Yes, the older they are, the more they seep into your heart. Everyone was devastated when the cat died, even me, and I hadn’t known the little darling for that long. I think it was a male, but I don’t recall.
My son found a cat walking with my dad when my son was about 6 years old. They took him home and we lived on the 6th floor at the time. Mommy Cat (MC) fell out the window 2 separate times. Both time we found her or rather she found us. first time she was under a car near the house and just meowed so loud as we passed. My son was ecstatic she was still alive. We brought her home and a few months later she did it again. Second time we gave her up for good after 2 weeks of searching. Neighbors knew she was missing and no sightings. Then one day we were walking up to the building to enter and there was MC a little battered & limping but it was her! (She had a blond spot just over her nose so we always knew it was her) She meowed my son meowed to her and she limped over to his leg. I carefully picked her up and brought her upstairs. My father was in shock that we found her again. After that she stayed with my dad while my son was in school but when he came home she was his shadow.
MC died at the old age of 22 years old. She was a personable cat the knew when you needed comfort or just help to get out of bed. My son didn’t need an alarm clock. MC would go in the morning and walk all over his body and lick his face to wake him up. She was cremated and now sits on my sons’ mantel at home. He was already in the Marines and his wife told me later he cried like a baby when she died. He still can’t talk about her without getting teary. MC, we still miss you and look foward to seeing you at that bridge.
Sorry for going on but she was a BIG part of our family. Yes cats live longer than expected. I suspect love is a big part of it. BTW, we did get screens after the first fall. She liked to climb up and over them.