I think, as they are lesser animals, without being disingenuous towards them, that they do look at us, that feed them, more than anything, as their alpha male.
When I read threads like this, and billyboys, I am strangely drawn more towards getting a dog as opposed to being put off. Always been a cat kind of bloke, but I could accommodate a dog, especially a retriever or alsatian. Bit torn.
The vast majority are kind to their fellow human being. Like our footy hooligans, a minority, the killers of humans are very much the same, a minority, and sadly the scum we have no wish to vote in but have very little choice.
Not a day goes past I don't think of my cat Holly. Got her from CPL, emaciated, sick, grabbed her back to life. She was petrified of humans having been abused. Only had her for 18 months, but in that time she had learned to love life and trust me. One day found her paralysed in the front garden...
Broken hearted for you genuinely. Looking as I do at my two cats (one nearly died last year) and seeing them at their peak, 5 and 6.... the next decade will go as quick as the last. I try to think of now, but I just know how you feel. Been there, hate it.