Getting a new Cavalier puppy can be a very exciting time for both you and the rest of your family, but before you jump into such a commitment you need to find out all the details, such as a reputable breeder and the cost.
Cavalier puppies can cost between £1,000 ($1200) to £2,500 ($3000) for a non-pedigree dog, however, for a pedigree Cavalier, the cost starts at £2,500 ($3000) and can reach well above £4,000 ($4800).
Although this seems costly, a true Cavalier lover wouldn’t think twice about pulling out their wallet to pay for one or even two of these gorgeous doggies. But this isn’t the only price you need to consider when paying for a Cavalier, below are some of the additional costs that you may need to think about.
Initial Cost
As discussed earlier, the initial cost of a Cavalier puppy can be eye-wateringly expensive, but there are cheaper options, such as adoption, rescuing an adult Cavalier, or even caring for a close friend or relatives Cavalier.
But the initial cost is not the only expense you need to think of, there are also ongoing costs that need to be considered. The average cost of owning a Cavalier throughout their lifetime sits around the £12,000 ($14,300) mark. I am not sharing this information to dissuade you from purchasing a Cavalier, but just to prepare you, as the decision to care for another life is not to be taken lightly.
That being said, these costs are spread over their lifetime, so it isn’t as noticeable as you may think. The main expenses you may encounter will be food and health insurance, as you will see below.
Food
Cavaliers love their food, and would literally eat you out of house and home if they were allowed to, but they are like royalty, as they enjoy the finer things in life. So it is up to us to ensure that they have a full and varied diet.
Cavaliers should enjoy a mixture of wet dog food, dry dog food (kibble), and fresh foods each day to keep them in tip-top health. So as you can imagine, putting a daily price on what it would cost to feed your Cavalier would be quite difficult as people feed their dog’s different things, and with varying costs.
So for this case study, I have selected one brand of kibble, Royal Canin, to crunch the numbers in order to get a daily cost and a price comparison. Remember, that the amount of food in the tables below is a guide for a full day’s food, so if you are also feeding your Cavvy other foods then the weight of kibble must be reduced to compensate.
Royal Canin for Cavaliers – 7.5kg bag – currently priced at £46.81 on Amazon
Royal Canin for Cavaliers – 1.5kg bag – currently priced at £15.00 on Amazon
Some folk may not want to pay the extra money for the bigger bag (I must admit, I was one of those people), but there are massive advantages to bulk buying. The tables below (top one for the UK, bottom table for the USA) show how much money you can actually save.
| Dog Weight | Activity Levels | Food Intake | Daily Cost 1.5kg bag | Daily Cost 7.5kg bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5kg | Low | 85g | 85p | 53p |
| 5kg | Medium | 98g | 98p | 61p |
| 5kg | High | 111g | £1.11 | 69p |
| 6kg | Low | 97g | 97p | 61p |
| 6kg | Medium | 112g | £1.12 | 70p |
| 6kg | High | 128g | £1.28 | 80p |
| 8kg | Low | 120g | £1.20 | 75p |
| 8kg | Medium | 139g | £1.39 | 87p |
| 8kg | High | 159g | £1.59 | 99p |
| 9kg | Low | 132g | £1.32 | 82p |
| 9kg | Medium | 152g | £1.52 | 95p |
| 9kg | High | 173g | £1.73 | £1.08 |
Larger bags in the USA are harder to come by, but you lucky folks do benefit from lower costs if you purchase on a regular schedule.
A 3 lb bag of Royal Canin for Cavaliers at Chewy cost just $19.52, but if you decided to apply for the regular delivery, the price is $18.54, saving you 98 cents each time you buy.
| Dog Weight | Activity Levels | Food Intake (1 cup = 8oz) | Daily Cost $19.52 bag | Daily Cost $18.54 bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 lb | Low | 7/8 cup | $2.85 | $2.70 |
| 11 lb | Medium | 1 cup | $3.25 | $3.09 |
| 11 lb | High | 1 & 1/8 cup | $3.66 | $3.48 |
| 13 lb | Low | 1 cup | $3.25 | $3.09 |
| 13 lb | Medium | 1 & 1/8 cup | $3.66 | $3.48 |
| 13 lb | High | 1 & 3/8 cup | $4.48 | $4.25 |
| 15 lb | Low | 1 & 1/8 cup | $3.66 | $3.48 |
| 15 lb | Medium | 1 & 3/8 cup | $4.48 | $4.25 |
| 15 lb | High | 1 & 1/2 cups | $4.88 | $4.64 |
| 18 lb | Low | 1 & 1/4 cup | $4.06 | $3.86 |
| 18 lb | Medium | 1 & 1/2 cups | $4.88 | $4.64 |
| 18 lb | High | 1 & 5/8 cup | $5.29 | $5.02 |
| 20 lb | Low | 1 & 3/8 cup | $4.48 | $4.25 |
| 20 lb | Medium | 1 & 5/8 cup | $5.29 | $5.02 |
| 20 lb | High | 1 & 7/8 cup | $6.01 | $5.79 |
Health & Emergencies: Insurance Costs
We all have illnesses and accidents, even our beloved pets, no matter how careful you take care of them. So to prevent the enormous costs of veterinary care, it is very wise to take out an insurance policy.
I decided to take the top 3 pet insurance companies in both the USA and the UK and provide an insurance comparison to give you an idea of the potential costs. As insurance is a very personal thing, and the costs can vary wildly, this case study was based on a fictitious Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy called Charlie, he is a male Cavalier, and was born on June 4th, 2022. Charlie is a healthy puppy and has shown no signs of illness or injury or been unwell either now or in the past.
Please Note: The details in the tables below are merely a guide, and may not reflect a true representation of the cost for your pet, as many factors can alter the price. As I reside in the UK, I am unable to truly judge what are the top 3 pet insurance companies, I sought assistance through the internet and found a great post entitled Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2022 created by U.S News.com. This is where I received the pros and cons information, but with regards to pricing, these were also based on our fictitious dog called Charlie.
Petplan (UK)
The table below shows 4 different insurance policies (each with a 10% on-line discount), the 12 month Essential Plan is exactly that, a 12 month plan, whereas the Cover For Life plans mean that you can claim year on year for treatment, provided that you renew your policy annually without a break in cover.
| Details | 12-month Essential Plan | Cover For Life Classic | Cover For Life Classic+ | Cover For Life Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Per Month | £19.35 | £31.03 | £35.21 | £49.74 |
| Cost Per Year | £232.20 | £372.36 | £422.52 | £596.88 |
| Veterinary fees | £3,000 £85 excess | £4,000 £85 excess | £7,000 £85 excess | £12,000 £85 excess |
| Complementary treatment | £500 £75 excess | £1,000 £75 excess | £1,000 £75 excess | £2,000 £75 excess |
| Third-party liability | £1,000,000 £250 excess | £2,000,000 £250 excess | £2,000,000 £250 excess | £3,000,000 £250 excess |
| Death from illness or injury | Optional cover | Optional cover | Optional cover | £2,000 |
| Advertising & rewards | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
| Loss by theft or straying | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
| Emergency boarding fees | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
| Holiday cancellation | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £2,000 |
| Quarantine expenses & loss of documents | £1,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| Emergency repatriation | £500 | £500 | £500 | £500 |
Spot (USA)
As I have learnt through this research, there are many variables with regards to insurance, especially the amount of cover and also the reimbursement rate. This means that after the deductible is met, the insurance company will reimburse a percentage of the covered expenses. These can range from 90% to 70%, and as a result, will alter the cost of the monthly premiums.
Pros:
- Option for unlimited coverage
- Exam fee reimbursement for covered conditions
- Both accident and illness and accident-only policies are available
Cons:
- Claims forms need to be filled out and submitted online
- Only covers cats and dogs
What’s Covered?
Each type of coverage includes exam fees, diagnostics, and treatment. We even cover the most advanced treatments, like chemotherapy and surgery, and some you may not expect, such as stem-cell therapy and acupuncture, so you can follow your vet’s recommendations with less worry about cost.
Accidents
Accident coverage will take care of costs for injuries and emergencies related to accidents, like torn ligaments, bite wounds, cuts, broken bones, lodged foreign objects, and toxic ingestions.
Illnesses
With illness coverage, you’ll be reimbursed for the costs of major and minor illnesses, such as cancer, arthritis, allergies, hypothyroidism, digestive problems, and UTIs.
Hereditary & Congenital Conditions
This coverage is for the costs of inherited conditions and birth defects that don’t show symptoms until later in your pet’s life, like heart disease, IVDD, eye disorders, and hip dysplasia.
Behavioral Issues
Behavioral issues coverage can help with the costs of vet visits for concerning behaviors that may be related to anxiety or compulsive behavior, like excessive licking, fur pulling, and destruction of the home.
| Cover Type | Annual Cover | R Rate | A/D $100 | A/D $250 | A/D $500 | A/D $750 | A/D $1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accident + Illness | $2,500 | 90% | $54.42 | $44.88 | $33.77 | $28.71 | $22.79 |
| Accident + Illness | $3,000 | 90% | $59.16 | $53.62 | $36.71 | $31.21 | $24.78 |
| Accident + Illness | $4,000 | 90% | $65.02 | $53.62 | $40.34 | $34.30 | $27.23 |
| Accident + Illness | $5,000 | 90% | $69.63 | $57.43 | $43.21 | $36.74 | $29.16 |
| Accident + Illness | $7,000 | 90% | $84.13 | $69.38 | $52.20 | $44.38 | $35.24 |
| Accident + Illness | $10,000 | 90% | $95.64 | $78.88 | $59.34 | $50.46 | $40.06 |
| Accident + Illness | Unlimited | 90% | $124.18 | $102.41 | $77.05 | $65.51 | $52.01 |
| Accident Only | $2,500 | 90% | $31.81 | $26.23 | $19.74 | $16.78 | $13.32 |
| Accident Only | $3,000 | 90% | $34.58 | $28.52 | $21.46 | $18.25 | $14.48 |
| Accident Only | $4,000 | 90% | $38.00 | $31.34 | $23.58 | $20.05 | $15.91 |
| Accident Only | $5,000 | 90% | $40.70 | $33.57 | $25.25 | $21.47 | $17.04 |
| Accident Only | $7,000 | 90% | $49.17 | $40.55 | $30.51 | $25.94 | $20.59 |
| Accident Only | $10,000 | 90% | $55.90 | $46.10 | $34.69 | $29.49 | $23.40 |
| Accident Only | Unlimited | 90% | $72.58 | $59.86 | $45.04 | $38.30 | $30.39 |
| Accident + Illness | $2,500 | 80% | $46.26 | $38.15 | $28.70 | $24.40 | $19.37 |
| Accident + Illness | $3,000 | 80% | $50.29 | $41.48 | $31.21 | $26.53 | $21.06 |
| Accident + Illness | $4,000 | 80% | $55.27 | $45.58 | $34.29 | $29.16 | $23.14 |
| Accident + Illness | $5,000 | 80% | $59.19 | $48.81 | $36.73 | $31.23 | $24.79 |
| Accident + Illness | $7,000 | 80% | $71.51 | $58.98 | $44.38 | $37.73 | $29.95 |
| Accident + Illness | $10,000 | 80% | $81.29 | $67.04 | $50.45 | $42.89 | $34.04 |
| Accident + Illness | Unlimited | 80% | $105.56 | $87.05 | $65.50 | $55.69 | $44.20 |
| Accident Only | $2,500 | 80% | $27.04 | $22.30 | $16.77 | $14.26 | $11.32 |
| Accident Only | $3,000 | 80% | $29.39 | $24.24 | $18.24 | $15.51 | $12.31 |
| Accident Only | $4,000 | 80% | $32.30 | $26.64 | $20.04 | $17.04 | $13.53 |
| Accident Only | $5,000 | 80% | $34.59 | $28.53 | $21.46 | $18.25 | $14.49 |
| Accident Only | $7,000 | 80% | $41.80 | $34.47 | $25.93 | $22.05 | $17.51 |
| Accident Only | $10,000 | 80% | $47.51 | $39.19 | $29.48 | $25.07 | $19.90 |
| Accident Only | Unlimited | 80% | $61.69 | $50.88 | $38.28 | $32.55 | $25.84 |
| Accident + Illness | $2,500 | 70% | $41.08 | $33.88 | $25.49 | $21.68 | $17.21 |
| Accident + Illness | $3,000 | 70% | $44.67 | $36.84 | $27.72 | $23.57 | $18.71 |
| Accident + Illness | $4,000 | 70% | $49.08 | $40.48 | $30.46 | $25.90 | $20.56 |
| Accident + Illness | $5,000 | 70% | $52.57 | $43.36 | $32.62 | $27.74 | $22.02 |
| Accident + Illness | $7,000 | 70% | $63.51 | $52.38 | $39.41 | $33.51 | $26.60 |
| Accident + Illness | $10,000 | 70% | $72.20 | $59.55 | $44.80 | $38.10 | $30.24 |
| Accident + Illness | Unlimited | 70% | $93.75 | $77.32 | $58.17 | $49.47 | $39.27 |
| Accident Only | $2,500 | 70% | $24.01 | $19.80 | $14.90 | $12.67 | $10.05 |
| Accident Only | $3,000 | 70% | $26.11 | $21.53 | $16.20 | $13.78 | $10.93 |
| Accident Only | $4,000 | 70% | $28,69 | $23.66 | $17.80 | $15.14 | $12.01 |
| Accident Only | $5,000 | 70% | $30.73 | $25.34 | $19.06 | $16.21 | $12.86 |
| Accident Only | $7,000 | 70% | $37.12 | $30.62 | $23.03 | $19.59 | $15.54 |
| Accident Only | $10,000 | 70% | $42.20 | $34.80 | $26.18 | $22.27 | $17.67 |
| Accident Only | Unlimited | 70% | $54.80 | $45.19 | $34.00 | $28.92 | $45.19 |
Waggel (UK)
https://www.waggel.co.uk/mycavvy
Please note that I am an affiliate of Waggle, which means that I earn a small commission from anyone who purchases insurance from the above link. This comes at no extra cost to yourself, but you do get the added bonuses below, so it’s a win-win situation.
- Your first month of insurance is totally free
- Lifetime coverage including dental
- Exclusive member perks with monthly competitions and offers
- Free 24/7 vet calls
- Free dog behavior consultations
Waggle insurance provides cover for vet fees, for accidents, illnesses, and conditions up to the Annual Coverage. This includes emergency treatment, while on holiday outside of the UK, but within the member country of the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The Annual Coverage refreshes at renewal.
Within your Annual Coverage, Waggle do limit the maximum annual claim amount on specific treatments so that they can keep your policy affordable. These limits are as follows:
| Details | £1,000 | £2,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 | £8,000 | £10,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Per Month | £12.64 | £20.42 | £26.03 | £29.56 | £36.32 | £40.68 |
| Cost Per Year | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Veterinary fees | £1,000 | £2,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 | £8,000 | £10,000 |
| Complementary Treatments | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Behavioral Treatments | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Dental Treatment | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Theft or stray | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Death from accident or Illness | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| Third-Party Liability | £2million | £2million | £2million | £2million | £2million | £2million |
Lemonade (USA)
Pros:
- Three wellness plans are available
- Offers several types of discounts
- Vet visit fees are only an additional $4.83 per month
Cons:
- Not available in 15 states
- Only covers cats and dogs
Base Plan
Cover starts with the Base Plan and additional cover can be added on for extras such as blood tests and vaccines, the Base Plan covers the following:
DIAGNOSTICS: Blood tests, urinalysis, x-rays, MRIs, labwork, CT scans, and ultrasounds
PROCEDURES: Outpatient, specialty and emergency care, hospitalization, and surgery
MEDICATIONS: Injections and prescription meds
Great For Dogs Plan
Same as the Base Plan above, but with the additional items below. The Great For Dogs plan is the cost of the Base Plan plus an extra $15.00 per month.
- Base plan
- 1 wellness exam
- 1 fecal or internal parasite test
- 3 vaccines
- 1 heartworm or FeLV/FIV test
- 1 blood test
Great For Puppies Plan
Same as the Base Plan above, but with the additional items below. The Great For Puppies plan is the cost of the Base Plan plus an extra $40.00 per month.
- Base plan
- 2 wellness exams – 1 EXTRA
- 2 fecal or internal parasite tests – 1 EXTRA
- 6 vaccines or boosters – 3 EXTRA
- 1 heartworm or FeLV/FIV test
- 1 blood test
- Spay/neuter
- Microchip
- Flea/tick or heartworm medication
| Cover Type | Annual Cover | R Rate | A/D $100 | A/D $250 | A/D $500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Plan | $5,000 | 90% | $35.00 | $27.08 | $19.67 |
| Base Plan | $10,000 | 90% | $39.25 | $30.25 | $22.17 |
| Base Plan | $20,000 | 90% | $40.33 | $31.00 | $22.75 |
| Base Plan | $50,000 | 90% | $40.83 | $31.42 | $23.08 |
| Base Plan | $100,000 | 90% | $41.00 | $31.50 | $23.17 |
| Base Plan | $5,000 | 80% | $32.58 | $25.25 | $18.33 |
| Base Plan | $10,000 | 80% | $35.92 | $27.75 | $20.33 |
| Base Plan | $20,000 | 80% | $36.67 | $28.25 | $20.75 |
| Base Plan | $50,000 | 80% | $37.08 | $28.50 | $21.00 |
| Base Plan | $100,000 | 80% | $37.17 | $28.58 | $21.00 |
| Base Plan | $5,000 | 70% | $29.67 | $23.00 | $16.75 |
| Base Plan | $10,000 | 70% | $32.17 | $24.83 | $18.25 |
| Base Plan | $20,000 | 70% | $32.67 | $25.17 | $18.50 |
| Base Plan | $50,000 | 70% | $32.92 | $25.33 | $18.67 |
| Base Plan | $100,000 | 70% | $33.00 | $25.42 | $18.75 |
One thing I did notice whilst getting quotes for these insurance figures is that the Base Plan, with an 80% reimbursement rate and a $500 annual deductible is the same price for $50,000 worth of cover, as it is for $100,000 worth of cover. I have placed these two lines in bold above for you to see, as it may save you some money.
VetsMediCover (UK)
https://www.vetsmedicover.co.uk/
The table below shows 4 different insurance policies (each with a 20% on-line discount), the 12 month Essential Plan is exactly that, a 12 month plan, whereas the Lifetime plans mean that you can claim year on year for treatment, provided that you renew your policy annually without a break in cover.
Points to note:
- £90 excess per condition per policy period
- An additional 10% percentage excess for pets aged 4 or over
- An additional 20% percentage excess for pets aged 6 or over
| Details | Silver 12 Months | Gold Lifetime | Platinum Lifetime | Diamond Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost Per Month | £12.84 | £22.33 | £26.39 | £30.99 |
| Cost Per Year | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Veterinary fees | £2,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 | £10,000 |
| Complementary Treatments | £500 | £750 | £750 | £750 |
| Death benefit | £250 | £350 | £500 | £750 |
| Third-party liability | £500,000 | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 |
| Dental care | £350 | £350 | £350 | £350 |
| Dental treatment (from an accident) | £2,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 | £10,000 |
| Hereditary and congenital defects cover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Euthanasia cover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Prescription food | No | 20% of the cost up to £150 | 40% of the cost up to £200 | 40% of the cost up to £200 |
| Emergency boarding fees | £200 | £200 | £200 | £200 |
| Advertising and reward | £62.50 | £87.50 | £125.00 | £187.50 |
| Cover abroad | Up to 3 months | Up to 3 months | Up to 3 months | Up to 3 months |
Trupanion (USA)
Pros:
- No coverage limits
- Five-day waiting period for injuries
- Covers breed-specific and congenital conditions
Cons:
- 30-day waiting period for illnesses
- Only insures cats and dogs
- No coverage for exam fees
Trupanion boasts that their one simple policy was designed to cover all of your pet’s medical needs. Put simply, a Trupanion policy covers the medical expenses of new unexpected injuries and illnesses your pet may face, including:
Selecting your insurance premium seems to be a very easy process. Using my fake dog Charlie as the insured dog, I was presented with 4 possible options:
- $157.52 per month with a $0 deductible
- $92.84 per month with a $200 deductible
- $52.70 per month with a $700 deductible
- Customize Your Price
The first 3 options were their ‘popular’ selections, but the one that interested me was the ‘Customize Your Price’ option.
Selecting this option opened up a sliding bar for you to select the deductible you wish to have, giving you the price you would need to pay instantly. This was a good touch, and it was very easy to use, taking all the confusion and complexity out of selecting your Cavaliers insurance premium.
To show you the possible costs as a comparison, I have run through the ‘Customize Your Price’ slider in $50 increments and compiled the results in the table below.
| Annual Deductible | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| $0 | $157.52 |
| $50 | $127.42 |
| $100 | $111.27 |
| $150 | $100.79 |
| $200 | $92.84 |
| $250 | $86.38 |
| $300 | $80.88 |
| $350 | $76.09 |
| $400 | $71.82 |
| $450 | $67.96 |
| $500 | $64.44 |
| $550 | $61.19 |
| $600 | $58.17 |
| $650 | $55.35 |
| $700 | $52.70 |
| $750 | $50.19 |
| $800 | $47.82 |
| $850 | $45.57 |
| $900 | $43.42 |
| $950 | $41.37 |
| $1000 | $39.40 |
Final Thoughts
Caring for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel doesn’t have to be a costly process, with careful planning, comparing prices, and bulk buying, the savings can build quite quickly. Saving your hard earned cash will be music to your ears, and who knows, if you save enough money, you may be able to afford to care for two Cavaliers.
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