pet actually cost in Switzerland?

"A horse costs you as much per month as a boat". It's not uncommon to hear this. We got to the bottom of this and did some research: How much does a dog cost, how much does a horse cost and how much does a cat cost? You'll know after reading this article and we look forward to reading about your experiences in the comments!

How much does a horse cost in Switzerland? 🐎

How much does a horse cost to buy? A healthy horse with solid basic training costs around CHF 10,000 - 15,000 in Switzerland. A pedigree horse with specialised training naturally costs much more and a sick foster horse can also be given as a gift. The The range is wide, but you should reckon with at least CHF 10,000.
How much does a horse cost per month? In terms of maintenance, horses are probably the most expensive animals that we typically keep. Monthly costs of around CHF 800-1,200 are incurred for a boarding stable. 6kg of hay quickly adds up to CHF 150 in monthly costs. Farrier (approx. CHF 200), vet and possibly riding instructor also visit regularly and leave a bill. Insurance against illness or liability should not be neglected and the scope of benefits should be carefully compared.
What are the one-off costs I have to pay as a horse owner? In addition to the purchase of the horse, there are also costs for equipment such as a saddle. Up to CHF 4,000 should typically be assumed here.
How much does a horse cost from birth to death? With an average life expectancy of 27 years, a horse costs around CHF 32,600 excluding purchase costs. Riding lessons, particularly expensive medical costs or an expensive pedigree horse can, of course, distort the calculation enormously.

How much does a dog cost in Switzerland? 🐕

How much does a dog cost in the purchase? A puppy from a reputable kennel quickly costs around CHF 2,000. Of course, there are also dogs from animal shelters for CHF 200 or a gift from a neighbour. However, make sure you choose a trustworthy breeder so that your purchase does not support the illegal pet trade.
How much does a dog cost per month? A dog will cost you around CHF 1,200 per month after the first year. Food (around CHF 70 per month) and the dog school (around CHF 500) will be the most significant costs.
What are the one-off costs I have to pay as a dog owner? You can get a lead, collar and dog basket from around CHF 120. Compulsory dog school (CHF 500), chip and vet (CHF 100) are the biggest one-off costs you can expect as a dog owner.
How much does a dog cost from birth to death? With an average life expectancy of 11.5 years, a dog costs around CHF 14,900 excluding the purchase costs. Food and vet costs are the biggest expense, but you should also think about things like dog school and tax in the long term. Going on holiday? A boarding kennel for your dog will also cost a lot.

How much does a cat cost in Switzerland? 🐈

How much does a cat cost in the purchase? You can often get a cat for free from a farmer in the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, you can easily pay CHF 300 for a tested, healthy cat from an animal shelter or CHF 2,000 from a breeder.
How much does a cat cost per month? Cats are easy to care for and inexpensive to maintain. Cat food varies in cost depending on the quality and will cost you around CHF 50-100 per month.
What are the one-time costs I have to pay as a cat owner? Scratching post, neutering, bowl and chip cost around CHF 300 and are actually only incurred once. A cat flap is not expensive in the purchase, however, if necessary the assembly can become expensive. One should absolutely consider this depending upon dwelling.
How much does a cat cost from birth to death? With an average life expectancy of 13 years, a cat will cost around CHF 9,000 excluding purchase costs. Separate medical costs or a boarding kennel while you are on holiday are not included here, nor is the purchase price. A pedigree cat can quickly cost many thousands of francs to buy.

Pet budget: managing finances smartly

Before buying a pet: Be aware that some of the above costs are likely to come your way. So save on the necessary purchase costs, the initial equipment and health care (vaccination, castration or similar) and also for a small setback. It is not uncommon to discover a health problem with an animal shortly after purchase. Give it back? For this the new family member has already grown too close to your heart. An operation can be expensive, so consider an Health insurance for your pet to lock up. Veterinarians often recommend Epona because they have vets working there and they can take good care of you.

Incidentally, riding accidents are not covered by every liability insurance. So make sure to check what is insured with you.

You already have an animal? Then we are especially happy for you! So that an illness or accident does not become a financial risk for you: Save a small emergency reserve and consider health insurance for your pet.

2 financial tips for pet owners

save fees

Traditional banks are masters at hiding fees. Not so with neon. No matter if abroad or for account management, the Swiss account of Neon offers you enormous advantages! The saved fees are enough for 2 months of cat food!

Learn more

Bank account

Managing finances smart

No matter if you are saving for a new saddle, you need money spontaneously because your dog gets sick or an emergency happens: At Selma Finance your assets are always managed according to your personal situation. A free financial check-up is also available through us, more about this in the article.

Learn more

Assets

Conclusion: How much does a dog, horse or cat cost?

For the sake of simplicity, we would like to summarise the answer to the question: "What does a cat, a horse or a dog cost" in a few figures. Let's take the typical costs over 5 years as a typical pet owner in Zurich. An average horse will cost you around CHF 14,700. An average dog costs around CHF 8,600 and a cat around CHF 4,030.

Now we have talked extensively about the costs of pets, but have completely neglected the savings! Because it has been proven that a dog or horse, for example, keeps us fit and can therefore reduce our own health costs. Not to mention all the positive energy, emotional connection and joy we get from animals.

Do you have any more questions or suggestions on this topic?

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