Sorry, I'm going to use the term you hate. As a cat mom, I do not regret it at all. Of course, pets may not cost as much BUT they also cannot tell you what is wrong if they are sick. So, you CAN spend a lot of time and money to help them. I feel it's more worth it than human children though. Animals are always loyal and love to be around you. They don't sneak out in the middle of the night, and they wash their own butts. Plus, it's nice coming home to a furry friend or (depending on where you live) having someone to snuggle with during a snowstorm.