Ahead of the Budget: RSPCA calls for VAT cut on pet food and vet care, independent vets want the market reform rethought

Ahead of the Budget

On 28 October 2026 the Chancellor will deliver the Budget — the most important financial statement of the year. In the run-up, both animal welfare campaigners and vets have set out what they want from the government. On 26 October the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), the country's largest charity in this field, made its appeal. A week earlier, on 19 October, the Progressive Veterinary Association (PVA), which represents independent practices, launched its own campaign.

The Budget matters to pet owners as much as anyone. Food, treatment, insurance and vaccinations have all become noticeably more expensive in recent years, and many households' incomes haven't kept pace. When money is tight, pets are often where people cut back first — putting off a vet visit or skipping preventive care.

What the RSPCA is asking for

The RSPCA wants the Budget to include:

• a targeted VAT cut on essential pet food and veterinary care;
• support for pet food banks, which owners turn to when they can't make ends meet;
• funding for local councils, so they can meet their duties to protect the pets of people receiving care and support;
• a review of support for charities, including a possible exemption from the planned rise in employers' National Insurance contributions.

Why the RSPCA is talking about a crisis

According to a new estimate from the recently established Animal Welfare Evidence Centre, reported animal cruelty and neglect could be costing the UK economy almost £1 billion a year. The authors warn that this is probably an underestimate. The costs include the work of services and inspectors, housing and treating animals that have been taken into care, and court cases.

In the RSPCA's view, many cases of neglect stem not from malice but from owners not having enough money for food and treatment. So, the charity argues, it is cheaper to help early than to rescue animals later.

We can't get out of the animal welfare crisis just by responding to the consequences. These measures need to be in the upcoming Budget.

Thomas Schultz-Jagow, RSPCA chief executive of advocacy and prevention

What pet food banks are

Pet food banks work on the same principle as food banks for people: charities, rescue centres and volunteers collect pet food and give it out free to owners who have fallen on hard times. They help people avoid having to give up their pets because of temporary money problems. As well as food, some food banks offer cat litter, flea treatments and other essentials. You can find your nearest pet food bank through a local rescue centre, your vet or animal help groups on social media. The RSPCA believes government support for food banks is one of the cheapest ways to prevent neglect.

The pets of people who need care

A separate request concerns local councils. When someone is suddenly admitted to hospital or a care home, their cat or dog may be left alone at home. Under the Care Act, local authorities must in such cases take reasonable steps to protect the person's property — and that includes their pets. The RSPCA wants councils to be given funding to meet this duty, rather than passing it on to charities. In practice it might look like this: neighbours hear a dog howling for several days in the flat of an elderly person who has been taken to hospital, and they call the council. The council must arrange for the animal to be fed and temporarily looked after until its owner comes home.

What a VAT cut would change

At present, veterinary care and pet food in the UK are subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%. A targeted tax cut on essential food and necessary treatment would directly reduce owners' costs. Decisions on tax rates are for the government, and it isn't yet known whether such a measure will appear in the Budget.

Supporters of a VAT cut point out that most food for people in the UK is zero-rated, while pet food is not, even though for many families it is just as unavoidable an expense. Opponents argue that tax cuts cost the Treasury money and don't guarantee that shops and practices will pass the full saving on. That's why the RSPCA is talking about a targeted cut — only on essential food and necessary treatment.

What independent vets want

The Progressive Veterinary Association (PVA) is campaigning for reform of how the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) works. The association is urging independent vets to share how changes in the profession are affecting them and their clients, and held a free webinar for them on 20 October. The PVA is in dispute with the CMA over its investigation into the vet market, and the matter could end up in court.

The CMA hasn't identified a single element of its remedies that will reduce costs for independent practices.

Iain McGill, director of the PVA

In the association's view, the watchdog's decisions won't help small practices compete and won't reduce owners' bills. It believes independent vets should be able to explain directly how the CMA's decisions will affect their practices — and it is gathering such accounts to pass on to the government.

What the investigation is about

In 2024 the CMA launched a full market investigation into veterinary services for household pets. It followed complaints from owners about rising prices and about more and more practices being owned by large groups, with owners often unaware of prices in advance or of who owns their practice. The measures the watchdog proposed include mandatory price lists, a cap on prescription fees and clear information about which group a practice belongs to. By the CMA's own estimate, prices for vet services rose faster than inflation between 2016 and 2023, and the share of practices owned by large groups has multiplied over ten years.

Independent vets fear that new obligations will weigh on them just as heavily as on the large groups — yet a small practice has far fewer staff to deal with them.

The row over "strategic steer"

The PVA is asking the government to review the strategic steer it gave the CMA again, arguing that it didn't put access to veterinary care for people first. The association wants a commitment to such a review in the Budget. The PVA also suggests the government consider intervening, along the lines of what was recently discussed in connection with Sky's reported takeover of ITV.

If you're struggling to pay the vet

While politicians argue, owners who are struggling with vet bills can get help now:

• PDSA — a charity network of vet hospitals that provides free or reduced-cost treatment for pets of owners on low incomes who live within its catchment area;
• Blue Cross and the RSPCA — in many areas they have clinics or schemes that help with treatment and neutering;
• Dogs Trust helps with vet care for dogs belonging to people who are homeless;
• The Cinnamon Trust supports older and terminally ill owners: volunteers walk their dogs and help with temporary fostering if they go into hospital;
• local pet food banks — ask at a rescue centre, your vet or your council.

How to cut costs without risking your pet's health

• Don't skip vaccinations, parasite treatments and health checks: treating a neglected illness always costs more.
• Ask your vet for an estimate before treatment and find out whether there are more affordable options.
• If your pet needs long-term medication, ask for a written prescription: in the UK you can buy the medicine from another pharmacy, including online — sometimes noticeably cheaper, even after the prescription fee.
• Ask about health plans paid monthly: many practices include vaccinations, parasite treatments and check-ups.
• Compare insurance policies before your pet gets ill: once there's a diagnosis, the condition probably won't be covered.
• If you run out of money partway through treatment, tell your vet honestly: it's often possible to agree a payment plan or choose a different treatment option.

What happens next

Whether the RSPCA's and the PVA's requests make it into the Budget will become clear after 28 October. Even if there are no tax breaks, the cost of keeping pets is now a conversation at government level. What was included will be set out in the detailed documents the government publishes alongside the Budget. For owners in any country, the main lesson of this story is useful: think about money for your pet in advance — before it falls ill, not in the consulting room.