THIS is How Much it Costs to Have a Pet in Iowa We all love cute, cuddly kittens and sweet, heart melting puppies, right? Also melting when you get a new fur baby: your wallet. I crunched some numbers, with help from a Yahoo News story, and local Iowa resources like the Iowa Humane Alliance. What I found out was, yes; pets cost a whole lot, but also, they're worth it! One pet will cost ya over $10K in its lifespan According to the study from Yahoo News, our furry friends end up costing us roughly $111 per month. That's for a cat or a dog... no word on the cost of that croc you legally can't own in Iowa. Before we get to monthly costs, you have about $175 for adoption costs and initial supplies. That's taking into account pretty much everything from food and toys to vet bills and medicine. Crunching more numbers, that all ends up running you a lofty $13,320 over 10 years. That is the average lifespan of most dogs and cats. If your kitty or pooch hangs in there another few years, you're well over $15,000. Yes, that comma is in the correct spot.