I thank you all for your support!! I know some of you were (or are) in the same situation.
I hope you don't think that I'm one of these irresponsible pet owners who adopted a pet and cannot care for it. My financial situation was better when I adopted Luna. It's not that had more money, but life wasn't this expensive, only a couple of years ago. I'm not the only one here affected by this, it's hard for many people now. I'm desperately trying to find a way to save some money, but there isn't much left to do. I replaced my light bulbs by energy saving bulbs, and I will stop playing the lottery (which always meant to be a small glimmer of hope for a better life), but now I need to save the money for Luna.
And please do not think that I need much money for myself! For years, I buy my clothes second-hand (if I buy any clothes at all, most of the things I wear are several years old), I buy my books on amazon market place, and I never go out. When I saw the new Harry Potter movie two weeks ago, it was the first time for more than I year that I went to the movies. Oh, and btw, I never go on vacation. The last time it was in 1991, a hitch hiking trip to Sweden with a friend...
There would indeed be an emptiness in my life if I didn't have my cats! Sometimes they seem to be the only thing that bring some happiness into my life.
Freedom, I discussed the option to skip the ultrasound with my vet today, but she would also like to see her bladder. As she found crystals in her urine, we need to find out if there's a stone also. Or a tumor. :(
Sandra, it's true, the person who said that doesn't have any pets. But he and his family are facing a similar financial situation like I do, and he knows how hard it is. His wife has lost her job, and he knows that he will lose his in a year from now. I still have my job, but even though it's a fulltime job, paying all the bills isn't easy. For example, the prices for electricity and gas (heating) are now almost 10% of my gross income, and the prices are constantly rising. And almost every day, you read and hear about things that are getting more expensive, food included. And the price for gasoline is up to 1,90 $US/liter. (4,4 liter make 1 gallon). It's just scary! Life was so much easier in the 80s and 90s, I'd never thought the new millennium would bring so many things to worry about - but it did.
But don't worry, I won't give up on Luna. Just look into her face, it's impossible to have thoughts like this when you look into her eyes:
http://www.catmom.de/pix/9439295.jpg
Kirsten