1. Numbers must be honest
- No invented statistics. We do not publish figures presented as market averages, national spending data or survey results unless we can point to a source.
- Labelled examples. Worked examples on calculator pages are described as examples every time, and the note below each one says so.
- Adjustable suggestions. Default values in calculators are starting points. They are clearly editable and are described as suggestions rather than facts.
- Ranges are ranges.The low and high figures shown alongside a total are simple arithmetic around the user's own number, and the page explains exactly how they are produced.
2. No fake social proof
We do not publish fabricated testimonials, invented reviews, made-up star ratings or fictional user stories. If we ever introduce reviews or user-submitted content, it will be clearly attributed, moderated and identified as user-submitted.
3. Separation of advertising and editorial
Advertising supports the site, including display advertising through networks such as Google AdSense. Advertising is labelled as advertising and is never styled to look like a calculator control, a result or an editorial recommendation. Advertisers do not review, approve or influence calculator outputs or editorial content before publication.
When commercial relationships exist in future — product recommendations, affiliate links, sponsored listings or partner directories — they will be disclosed on the page, close to the content concerned. We do not currently operate affiliate links or sponsored listings.
4. Country-specific content
The USA, UK and Australia pages are written for each market rather than generated from one template with the currency symbol changed. That means local terminology, local units, local regulatory details and examples that make sense in that market. We would rather have fewer pages that say something useful than many near-identical pages that say nothing.
5. Health and veterinary content
- We do not publish veterinary diagnoses, treatment instructions or medication advice.
- Health-related content stays general and always points readers to their own veterinary practice for anything specific to an animal.
- Feeding estimates are described as estimates, with the formula used stated openly, and readers are told to confirm portions with a vet or vet nurse.
6. Sources and expertise
Where a page describes a practice or a requirement — microchip rules, licensing, insurance policy structures, parasite prevention guidance — the description is general, current at the time of writing, and written to be checked against the reader's own regulator, council, insurer or vet. We do not present our own interpretation as legal or professional advice.
7. Corrections
Errors are corrected as soon as we are aware of them. If a correction changes a figure materially, the page is reviewed in full rather than patched. To report an error, use the contact pageand select “Correction to a page”.
8. Independence
PetCostly does not sell pet insurance, veterinary services or pet products, and does not rank or recommend providers. Calculators are built to be useful to the person filling them in, not to produce a particular answer. If that ever changes, it will be disclosed here first.
9. How the calculators work
Each calculator is simple arithmetic on the numbers you enter. Monthly amounts stay monthly, yearly amounts are divided by twelve, the monthly total is multiplied by twelve for the annual figure, and one-off items are added for the first-year total. Food calculators estimate a daily energy requirement from body weight, life stage and activity, convert it to a weight of food using the energy density of the food type, and price it at the cost per pound or kilogram you enter. Results are labelled as estimates.
10. How suggested values are handled
Pre-filled amounts are adjustable starting points so a calculator shows something useful before you type. They are not market averages, survey results or quotes, and they are never presented as such. You can replace every suggested value with your own prices, and we encourage you to: a real quote from your vet, groomer, kennel or insurer is always better than a suggestion.
11. How calculations are tested
When a calculator or worked example changes, the figures are recomputed by hand and compared with the calculator output, including conversions between monthly and yearly amounts and between pounds and kilograms. Worked examples on each page must add up to the totals shown beside them.
12. How updates are handled
The “last updated” date on this and the other policy pages changes only when the content genuinely changes. The same date is used for the sitemap. We do not refresh dates to make pages look new.
13. Authorship
PetCostly pages are published by the PetCostly team. We do not present named experts, veterinary reviewers or credentials, because none are claimed. PetCostly does not provide veterinary or financial advice.