For many Americans, financial planning isn’t only about their own future. Their pets are part of the equation, too.
The costs associated with caring for a pet have always factored into household budgets, from food and routine veterinary visits to unexpected medical expenses. But new survey data suggests the financial influence of pets can stretch much further into the future. Some people are willing to reconsider when they retire to afford an aging pet’s care, while others plan to explicitly account for their pets in their estate plans.
According to a recent survey, Modern Pet Parenthood Report, commissioned by Spot Pet Insurance, of more than 3,600 U.S. dog and cat parents ages 18–64, many people are weighing their pet’s needs against major financial decisions like retirement and estate planning.
In a survey of 3,600 respondents, the findings show how pet parenthood can intersect with two of life’s biggest financial decisions: retirement and what happens to someone’s assets after they’re gone.
When Retirement Plans Bend for a Pet
Retirement is often the culmination of decades of financial planning. Yet for a significant share of respondents, providing for a pet could be enough to change that timeline.
When asked whether they would actively delay their target retirement age by two to five years if working longer allowed them to comfortably afford premium medical care, daily wellness therapies, and comfort for an aging pet, 42% said yes — they would extend their careers to give their pet a better quality of life. Only 18% said their own retirement timeline would take priority, while another 31% said it would depend on their pet’s specific medical needs (the remaining 9% were already retired or said the question didn’t apply).
The findings suggest that for many working pet parents, retirement planning may involve more than calculating their own future living expenses. The potential cost of caring for an aging pet could influence how long they remain in the workforce and how much they feel they need to save before retiring.
Leaving a Legacy, For the Dog Too
For some pet parents, planning financially for their pets extends beyond their own lifetime.
When respondents were asked whether they plan to explicitly earmark funds or property for the ongoing care of their pets as part of a long-term estate plan, will, or financial legacy, 41% said they plan to do so — 28% alongside human heirs or charitable causes, and another 13% ahead of them entirely.
By comparison, 27% said their assets would go strictly to human heirs or charitable causes, and 32% haven’t yet thought about estate planning for their pets at all.
The results highlight an aspect of pet care that can be easy to overlook: making plans for who will care for a pet—and how that care will be funded—if their pet parent is no longer able to do so.
The Bill Doesn't Stop at Puppyhood
It’s easy to think about the financial side of pet parenthood in terms of a monthly or annual budget. Food, preventive care, grooming, supplies, and veterinary bills are some of the most visible costs.
But those expenses don’t necessarily stay predictable throughout a pet’s life. As pets age, their needs may change, potentially adding new medical care, medication, mobility support, or other ongoing expenses.
The survey findings suggest some pet parents are thinking about those possibilities within a much longer financial horizon. The potential cost of caring for a pet isn’t simply affecting what people spend today—it may influence how they plan for years or even decades ahead.
That can mean deciding how much to save, determining when retirement feels financially feasible, or considering how a pet’s care fits alongside other priorities in an estate plan.
Pets Have Entered the Financial Chat
The financial realities of pet parenthood can extend far beyond the initial decision to bring home a pet.
For many respondents, providing for their pets means considering their needs alongside some of life’s most consequential financial choices. More than four in 10 would be willing to work years longer to help afford care for an aging pet, and a similar share plans to earmark assets for a pet’s ongoing care as part of their estate planning.
The decisions are deeply personal, and not every pet parent will make the same trade-offs. But the findings point to a broader reality: For a substantial number of Americans, planning for their financial future also means planning for their pets’ future.
We’re pet parents first—and writers, marketers, and product developers by trade—combining lived experience with industry expertise in everything we create.
