Thank you for sharing your touching story. They are not dumb indeed, they are definitely an integral part of the family, and they don't need to speak to be understood and to give love.
Thanks for your comforting words, I wish your cat many years ahead, my mother's cat lived almost 19 years.
That is something I had hard time to accept... the moment I took the decision was hard, the last time he say goodbye to his friend, the last time he walk in the house, the last time he comes on the bed to wake us up, the last time... of everything... damn I'm writing this now and I start to see things blurry... I guess the recovery will take time for me.
Anyway, thanks for your kind words, all these messages were so amazing....