By MoneyBees
The lifetime cost of a dog or cat in Singapore: AVS licence fees, HDB rules and your own food, vet, grooming and insurance costs over the years you care for it.
It depends on your dog's food, vet care, grooming and insurance, which vary widely, so the calculator uses your own figures. The fixed government cost is small: a sterilised dog needs one AVS lifetime licence of S$35, or S$31.50 paid online.
AVS charges the same for dogs and cats. Sterilised: S$15 for 1 year, S$25 for 2 years or S$35 for life. Not sterilised: S$90, S$165 or S$230 for 3 years. You get 10% off by paying through GIRO, online or AXS.
Yes. Cat licensing started on 1 Sep 2024 with a free two-year transition, and keeping an unlicensed pet cat has been an offence since 1 Sep 2026. Cats must be microchipped before they are licensed.
One dog from HDB's list of 61 approved breeds, or a cross of two of them. Through Project ADORE you may instead adopt one local mixed-breed dog up to 55cm tall. HDB flats may also keep up to 2 cats.
Up to 3 dogs or cats in total, according to AVS.
AVS gives a lifespan of 18 years for both, and calls owning a pet a lifelong commitment. Enter the years you expect to care for yours.
A sterilised dog or cat can have a one-time licence for life at S$35. An unsterilised one pays S$230 every 3 years, so over 15 years the licences alone cost S$1,150.
Usually not. AVS lists vaccinations and flea, tick or worm control among the exclusions most insurers apply. Use the pet insurance calculator to weigh a policy against your vet bills.
Junxiong-WFG Organisation is an authorised representative of AIA Financial Advisers Private Limited (Reg. No. 201715016G).