My cat recently died.
About 16 years ago I was picking peaches when I turned around and found a little orange kitten curled up in my peach basket. Apparently he had wandered over from a neighbors house. He quickly became my favorite cat and followed me everywhere. Every time I would go out pick peaches, this little orange cat with striking golden eyes would follow me like a dog. Unfortunately as a tomcat, he got his ass kicked all the time by the more feral barncats that inhabited the property.
I was gone for seven years, but every time I went home that little orange cat with the golden eyes came and sat quietly beside me. This is what I love about cats. They don't beg for your attention. Even after seven years of being away, he just walked up and sat beside me as if I had never left. His face was scarred up and his golden eyes lost a bit of their luster. And after 16 years my little orange cat lost a bit of his pep, but always came to see me no matter how much time had past.
Living on a farm with numerous animals, life and death is part of the deal. This little fucker just walked into my life and made himself part of the family. And even when I left the family... no matter how many years passed he would always come and chill with me. When I had to stay at my parents house when work was being done on my apartment... he calmly waited until all the noisy dogs went to bed and then came in, nuzzled my face and and hopped up on the couch beside me.
I feel a little sad that we never found his body. But I take comfort that we were able to give him 16 years of a relatively peaceful life.
And really... that's the best you can hope for.