Sorry dude,
I love my animals, (1 cat& 2 dogs) my forum name "Hoshiko" came from my cat "Hoshiko" I rescued him from a shelter on Spanish Harlem, He lived with me in NY until last summer when my wife's little step sister (2 years old) really really really felt in love with him, now instead of my shoe box apartment, he lives down in California, has a garden and a 2 little humans who play with him all day long.
Sorry for your loss. We lost one of our pets two weeks ago. She was almost 12 years old. She had a diabetic stroke and I had to put her down. She's resting under the little tree in the yard that houses the birds she loved to chase.
I am so sorry to hear this. Every time I saw Cheech in your avatar, I couldn't help but think he must be a special cat, and well-loved. I know it can really take the starch out of you, losing a cherished companion. My condolences.
I can relate. A month ago I lost my first dog. It's really not easy, and it still feels very weird. He was a 12 year old yellow lab, who rebounded from a severe decline in red blood cells two years before his passing (purple tongue, gray skin, etc.) He was a fighter.
It's so hard to do the right thing. He couldn't walk anymore. He knew exactly who I was. He just laid there on the floor smiling and wagging his tail like always, and all I could do was tell him he wouldn't have to suffer anymore, and how I was sorry that we couldn't do anything more to help him.
P.S. Your cat is the origin for the picture in your avatar? I have seen that picture numerous times, and it's pretty popular across the internet. It's the first result for "smiling cat" and the fourth result for "smiling kitty" on images.google.com. As far as the internet goes, your cat would be considered legendary.