Pets: how has spending changed over the course of 2025?

Dear pets… in every sense... This is how the survey conducted by Emg Different for Facile.it on dog and cat owners in our country could be summed up.

On average, a cat cost Italians 767 euros over the course of 2025, while a dog 1.236. Two figures that, ultimately, when compared with human consumption, are not particularly exorbitant. But over the last 12 months, the two values have risen by an average of 149 euros per animal.

Five hundred euros in an emergency

It is worth highlighting a bill of 500 euros per head for those 4,1 million owners who have had to deal with unexpected veterinary expenses. Expenses which those who had the foresight, approximately 329.000, were reimbursed for, in whole or in part, thanks to their pet insurance.

The survey, conducted in January 2026 among a representative sample of the Italian population living with a pet, also reveals the main items that make up the budget.

Food at the top of the budget

At the top of the dog ranking, naturally, is daily consumption, namely food (an average of 358 euros per year), followed by pet sitter/day care (202 euros) and healthcare expenses (193 euros).

For cats, too, this is clear: food is the main expense (240 euros), but this time the vet comes second, at 107 euros, while in third place on the podium is the purchase of litter/sand and training pads (82 euros).

Over the course of 2025, according to the interviewees, medical expenses saw the greatest increase. The checks recorded an average perceived rise of 44 euros per year per animal, almost twice the cost of food (27 euros) and much more than insurance (20 euros).

Over the course of 2025, almost 4 million people chose to postpone veterinary visits or diagnostic tests

Promotions win out for pets too

Such a substantial increase in costs has prompted very many owners to change their habits.

When it comes to food, around 2,4 million interviewees say they are now constantly looking for discounts and promotions, and 1,9 million say they opt for bulk packs, it is worrying to discover that, for financial reasons, almost 4 million people have chosen to postpone veterinary visits or diagnostic tests. However, this phenomenon has also affected very many people.

Istat explains that, as early as 2024, 9,9% of Italians (around 5,8 million) went without medical visits or treatments.

There are also few people who take out policies for their pets: 22% of the total are owners who have signed an insurance contract, a contract that remains optional in Italy.

On the other hand, more than 2,9 million have stated that they intend to take one out in the short term.

Methodological note: the survey commissioned by Facile.it from Emg Different was conducted in January 2026 through 1.903 Cawi interviews with a representative sample of the Italian population residing throughout the country.

PETS IN ITALY

Download the Assalco-Zoomark report 2025

Other articles:

Assalco-Zoomark: pet food reaches 3,1 billion

Il Viaggiator Goloso presents the new pet food range

EasyCoop launches the pet store

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.