I don't know how many cat people we have here, but that's our thing. We like dogs, we've just never been owned by one.
We've shared our lives with two rescued cats.
We lost our first boy to kidney disease years ago.
After about a year, although we still didn't feel ready, another one kind of fell into our laps, and stole our hearts.
I don't remember exactly when, but a lump on his undercarriage was diagnosed as cancer. Supposedly not aggressive nor likely to metastasize, so we had the lump surgically removed. Unfortunately, it turned out to be both aggressive, and it metastasized.
January 1st, we had to have him put down. Hardest thing I've ever done. I got to hold him on my lap through the euthanasia process.
It really is like losing a family member or dear friend.
Again, I'm sorry for your loss.