We love 'em, and they love us back in their many strange little ways.
Much as we might want them to b******* off when they pounce on as at something past five in the morning, we go looking for them when we get in from work, and somehow being pounced on isn't so bad
Every bad moment sees a pay off of hundreds of good moments.
The bad moments don't seem half so bad years later, we even remember some of the worst fondly.
They lift us when we're down, some may be very clever, but they're rarely complicated.
Their demands can bring out the best, (and occasionally worst) in people.
They're family (or pack).
It hurts when you loose one, because its so worthwhile when you have one. Though you may not realise till later!
My cat was seventeen when he died after a few years of illness, those last few years packed some of the best moments in as well as the worstfcgghvjyvghvhgvxcgcfcyges
Oops, my nearly-not-a-kitten-anymore just walked over the keyboard to see what I was up to!
It took me a good few years before I had another cat, probably still wouldn't have taken the plunge, if I hadn't been sort of set up! (and encouragement from the Captain, you know thanks ain't enough)
This time round it's me that's not so well, but little Max makes needed an operation to rebuild a birth defect in his knee, which certainly made me forget that, feeling sorry for yourself is very tricky too!
Best of luck and I hope you get the best news you can, as for costs, you can only do what you can and what you are comfortable with.