text:  Pet owners across the country are making financial sacrifices to accommodate their furry friends. Take Lisa Wilkerson Willis. She spends almost $100 a month on premium food for her cat, Benny. Almost as much, she says, as her own grocery budget. He's something I can't cut back on. Because if I do, he's going to suffer. He won't be able to tell me because he says I have a voice. Research shows that 97% of pet owners consider their animals to be family.