Pick your conditions to estimate the startup cost of welcoming a dog or cat, itemised.
Each line links straight to Amazon so you can check real prices.
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How to read the numbers
Startup costs split into three blocks: the animal itself, medical & formalities, and equipment. The animal price varies by an order of magnitude with the route you choose; medical costs are nearly identical everywhere; equipment can double or triple with your choices. The breakdown shows where you can save and where you cannot.
The routes are compared in Pet Shops & Breeders and Adopting a Rescue Dog or Cat. Turn the equipment lines into an actual list with the Preparation Checklist.
Don't forget the monthly running costs afterwards: plan roughly 10,000-30,000 yen/month for a dog and 7,000-15,000 yen/month for a cat. For large one-off vet bills, see Pet Insurance: How to Choose.
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
Roughly how much does it cost to get started?
Excluding the animal itself, plan around 50,000-100,000 yen for a dog and 40,000-80,000 yen for a cat. Including a shop-bought animal, totals reach 200,000-450,000 yen for dogs and 150,000-350,000 yen for cats.
Is rescue adoption free?
No - adoption fees of roughly 30,000-60,000 yen are standard, covering vaccines and neutering done during rescue. It is still cheaper than buying the same procedures separately, and equipment costs are identical either way.
What is not included in this estimate?
Neutering (roughly 20,000-50,000 yen) and monthly running costs (food, litter and sheets, a medical reserve). Housing-related costs such as pet deposits on rentals may also apply.
Which costs more to start, a dog or a cat?
A dog, under equal conditions: legal registration and rabies fees plus dog-specific equipment add up, and large breeds push equipment prices further.