I had to say goodbye to my Max this week after an unexpected and rapid decline. I'm heartbroken, but more than anything, I'm so grateful for the 6½ years we got to spend together. He was my first pet, and he taught me so much. He never, ever stopped purring. I miss him terribly.
He had an incredibly hard first half to his life, during which he was abandoned and endured some horrific things. He was eventually rescued by a feral cat rescue organization in Boston, and then he came to me for foster. Despite all he went through, he loved everyone he met.