Can you put a price on how much you love your cat or dog? Irish households spend hundreds of pounds a year on the health and well-being of their cherished pets and very few stop to count the cost.

The most expensive time for a pet owner is at the beginning of the animal's life. Bella is a five-month old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was bought by her north Dublin owner for £250 (€318) in July. Since then the veterinary bills alone have added up to £95.

Apart from the extra cost of special puppy food for the little spaniel, the next expenses Bella's owner has to look forward to are the £100 spaying operation next month and the cost of a suitable kennel.

Bella's owner has also spent money on leads and toys, and is considering taking out pet insurance because the breed can suffer from health problems.

"If you want to be fair to your pet, it's a huge responsibility and an investment of time and money," she said.

Kittens and puppies need to be vaccinated when they are still quite young. They require up to three injections costing £15 to £20 each.

Animals also need wormers, which can cost up to £17.

Add flea treatment to that and a yearly booster injection and the bill is high even before unexpected visits to the vet are taken into account.

Last month First Call Direct introduced Petplan, a comprehensive pet insurance product. Petplan is designed to cover domestic pets for full veterinary costs resulting from illness or accident.

Premiums range from £45 annually for a crossbreed cat to £99 for a pedigree dog. There are special discounts for multiple pet owners, pensioners and micro-chipped pets. It's estimated that one-in-three pets will need unexpected treatment this year.

Having a four-legged pet is an ongoing responsibility and it can be difficult to find someone to take care of your animal when you are away from home.

Many people avail of boarding kennels or catteries, which can cost from £3 to £7 per day. That's a hidden cost for pet-owners who are planning to take holidays away from home.

The ISPCA has found that holidays are a testing time for pet-owners. The organisation regularly gets call from neighbours complaining that an animal has been abandoned in a back garden and left to fend for itself.

Feeding, watering and giving some attention to an animal on a daily basis is not an easy job to fill but it can't be left to chance.

Of all household pets, cats and dogs are the most common and consume the most food. An average-sized dog will eat at least one tin of dog food a day and perhaps dry food as well. Depending on how fussy the dog is about brands, this could cost up to £10 per week.

Not only do cats eat less than their old enemy, they are also very particular about their appearance and will groom themselves regularly.

To keep their coats in good condition, dogs should be groomed every three to four months. Of course this can be done by the owner but the long-haired breeds can be a hassle. Professional grooming costs £15 to £25, depending on the size of the dog.

Micro-chipping is available for animals and recommended by the ISPCA. The chips are about the size of a rice grain and are placed beneath the skin at a specific point by injection.

Encoded on a the chip is a specific code number unique to the pet that is registered, along with details of its breed, sex, age and, most importantly, the owners name, address and telephone numbers.

The main benefit of having one is that, should your pet ever be lost or a dispute over ownership arises, there is a quick and reliable way to establish who is the rightful owner.

Information on the microchip can only be read with a special scanner, which all the ISPCA shelters and vets are equipped with, and every lost animal is checked for the presence of a microchip.

For those who like to spoil their pets, there are lots of toys and treats available, as well as very comfortable kennels and indoor bedding. There is almost no limit to what you can spend on your pet.

For instance, there is the pet car seat (available from www.petvogue.com). This booster-style seat for small pets has a seat belt slot for security and is available in black, khaki/gold and paisley. The seat has a lambswool interior and is a steal at $66.95 (€72.96)!

Or, for the kitty in your life, why not invest in a cat drinking fountain for $45.95 or, for those special occasions, a cat bow tie for $12.95? And be warned, it gets even sillier than that.