Kentucky city named among top 10 most affordable in the US for pet owners. Here’s why

Louisville pet owners are in for a treat. Forbes recently ranked the city as the ninth best in the U.S. for pet owners.

It falls right above Glendale, Ariz., and right below Kansas City, Mo., in the April report.

The rankings were done by measuring the cost of veterinary fees, vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries and other factors. Forbes gave Louisville 89.3 points out of 100, with the city reportedly boasting the third lowest veterinary fees in the country and the 17th highest concentration of vet offices.

Cincinatti, Ohio, also made the list, ranking No. 5 with a score of 91.45 out of 100.

Here’s how much it costs to own a pet in Louisville, according to Forbes:

• Dog and cat vet visits: $57.95
• Dog vaccinations: $196.82
• Cat vaccinations: $85.82
• Dog spay/neuter surgeries: $451.95
• Cat spay/neuter surgeries: $267.20
• Dog and cat dental cleanings: $346.95

Both dogs and cats are required to have up-to-date tags in Louisville. Tags can be purchased in either one-year or three-year increments, and all pets be properly vaccinated against rabies.

According to Forbes, 66% of households in the U.S. have pets, a 10% increase from 1988. The three most popular pets in the nation are dogs, cats and freshwater fish.

Here Forbes’ top 10 cities for pet owners:

1. Tucson, Ariz.
2. Raleigh, N.C.
3. Nashville, Tenn.
4. Wichita, Kansas
5. Cincinnati, Ohio
6. Plano, Texas
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Kansas City, Mo.
9. Louisville, Ky.
10. Glendale, Ariz.

Do you have a question about animals in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

Lindsay Smith

The Wichita Eagle

Lindsay Smith is a suburban news reporter for the Wichita Eagle, covering the communities of Andover, Bel Aire, Derby, Haysville and Kechi. She has been on The Eagle staff since 2022 and was the service journalism reporter for three years. She has a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism from Wichita State, where she was editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, The Sunflower, for two years. You can reach her via email at lsmith@wichitaeagle.com.