Sad but true: the average birthday cake for a dog or cat is much more expensive than the average birthday cake for a human. (and unless you get the most basic version of everything, all the other supplies/equipment are also more expensive, like kibble/food, shampoo, bedding/crates, even antibiotics/drugs/vaccines in some places)
Clearly, this guy had no clue about the cost of keeping a pet before deciding to adopt the damn cat. If he did know, then it's even worse. No wonder he got laid off!