Sorry for your loss Reegar.

I consider animals as family, not pets. I treat them the way I want them to treat me and they usually respond better than humans in that regard. I also believe that animals do feel in a similar way to people.

I've had cats while being on my own since I moved out of the parentals place years ago. My firstborn, Dusty, was 24 when she passed. She went at home in my arms. My second oldest, Asia, got real sick and passed at home in my arms .... she was 15. They taught me plenty.