Our family cat passed away in December. I wrote a tribute to him, and why he was so important. I was surprised at just how many people it resonated with at the time.
I never joke at people's sadness at an animals passing. They are part of our life. My heartbreak at Jimbo's passing was mainly through the fear of the loneliness it would cause Dad. [MENTION=4156]glasfryn[/MENTION] was a rock of good advice in finding his successor.
So a genuine RIP for the splendidly named Earthquake, but if he likes his food he may not find things so easy in feline heaven with our Jimbo around.