Well the thing, with cats especially, is that if no one takes them they are probably going to be put down right from the start. Where I live there is a huge cat over-population and they put down thousands of pets from the start. I think its morally better to take a pet and put it down if a $5000 medical bill comes up, rather then letting it die from the start. That said I can normally pay for this cat, I make a decent living and don't have a lot of expenses, however rent had just come out as well as my girlfriend's birthday present and a class I'm taking at university. I will be able to pay this bill but its awfully inconvenient and sets me back quite a ways. Now I know people with tons of pets who if a $500 bill comes up for the pet they put it down, that seems ridiculous. You owe it to the pet to within your means keep it safe.