Half of my cats are 10 or over now, so get a baseline senior panel when they turn 10, then every other year if nothing unusual symptom-wise shows up. Moby's diabetes was caught on the biennial senior panel. It's tough to gauge how much I spend, but everyone gets one vet visit a year with staggered distemper and rabies shots; I plan on having the seniors titrated rather than getting them distemper shots. It's about $100 a head for baseline visit (office checkup and shots.) Moby needs to go in every other month or so for about $200 of blood work. Pink Nose's post-cancer tests are $300 each, twice a year. Moby's diabetic supplies will run about $600-700/year. Ebony, my old timer, was half a grand because he needed dental work, grooming, senior panel.

I'm glad I have a very good job so that I can keep my cats in the lifestyle that they are accustomed to! The above is just a sample of a year's vet bills. Food is roughly $50/month; litter $20/month for high quality scoopable. Moby's special litter is roundoff error since it lasts a LONG time!

It also pays to let people know you have a cat with special needs like diabetes or cancer. I have gotten donations of a special litter box, insulin syringes and a test kit from folks who had them and no longer needed them.
Thanks to all these folks!