My cat was diagnosed with stage 2 chronic kidney disease. The test results are fairly good, but he hardly drinks and completely refuses to pee—even though his urinary tract is clear. If that doesn’t change, he’ll need a catheter. On top of that, he’s been prescribed a renal diet and occasional IV treatments. Altogether, including the food, it cost me $150 — which is literally half of my disability pension. After that, listening to Putin brag about Russia surpassing Germany in purchasing power just feels ridiculous.

#catstr