I second what MMario said.

One of my two cats is in for a little surgery today (he has a growth in his ear, best to remove it now and see what it is). He should be fine, but any time you're dealing with anesthesia, there are risks. Why would I spend this kind of money on a cat? You might as well ask why I would spend that kind of money on one of my kids--it's because he's part of the family. If this was life-saving surgery and I didn't have the money, I know the kids would use their allowance to pay for it. I've raised them to understand the responsibilities of pet ownership. They also know that the rewards are priceless.

Condolences, Spot.

SRS