I suppose I'm deliberately putting myself out there for a pummelling. Feel free.
Cat was hit by something yesterday (presumably a car but the injury is very localised). Currently at the vet's. Serious situation but probably a treatable injury with surgery, maybe a couple of weeks to heal. Some quite technically complex care in the meantime and they will want him to come home for that, quite reasonably.
Right now, he's suffering. Not in pain I hope, but broken bones, unable to do what cats should do, not at home etc. Realistically it will be a couple of weeks minimum before he feels good again. But he's a young cat, only 6, every prospect of a good future.
He's not insured. And the reason I took that chance is because I know that I don't have a problem with asking a vet to put a cat that needs major treatment or is suffering in any way to sleep. To me, a short healthy life is as good as a long life. Animals live in the present. And also, I think it is incredibly self indulgent to spend what will probably be the thick end of £10k on a cat. I don't really agree with pet insurance which has hugely inflated what we do to pet animals (this is the opinion of a vet friend of mine as well so it's not purely my bee in bonnet).
Complicating this is the fact I am surrounded by sentimental family members who won't contemplate what to me seems not a very hard decision. I'm going to be the one paying the bill. It's going to mean not doing a lot of other things, holidays etc. I am confronted with the reality that I am a hard bitch.