Cat owner spends $8,000 to save their cat's life, gets criticized at a family dinner, told they should’ve just gotten another cat instead: 'If you have that much money to spend on a cat, you should be helping (my brother) pay his HOA fees'

Author image for Mariel Ruvinsky
Mariel Ruvinsky • Writer and Editor
Dec 3, 2025 9:00 AM EST

There are a few things that we are terrified of as cat owners: when the day will one day come that our cat crosses the rainbow bridge, our cat running away, and our cats becoming sick. And maybe the last one is the worst of them all. Seeing our cats when they're unwell, when they are not themselves, there is not much worse than that. And we would do anything to help them. We would do anything to get them healthy again. It's not always possible, of course, but when it is… it doesn't matter how much it would cost, we would do it. 

Or would we? Because everyone knows that vet bills are expensive, and when cats get really sick, these bills can really stack up. It's easy to say that we would pay anything, but it there a line? We hope we never have to find out. And we that if we do, and we pay $8,000 dollars to save our cat's life, like this person did, we would not get chastised for it by the people we care about the most. 

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    "How much money would you spend if it meant saving your cat’s life?"

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  • This is a question… that we hope not many of us have to actually think about. Because the answer, to anyone who loves their cat, is obvious. We would pay anything. Anything at all. But having to actually do it… watching your cat in pain, seeing them go through the treatments, all the worry, and yes, the money too - it's a difficult moment. And we hope that none of our cats ever get to the point where we have to make that decision. We wish health and happiness to all cats. 

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    177 TH SHOW SURE
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    This is Eeyore. He's my goodest most sweetest boy, and it's safe to say I don't think I've ever loved anything as much as I love him. He's my soul cat and velcro kitty. He's been my reason for living on many difficult days. He's helped me get through so much. This past July, I went on vacation for 2 weeks.
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    About a week after I got home, Eeyore started having accidents outside of the litter box, straining, and peeing blood. He'd developed bladder stones. Even though I had a cat sitter while I was away, the vet said these stones were likely stress-induced from me being away for so long.
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    With all the vet visits, labs, scans, meds, and surgery, it's cost me about $8,000 to get Eeyore's health back on track.
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  • 06
    This came up at dinner last night with my family. My grandma, two uncles, aunt, and cousin all gave me shit for it. They said things like, "You know how many new cats you could've gotten with that money?", "It's not like you don't have two other cats at home", and "If you have that much money to spend on a cat, you should be helping (my brother) pay his HOA fees". My uncle also said, "In 20 years, Eeyore will still be dead".
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  • 07
    The thing is, I don't want another cat. And I love my other cats, but they're not Eeyore. When I adopted each one of them, I took on the responsibility of making sure they are safe and well cared for. That includes treatable medical conditions. It's going to take me a long time to recover financially from his vet bills, but I would do it time and time again if it meant saving my babies.
    via WindowKitty19

  • The criticism you received is terrible, obviously. We're sure that it wasn't the most fun thing in the world to spend all that money, but you had it, and you chose to spend it on something that mattered to you, and any family member should respect that, even if they don't agree with it. 

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    Eeyore
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    Eeyore
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    sweetpotatopietime We spent $8,000 on our cat's health mere months after we got her, and more since, and I imagine there will be more in the future. We are lucky we could afford it.
    via sweetpotatopietime
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    OP WindowKitty 19 she's so lucky to have you
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    Adorable-Panda95 You don't have to justify or explain why or how much you've spent on this precious baby. I have three cats myself, and each one I'd go to the ends of the earth for, and people just don't understand that. You did the right thing, and now your baby is (hopefully) on the road to recovery and will spend many more years alongside you.
    via Adorable-Panda95
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    OP WindowKitty 19 Thank you and that's how I feel about each one of my cats. They are my life. They deserve the world. Eeyore is thankfully feeling much better after a bit of a bumpy recovery. But he's finally back to his old self
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    Whats ThePlanPhil95 My Jimjims has hyperthyroidism and it's costing a lot (also vets in the UK love fleecing us) but, it's worth every penny to keep him alive
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    OP WindowKitty19 Jimjims is so lucky to have you
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  • 22
    TheHopeBringerishere First off, anyone who cares to tell you a soul like Eeyore is showing how callous they are. We all know that our furkids, featherkids and scalykids are all family to us. Family isn't something humans have a parent on lol Please know everything you have done and do for your beloved Eeyore is because you care. You choose to live in compassion and kindness. Your family should take a lesson from you. Thank you for not treating Eeyore's life as disposable or unworthy of love and
    via TheHopeBringerishere
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    OP WindowKitty 19 thank you so much
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