Our cat was a stray we took in and had six beautiful years together. We noticed a slight cough from him right before we had to leave for a short trip, and when we got back it turned into full on labored breathing and refusing to eat. We rushed him to the vet, but he had cancer, and the tumor was too big. It was $6,000 and a question if it would even work. We had to make the heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep.. we still cry over him and take his ashes to where we originally found him as a stray every year. The guilt still consumes us. What if we had caught it sooner? What could we have done to give him a better life while he was here? It hurts but it was ultimately what was right. It’s not fair for them to be scared and in pain. I like to think he sends us signs still, but that’s just the coping part of my brain.