One local cat owner recently shared a situation that's painfully relatable for Bay Area pet parents: their cat was diagnosed with Feline Tooth Resorption, a condition that sounds as awful as it is. The regular vet handled most of the extractions, but one remaining tooth is so precarious that pulling it could fracture the cat's jaw. That means a board-certified veterinary dental specialist — and a price tag that could easily clear $5,000.

Let that sink in. Five thousand dollars. For one tooth. On a cat.

This isn't an indictment of veterinary professionals, who deserve fair compensation for highly specialized work. It's a reminder that pet ownership in a high-cost metro comes with high-cost surprises, and most people aren't budgeting for feline oral surgery when they adopt that adorable kitten from the shelter.

Speaking of which — if you're in the market for a new furry companion, Bay Area Cats is running adoptions at Petco in Sunnyvale with more kittens than you can count, plus adult cats for anyone smart enough to skip the kitten chaos phase. You can browse available cats at bayareacats.org/adopt.

But here's the liberty-minded takeaway: pet care costs are a personal responsibility, and they're worth planning for. CareCredit, pet insurance, and emergency savings aren't glamorous, but they beat the alternative of choosing between your rent and your cat's jaw. The market for veterinary care has gotten more specialized and more expensive, and no amount of wishing for government intervention is going to change the economics of a board-certified surgeon's time.

So adopt that kitten. Love that cat. But maybe set up a dedicated savings account while you're at it — because Mr. Whiskers' teeth aren't going to pay for themselves.