To live with an older cat is to share a lifetime of love in a look, a pat, a purr. The bond you've spent years building is a thing of wonder now. You know each other. You're comfortable and relaxed with each other. You love each other effortlessly. These years are special, and you should enjoy them.

Of course, these are also the years when you realize your cat isn't going to be with you forever, and these thoughts can dampen your enjoyment of this special stage. Don't feel sorry for your cat or yourself. Take a lesson from her and enjoy each day wholly. Your cat lives in the now and has no concept that the changes in her life are part of a natural process. She doesn't know where the years lead. She lives day to day, spending her time purring in your lap or sleeping in the sun, demanding her dinner or chasing a toy across the carpet. If she feels good and is with you, she is happy. And so, too, should you be.