Is the AVS licence the main cost of a pet?

No. The licence is the only fee AVS publishes as a fixed table. Food, parasite control, grooming, boarding and vet care usually cost more, and those prices are set by shops and clinics.

Why is a sterilised pet’s licence so much cheaper?

AVS prices licences to encourage sterilisation. A sterilised cat or dog can have a $35 one-time licence for life, or a $15 one-year licence. An unsterilised pet pays more and renews. The vet’s sterilisation fee is separate.

Should I budget using prices from another owner’s Facebook post?

They are handy as a starting point for questions. Clinics bundle tests and medicines differently, though, and posts rarely say what was included. Your own clinic’s estimate will be more reliable.

The cost of owning a dog or cat in Singapore

By PetBuddy.sg TeamPublished 3 October 2026

Pet owner at home with a dog, reviewing notes after a veterinary visit

Tip: ask a clinic what a consultation includes before comparing headline fees.

How vet fees are quoted

Wondering about the cost of owning a dog or cat in Singapore? There is no single number that fits a Pomeranian in Tampines and a cat in a condo, because food, boarding habits and health all move the total. What you can plan for is the set of bills that turn up for almost every owner.

Prices you see on forums go out of date quickly. We recommend asking the clinic you will actually use for a written estimate. Our vet-costs article explains why two consultations that sound alike can be billed differently.

Licence fees: the one published price

AVS publishes its licence fees and updates them from time to time. As of the fee table updated on 1 September 2026, before the 10% rebate for GIRO, online or AXS payment, these apply to your first three pets. A sterilised cat or dog is $15 for one year, $25 for two years, or $35 for a one-time licence that lasts its whole life. An unsterilised cat or dog is $90 for one year, $165 for two years, or $230 for three years. Pets under five months are $15.

A fourth pet, where AVS approves one for a private home, costs more unless it qualifies for the reduced rate for a sterilised pet adopted from an AVS rehoming partner. The licence also does not include the vet’s fees for microchipping, sterilisation or vaccinations.

The bills that repeat

Food, litter and parasite control. In a healthy year, this is usually the biggest line. Ask your vet which preventives they suggest before you subscribe to a shop brand.
Vaccinations and a yearly wellness visit. Your clinic sets the schedule based on the product, so prices vary.
Grooming, for coats that mat or trap heat. Short-coated pets may need very little.
Boarding or a sitter when you travel. Festive weeks are priced and booked differently from an ordinary weekend. You can browse licensed boarders in our directory.
A savings pot for teeth, skin and the unexpected emergency. If you buy insurance, read the exclusions so you know what it covers.

Dogs and cats have different budgets

A dog adds walks and training, and in an HDB flat it needs to be an approved breed or a Project ADORE adoption. A cat adds litter, window mesh and a licence priced the same way as a dog’s. Neither is automatically cheaper. A flat-faced dog such as a pug, for example, may need more vet visits over a lifetime than a healthy cat.

If food and licence costs already feel tight each month, it may be kinder to wait a little and build a buffer first. Emergency care is the bill that stings most, and it can arrive on a Sunday as easily as a Tuesday.